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Proper ballast/post what you run and blade!

I currently have a Western Uni-Mount 8' Pro-Plow and have owned many other models over the past 23 years. I have never had to use ballast and for light snow, I plow in 4 hi. When the snow is wet or deep, I plow in 4 lo.
The plow truck at work has a 4x8 piece of 3/8" steel in the bed.
 
I have a early 2000's Fisher V plow. I bought it used this past winter for peanuts. My bars are cranked about 2 inches, which leveled the truck out with the plow off and when it is on it drops about 2 inches. Now for a ballast I started out with about 500lbs of sand over the rear axle, and then added about 400lbs of salt against the tailgate. Once the salt was added, the truck was an animal when it came to start pushin some snow!!!
 
In my 04, I didn't run ballast at all this season, although I wanted to-just never did it. Honestly, with lighter snows, I still run in 2wd often. Good tires make a BIG difference. Usually, I'll throw 4-500lbs in my trucks just because. I noticed that with my crew cabs, it really wasn't nearly as necessary as the others were. I also plow with my 03 LB7 2wd. It's an x-cab with a utility bed on it. I ran about 1200lbs of medium to large cobbles in the bed of that and about 70lbs in the rear bags. Rode like a 78 Lincoln!!! It's maiden voyage was on a 8-12" WET snow and it didn't bat an eye!! That's running a Western 8.5 v plow too. I have Timbrens on that truck as well, along with 13 turns on the t-bars.

I run a set of air bag/over shocks up front on my 04. They are made by Arnott Industries and incorporate a Good Year bag around a Bilstein shock. Nice setup, and with the plow up (MVP also), I only see about 3/8-1/2" of squat with 80-90lbs in the bags. I'll give more details to anyone interested, or maybe even start a thread on the topic............
 
Ballast?? Proper balast??? :eek: I just throw some crap in the bed and go. Sold my plow two years ago. 8' Snoway, loved it. Had it on 2 dodge's, two Tahoes, and my 2500 454 5 speed W/T... Must get a new one for this rig.
 
I run an 8'2" boss V. I put around 600-750lbs right up against the tailgate and can plow a couple inches in 2wd. With the ballast in the rear when I lift the plow the truck only drops 3/8 to 5/8 up front. without ballast I see about 3/4 to 7/8 drop up front
 
On my 2001 2500Hd 4x4 with the 8.1 I traided, I ran a westeren pro mount 8'6" plow.I ran around 1,200lbs in the bed if not back end would slide around fast on you.
 
I run a set of air bag/over shocks up front on my 04. They are made by Arnott Industries and incorporate a Good Year bag around a Bilstein shock. Nice setup said:
would love to hear more about this set up.......please email me some info as i have a 06 cc/sb 2500hd and run with a 8'2 boss v with wings. [email protected]
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I can tell you even with the blade off and stock tires and no ballast my truck stinks in the snow with heavy engine up front. I couldn't made it up a 8 inch covered windy rode that had hard pack under it. And when a Toyota Rav 4 and a awd e320 with snows scooted right up, I felt like weenie. I had to back up the hill to get to the top.:crazy:
 
Yaz said:
I can tell you even with the blade off and stock tires and no ballast my truck stinks in the snow with heavy engine up front. I couldn't made it up a 8 inch covered windy rode that had hard pack under it. And when a Toyota Rav 4 and a awd e320 with snows scooted right up, I felt like weenie. I had to back up the hill to get to the top.:crazy:
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To a certain extent, you're right. Sometimes I have to run 4wd till I get to a lot, then can switch to 2wd. Once you start plowing your rear tires are on "dry" ground b/c you already pushed the snow out of the way. Don't get me wrong, it's not all the time, but sometimes; especially if you have to turn around a lot, or if it's a lot where you can pick up speed and it's a light snow.
 
Philbilly2 said:
I got your back there Bill. I always try to plow in two wheel drive. I makes it much easier on the truck. But yes, you are right in the aspect that you cannot always do it. Somtimes you do need the 4wd
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I know it's off topic, but I hear you may have a fear of potatoes these days?
 
I work at a concrete plant, and have all the necessary tools and steel if anyone is interested in a custom concrete ballast that could be easily forklift/chain hoist removed. I've been a big fan of using a solid chunk of reinforced concrete behind the rear tire wells that won't move much in the event of a front end collision. FWIW, I don't plow, but I have friends that do and like my technique for ballast. Tell me what weight you'd like, dimensions, etc and I can make it.

Not sure if there is a "supporting vendor" issue regarding this topic or not, since I've not seen anyone else offering this. (If there is an issue, please let me know, I'm not trying to make anything off this) PM me if interested.
 
I thought about this idea too last year. I have since made a pallet of my own that can be loaded with salt or sand bags. So when I have the ability to get it out with a fork truck I can, Or the ability ot hoist it out I can, or if im just not anywhere possible to do the other two just undload it by hand. Took about 30 min to build and holds right at 800lbs of salt.
 
My 2.5 yard sander loaded to the gills was enough ballast for me :)

Truck empty bed (heavy utility box) good 4x4 plowing

Empty Sander, Good 4x4 plowing weighs about 1000 lbs

1/2 loaded sander, Ideal, didn't even need 4x4. I'd actually forget I took it out for a few hours would go bye.

I have 9' Plow thats been welded, so its a heavy girl... I'd say around 12-1500lbs was best for me. But I've also plowed empty and had little problems, except pushing heavy wet snow one storm.
 
I had between 6- 800# when i plowed with my 8' Boss Straight. I have the T- bars cranked up about 5 times. Now with the V, ill have tims on the front end and about 1000# in the rear. I would never run with out ballast, more weight the better.
 
I use a 8' Western Pro Plow with wings(about 9'4" total) I also have a Western Salter that is mounted in the reciever hitch. When i leave to go plow i have a full pallet of salt(bagged)in the back of the truck. I dont need any more ballast. I plow in 2 wheel drive until i only have about 10 bags left(800#) then i put in 4 wheel. It sure is nice to have weight!
 
I actually run a tandem axle Freightliner with a highspeed plow on the front and wing on the passenger side, and about 15 tonnes of sand and/or salt in the hopper. I run at about 45mph on the TransCanada in high visibilty conditions. I haven't run small plows but I would think the physics would apply. Weight in the back will not take weight off the front axle, it will add more weight to the back and balance the handling of your truck. Weight in the back will give you more stable momentum to cut through the snow and peel off more consistantly, without the truck shifting across if you've angled your blade. It will also make your plow and truck more susceptible to damage should you catch a raised manhole cover, pavemant crack or ridge, parking barrier, etc. I've been doing circuits, using the median crossovers to change from east bound to west (or vice versa) and if I'm gearing up to slow down with a light load the back can break loose.
So I guess what I'm saying is YAZ is right about points 2 and 3 but not on 1.
"Remember guys, you're out there to keep the idiots on the road, but keep an eye out and drive safe, cause there's idiots on the road!" (That's our battle cry when we head out into a storm.)
 
8'-6" diamond with wings. timbrens up front, and 12-5gallon buckets filled with sand/salt mix over the axle. good for ballast, and getting out of ice! not sure how much it weighs, but it works. like got-h2o said, Good tires make a BIG difference. the BFG A/T's are the best tire i have plowed with on my truck. i had some kind of A/T when i got it, then firestone mudders, then BFG streets, then the A/T's, and they are the best by far in the snow. one of my driveways i have to back up a slight hill, and i could never do it in 2wd, but with these i can do it all day long.

Ken
 
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