Snow plows didn’t begin to become patented until the 1840s, with early ones being put into use in the 1860s. One of the earliest practical models attached a plow to a cart, with teams of horses pulling it through snowy roads. Several years later, steam trains would come with a plow attached during wintry months to travel down the tracks so they could transport passengers to their jobs and more in all but the worst weather. A few cities tried putting salt on the roads, but people complained: “because it ruined the streets for sleighing and damaged pedestrian's shoes and clothing.” So, sand became the substance of choice when trying to melt ice.

Fast-forwarding to today, technology has significantly improved (and you don’t need to feed horses to fuel up for the next round of plowing). So, if you’re thinking about adding a blade to your vehicle and either plow snow for friends and family—or turn it into a side gig—here are some things to consider.

Choosing Among Snow Blades for Trucks

When shopping for a blade, consider what you plan to plow and for whom. If you’re largely focusing on plowing your long driveway and those of friends, then a seven-foot blade, straight in composition, is likely enough. If you’re thinking about earning money from the plow, then a V-shaped blade, at least eight feet in size, is a better choice. The V-plow is more efficient, provides more options about where to put the snow once it’s moved, and can deal with hard-packed snow. It will, not surprisingly, cost more than a straight blade.

Poly plow blades help to keep snow from sticking to the blade and are scratch/dent/rust-resistant. But they’re also heavier. Steel plows are long-lasting but will eventually rust.

When looking at snow blades for trucks, make sure you choose one that fits your vehicle and is of sufficient quality for the work you’ll do. For example, the snow plow you choose can’t exceed your vehicle’s front gross axle weight rating. Also, choose one with sufficient lighting. We highly recommend Meyer snow plows due to their durability and high-quality workmanship.

How to Install a Snow Plow to a Truck

If you’re relatively handy, this shouldn’t be too challenging. Steps, in general, include:

• Threading a bolt through the appropriate plate
• Attaching a wire to the bolt’s end
• Feeding the wire to the correct hole (by the sway bar bushing)
• Pulling the wire through the frame’s hole
• Pulling the bolt through the frame’s hole
• Pulling the wire through the mounting tab’s hole on the hitch
• Repeating the process on the other side
• Appropriately tightening the hardware
• Attaching the plow mounting bar onto the receiver

How to Wire a Snow Plow

If the plow is mechanical, then the only wiring that needs to take place is described in the bullet points above. If the plow is controlled electrically, then instructions on how to wire a snow plow should be included in the instruction manual.

How to Plow Snow

If the setup requires you to lower the blade, do so. Then, if plowing a driveway, start at the bottom and work your way up, stopping at the point where you want to snow to remain and backing out of the driveway. If the driveway is large, do one side and then the other. If plowing a parking lot, start at the outermost edge and plow one side and then the other, moving the snow to the place where you’re making a pile. Depending upon the amount of snow, some areas may need to be plowed more than one time.

When snow is especially thick or hard-packed, it can help to plow more slowly, to give the blade time to delve into the heavy piles. Doing so can save you time and fuel. Using solid tubes called snow plow markers will allow you to see your plow’s edge while in the truck’s cab.

How to Keep Snow from Sticking to Plow

Before actually plowing, give the blade time to reach the air’s temperature. Plus, there are commercial products that can be applied to the blade’s surface to keep it slick and repelling snow. Some need regularly applied while others may last an entire season. It can also help when the blade is painted.

Action Car and Truck Accessories

Our company has plenty of just the right snow plow accessories for people with snow plows for pickups. These include a heated pair of LED DOT work lights. This headlight replacement offers the brightest white lights with a heated lens that will melt away ice and snow. Maintenance-free life expectancy is more than 80,000 hours with low amp draw.

Additional parts and components for snow plows for pickups at Action Car and Truck Accessories include:

• power battery cable
• plow angle ram
• light adaptor harness

and so much more!

We’ve been providing accessories for cars, trucks, vans, and more for more than 40 years, and we’re now Canada’s leading automotive accessory retailer. This includes more than 30 retail stores with installation facilities across Canada, and our online store that is conveniently accessed, no matter where you are.

Questions? Contact us online today! We’re here to help.