dunnc1991 Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 I know not too many people plow with there MJs, but figured I'd ask. Has anyone ever ran a snow plow on a lifted truck? By next winter I'd like to have a plow on the MJ, but I'll also be running approx. 5 inches of lift. Just wondering if anything special has to be done/modified to the plow frame to work with the lift. Will only be used on a few driveways, no commercial plowing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 I think it's a bad idea. Plows are designed for stock height vehicles. We know that a 5" lift messes up the control arm angles -- the control arm drop kits are sold to correct that. The same applies to the plow rig. Instead of the plow attachments and pistons running more or less horizontal, they'll be pitched at a significant angle. The physics and geometry of that mean that when pushing heavy snow, there will be a tendency for the truck to be trying to "pole vault" over the plow rather than pushing it straight forward. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brickmiata Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 You would have to extend the plow mount frame downwards until the a frame is sitting level. 5 inches sounds like it may be a bit excessive without some serious reinforcements both to the plow mount and the unibody. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brickmiata Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 Even at stock height, I intend to do everything I can to strengthen the front frame rails for next season. Plowing takes a toll on any truck and front end parts are to be considered consumables. I would expect to go through things faster still with a lift.. Especially ujoints. Just keeping up with plowing related repairs has consistently cost me $40 and 3-4 hours a week since the snow started coming down here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
COMJNUT Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 Get a affordable yj, 87-95. They do great plowing, heavier than the mj, have a full frame up front to support the heavy plow, has leafs instead of coils in front. To the point, I'd rather see any other vehicle plowing instead of a mj. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Gregory Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 There is an MJ rolling around here I live with a plow, it sits stock. I'd think you'd be able to do it with yours stock too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Incommando Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 25 year old metal and a notoriously weak front unibody? They make several different pieces to bolster the various frame and suspension/steering components because they are needed. Just the lift and tires alone over stress the stock parts. Can do something and should do something are very different. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poopypants Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 If your just doing some driveways you will be fine I had 5+ inch lift and 35's on mine for a couple years and it worked fine The only problem is you will not be able to use the plow at an angle because the plow will lift one end a foot off the ground because the A frame isn't perpendicular to the groud...so straight on only But for light use I never had an issue and I'm kinda hard on stuff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunnc1991 Posted February 23, 2015 Author Share Posted February 23, 2015 I have no doubt if I left it at stock height it would meet all my needs. I'll have to see what it looks like when I get the lift done. Worst scenario would be throwing a plow on my F-250. It would be overkill for what I need, but may be the best option. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 Worst scenario would be throwing a plow on my F-250. It would be overkill for what I need, but may be the best option. Far from being a "worst scenario," I think there's no question the F-250 is by far the better choice. I had a full-size Cherokee with Quadra-Drive and a V-8 engine as a plow vehicle for a number of years, and it was marginal in heavy, wet snow. I'm not even considering putting a plow on an MJ. There is no such thing as "overkill" when plowing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunnc1991 Posted February 23, 2015 Author Share Posted February 23, 2015 The 250 is definitely stronger, but for my needs a "mid sized" truck would be fine. My 70' driveway and a few 30' driveways through the 5 or 6 plowable storms we get a year here doesn't warrant the need of a full size truck. However, since I am not keeping my MJ at stock height, the Ford will most likely get the green light. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brickmiata Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 I actually like the size of the mj for residential. I fit in places no 250 could get to and the turning radius is excellent. I have a snowblower in the bed and a good set of snow tires. Even with 3.07 gears and open diffs, I haven't met snow I couldn't move yet. That includes the 3ft storm we had and 4-5ft snowbanks. With better gearing, some cheap lockers and some home made frame stiffeners, it will be the perfect, unstoppable driveway plow. The only thing that would worry me is all the added variables of adding a 5" lift. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunnc1991 Posted February 24, 2015 Author Share Posted February 24, 2015 I agree on the lift. I also like the MJ for it's small size, seeing as most of the driveways are smaller, tight development driveways. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackBeast Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 My opinion is u need a frame for plowing, not a unibody... but I have seen the NJ snow project and he seems to make it work!. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BootsNTrucks Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 If your dead set on doing it I would recommend these...hell I'd recommend these just for wheeling. http://www.t-mfab.com/front-xjmj-stiffeners/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brickmiata Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 Looks like what I was envisioning for mine. I'll likely do the outside of the front frame rails as well as the bottom. Then a steering box brace or something of that sort and I'll be plenty happy with the unibody strength... this is a stock height non-wheeled truck though. Most action it will see beyond plowing is a trek through a campground or something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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