Four Wheel Drive "high or Low" while plowing?

[frank1]

I was at a Landscaping seminar yesterday and the speaker was talking about his snowplowing business and he made a comment that he tells all his crews to run his transfer cases in low range. By doing this he says you put less strain on both your automatic and manual transmissions. He runs a fleet of fifteen trucks, two Dodges -3500, w/ Cummins (automatics) and the rest are made up of Fords and GMC pickups. He states that in the past ten years he has not blown one transmission! Would like to Know what anyone has to say regarding this subject. Thanks, Frank

 

[Lumpy]

Well, in 4L, your gear ratio is lower, which means lower speeds, and less time between shifts. It's been my experience in plowing, regardless of the truck that I was in, that momentum is a key part to plowing, especially when its wet heavy snow. All of the extra shifting from being in 4L would make you think that it would in fact put more strain if not more wear, on your transmission. In automatics, I plow in 4H and 1st gear, Manuals, I usually go in 4H, and 2nd gear. Never had a problem or a trans overheat/malfunction in the last 8 years.

 

[AH64ID]

The disadvantage is the increased shifting as indicated, the advantage is the torque multiplication requires much less engine torque to do the same work, thus less heat build in the engine/trans.

Fast enough speeds to plow can easily be obtained in 4L. -

 

[mwilson]

Low Range, let the automatic shift as it wants.

I only use High Range cleaning up or for flinging snow up over the bank



(Pro) Far Less transmission Heat Generated

(Pro) Less Engine Effort Required



(Con) Takes Forever To Back Up If You Are Doing A Long Drive Or Lot.

(Con) Brakes Are Far Less Effective.

(Con) If You Don't Have A Fisher Trip Edge Plow You Need To Be Gentle Or Brace For Impact. :{



Mike.

 

[basilry]

I mostly use 4H. When the snow gets deep or if its one of my long drives or a big lot then I will use 4lo and let the transmission do what it wants. I have noticed that 4Lo will keep the temps down. Just watch your gauges and you will be able to tell when you need 4lo and when you don't.

 

[frank1]

Thanks for all the replies. When I do plow I use 4H, first gear (w/ automatic). The biggest item to watch for is your transmission temp. I've noticed while plowing driveways the trans. temp stays below 180, while doing private roadways (2-3 miles) and parking lots the transmission temp. can easily go over 200, if your not careful. When I see the gauge close to 200, I would pull over and put the truck in netural and wait until the temp. would drop down to about 180 and then get going again. The other big factor is to plow with the storm. Go out every couple of hours and keep things "open" as opposed to waiting until the storm passes and there's two feet of snow waiting for you!

 

[NIsaacs]

I don't have a snow plow so I have no first hand experience but it is an opinion page



In general the seminar guy is right. Low range will be easier on any transmission. I would think with an auto and it's higher first/reverse gears, low range would be good. With a standard, low range reverse would be too slow for parking lots but if you were plowing a road it would be fine.



Engine effort at launch would be reduced, but the same if you now need to use a higher transmission gear to maintain your ground speed. Overall, I would say use low range and let the transfer case take the torque, it is built for it and low is seldom used.



Nick

 

[RDeFayette]

I've plowed for 25 years and after the first year always used 4L.

4H trans/engine temp were up. oil pressure ran lower due to lower engine speed. harder to keep the batteries charged and 1 trans replaced.

After going to 4L No trans replacement yet (although I've replaced several trucks), temps are down engine spins faster/easier to keep the batteries charged especially with the added load up the electric pump, wipers, lights, heaters, etc.

Your choice.

My 0. 02

 

[S.Morris]

I also say use low range for all of the reasons stated above. Worst case scenario, you have to rebuild transfer case due to chain stretch, is still less $ then transmission rebuild.