Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Low Range For Snow PLow??

[JTadra]

I have snow plowed for 20 years with an manual transmission, with no problems. I now have an Auto Trans. A mechanic friend of mine told me to always plow in Low Range, so the Transmission will shift thru its gears and not overheat. Any Thoughts??

Thanks

Jim

 

[benhall]

Jim,



If you were pushing with a small displacement engine like a small block V-8, then yes on using low range. With the torque that our motors make all I would do is be sure to have a transmission temp gauge to make sure it doesn't get too hot down there. You can also limit what the highest gear you will shift into with the gear shifter. I'm sure someone else will chip in on this too.



Ben

 

[bighammer]

Reverse would be slow too.

 

[Snow man]

Jim,I plow in hi range 95% of the time. I have 4. 10 ratio also. My old truck had 3. 54s and with 285 tires,plowing in hi range was fine,but the trans got hot if you were doing a lot of slow speed work because the hi first gr ratio meant a lot of fuild sheering in the tc. Add a trans temp guage and use it to monitor how hard your pushing it. If you start seeing 200+ in the pan Id take it for a quick drive to cool it off,get those temps down a tad. My DTT trans runs about 150-175 in the pan plowing. I have never went over 185 in the pan,thats pushing it real hard. I have no idea how to post pictures,but i have few pics of my rig.

 

[JTadra]

Bighammer,

I plow for myself, a 1/2 mile long road. About the only time I have to back up, is going back up my drive, which is kinda steep, so I like going slower. I have learned when the snow is deep it is easier to go down hill, gravity is my friend then. One thing I do like about the low range is the truck slows down more,when I get off the pedal, like my manual did. So I don't have to brake as much.

 

[JTadra]

I guess the hi/low range makes no difference, Its the transmission fluid temperature that matters. I have a High Transmission's Temp light on the Dash Panel, but I supposed it would be better to install a gage. It seems like most of those dash lights only go on After there is trouble.



THANKS GUYS

Jim