new truck finaly

[joshua]

i finaly had to go out and get a new truck, (about time). i bought a 97f-150 4x4, fully loaded, its very nice almost perfect condition, just 2 little dents that you can hardly see and little sratches that won't take much to get fixed. i traded my old truck in 85 chevy, lucky me i did, i get the truck to the dealership and we're taking off the liceance plate and we smelt gas and look under the truck and the gas tank is starting to leak, plus all the oil its burning now. well its their problem now, thats what they get for only wanting to give me $500 for a truck that was worth 1k, oh yea, i took out my 12 disc c/d changer, tape deck, and speakers, they didn't even want them until i got home, well lets just say they're not gunna get them. can't waiit to get a plow for it in the winter , and have the company logo put down the side of the truck. :blob3:

[LoneStarLawn]

Well that is not exactly NEW, but new to you. Glad to see you stuck with a Ford.

[Grassman]

Congrads, but a plow on a 150? I'd think about that. Good luck, Russ

[PrimeGreen Lawn]

Originally posted by Grassman
Congrads, but a plow on a 150? I'd think about that. Good luck, Russ

I'm with Grassman on this one....

[walkbehind48]

Which engine, the 4.2, 4.6 or 5.4????

[13yearoldcutter]

Chevys rule in my opinion, even though I cant drive one yet. You should of got a silvorado but I guess a 150 is alright.

[cat320]

I agree on not plowing with the 150.You can't put that heavy of a plow on and it would really only be good for small drives.But good luck with it sounds like a nice truck.

[roscioli]

Hey, i wouldnt worry too much about plowing with a 150, as long as you have at LEAST the 4.6, preferably the 5.4, with its added torque. I just bought a truck today too, a 94 150, with the 5.0. 4X2!!!! Just for the summer work, towing, mulch, etc.. Because I already have a 3/4 ton 4X4. It has 70,000 miles, and was only 2 grand. Of course, it needs 4 tires and an alignment, but hey, whos counting. Congrats on the purchase, and dont be afraid to plow, as long as you arent plowing parking lots.

[joshua]

its a 4.6, but i'm gunna get a power chip, and some other stuff to get it all the power i'll need and more. i'll spend about 1k on it in the next year to get it where i want, but the power chip will come 1st.
about plowing, the most snow we get at 1 time is 4 inches. and it isn't the heavy stuff. i've seen guys in my area plow with rangers and little stuff like that, i'm not worried, but thats for the advice.

[MATTHEW]

Hope you have leaf spring in the front. Coils will
break eventually. Make sure you have a tranny cooler.
I drove an '89 FORD for 3 years. I felt like such a
loser when I pulled up beside a shiny 3/4 ton w/ a
plow set up. You know the type. Sitting up high, talking
on the cell phone. Now I'm there.I don't feel too much
different, but it is the other guy's(or customers view)
isn't it?

[John DiMartino]

F150 is a poor choice for a plow truck,because the front end is by far the lightest duty of all 3 makers.You cant even put a full size plow on it,gott use the low profile LD one,or a sno-way.A regular 7 1/2 fter is too much weight for the F150,unless its an HD 7700 GVWR-which they didnt make until 2000.

[LAWNGODFATHER]

don't listen to the ones that don't like light trucks for plowing

(their just jealous because you got a new truck and they didn't just kidding)

all my trucks are 3/4 ton or heavier except for a JEEP Wrangler with a 6.5' Western plow

Light weight truck = light weight plow

[PrimeGreen Lawn]

Originally posted by LAWNGODFATHER

Light weight truck = light weight plow

= light weight transmission = lightweight frame (compared to 3/4 ton) = bent and broken parts the first time you hit a manhole cover!

A buddy of mine helped me out last year with his own truck/plow setup on his 98 F150. He hit a manhole cover that bent the mounting area of the frame that the plow bracket attaches to. Can we say frame damage!?!?! He later blew his tranny pushing a medium sized pile across that same parking lot. This truck had only 22K on the odo. Just a warning buddy, dont want to see you ruin your new truck. Good luck.

[HOMER]

After watching the crash test's the other night on the T.V. I would suggest you put the plow on and keep it on year round. Might help that old Ford out in a front ender!:D

The Dodge didn't do so well either so I'm just poking fun.

Boy the Toymoter sure held up good. Wonder if it will pull some heavy weight? I'd rern the starter on it, too quiet. Probably try to crank it while it was already running.

[bubble boy]

listen to matthew-make sure you have a tranny cooler. if you dont, put one in. i had to replace my ram 1500 transmission this past winter, and truck was purchased in sept. cooler cost me $400 Cdn. The transmission cost me $2800 Cdn, not under warrenty. i know dodge is notorious for transmission problems, but i still wouldn't take a chance with the ford.

the weight of a ld plow isn't too bad, but you do have a 4.6. i would say take it easy, your truck could be iffy if the snow really piles up.

i would never feel like a loser cause you have an older truck. When a guy in an old beater plow truck pulls up beside me (2000 3/4ton silverado) i feel like the loser cause my truck payments are $7000 per year. whose margins do you think are better?

[LakeCountry]

I finally fell across a steal of a deal. I ended up with a 1998 GMC Sierra SLT Ext Cab Z71. Tow package with new tires/brakes/shocks and springs. It only has 66,000 miles! My father in law was trading it in for a new Silverado and got him to sell it to me for trade-in valu+6.5% (Tax).

I am looking for a new trailer now that I have moved to our sservice area. I am also waiting on an ExMark 52" Gear Drive. If the house was sold, I would feel better about spending all this cash!

Thanks for all the help guys!

[joshua]

ok, you guys are saying to get a light plow, a tranny cooler, and go easy not to blow the transmittion. all understud. only thing bad about this is if i do blow the trans. or anything else goes wrong, i'll have to pay $50 to get it fixxed, and wait till its fixxed. i got a extrended warrenty with the truck, everything is cover for 5 years or 100k miles. only $1500 not bad, good investment. ok any other tips to get for the truck or to watch out for? thanks

[Loosestrife]

...i'll have to pay $50 to get it fixxed, and wait till its fixxed. i
got a extrended warrenty with the truck, everything is cover for 5 years or 100k miles.
only $1500 not bad, good investment...


Most, if not all extended warrenties will be voided if the vehicle is used for commercial purposes.

[Evan528]

And how do they know its being used for commercial purposes?

[Greenkeepers]

Most times they will void the warranty if a plow is put on it and the truck doesn't have a plow package. They wanted to void mine on a 3/4 ton dodge with a plow prep package and the plow was professionally installed.

Got to start somewhere , I see people plowing with rangers so you're ahead of them.

[97Stroker]

I would seriously consider getting a set of air bags for the front end of that f 150 as well. A guy in my town has a, 97 f150 with a fisher minute mount plow. nice set up, but he is always hitting the bottom of the plow frame when he pulls into enbankments, out of steep driveways. He even got it stuck one day in the snow, because it sat down so low. Just my 2 cents I have a 97 f350 powerstroke, I would never think of plowing with anything less, well maybe except my old 87 bronco, that thing kicked tail in the snow.:D

[joshua]

truck has airbags. good point loose, and green.
just found out today that the truck was built in canada, which explains the daytime running lights, i took it to my brothers dealership where he works and they looked it over. so i'm gunna take a wild geuss and say it might of had a plow on it before but could be wrong, i really don't think i'll have any trouble this winter with it with all the snow we get.

[highpoint2]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by PrimeGreen Lawn
[B]

I'm with Grassman on this one....

My First plow truck was a 1986 f-150. And to be totaly honest, that one is my all time favorite!!! Go for it. I only hope the newer ones are as good as my 86.:D :D

[Currier]

Just went on vacation to Kansas (wife's family= great folks:))
I borrowed my brothers truck as I needed to haul some things back. The truck was a 2000 f-250 power stroke diesel four door. What a SWEET machine! I felt like I was flying an airplane. I have NEVER driven a vehicle with so much power! Come to find out he bought it on a lease return (from a friend) 40,000 miles for $23,000.00 I would love to find a deal like that!

[powerreel]

I am thinking gas milage into my business plan....no more trailer and I'm going streamlined. Sick of towing! Here's my new rig:





















http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1472735&a=12583216&p=47082901


What da' ya' think???


P.S. Anyone know where I can get the trim that's missing from the door???? :eek:

[Kent Lawns]

Couple of spin trimmer racks...
Gas cans in the trunk...

...could be a nice setup.

:p

[Bob_McNaughton]

What you pulling with your new truck Josh?

[jason2]

Powerreel,

I have the trim you need. I have a 84 Mazda GLC just like that one sitting in the weeds. I'll trade the trim for that sweet mower you have up on the roof. I'll even throw in a set of studded snow tires for that nice ride.

[thelawnguy]

Thank you jason2 now I have that silly "its a great little car" ad jingle going thru my head...

[bubble boy]

i thought the car was the funniest thing about the picture. then i realized the funniest thing is the size of the "lawn" this guy is parked at:D :D

[joshua]

bob, i am pulling a 6X12 trailer, 48" w/b, and 52"lazer. has no trouble at all, even up steep hills. the truck has all the power i need and some.