One of the most popular pickup trucks in the nation is the Chevy Silverado. It’s not only perfect for hauling and towing, but the Silverado has enough grit to handle other equally taxing tasks, such as plowing. If you’re already looking for Chevy diesel trucks for sale near you in order to plow snow, then you’re also probably interested in what the best snow plows are for the job and how to install one. You’re in luck because this article will give you the rundown on how to attach a snow plow to a Chevy Silverado and some of the snow plows you should consider for the task.
Important: Not every snow plow attaches to a Silverado the same way, and not every plow is the same. Some plows attach to the front of the vehicle, while others can be mounted to the rear. Another thing to keep in mind is that different plows come in different weights, and heavier plows will require a heavier vehicle. For heavy-duty plowing, the Silverado 2500 HD and 3500 HD are obviously the better-suited vehicles.
Snow Plow Prep Packages
The most convenient way to get a snow plow attached to a Chevy Silverado is through GM’s upfitters program for fleet vehicles. GMC and Chevrolet trucks can be equipped with a snow plow prep package, which automatically installs the necessary equipment so the Silverado can be upfitted with a snow plow from an independent supplier.
The snow plow prep package is compatible with every major model of the Chevy Silverado, including the 1500, 2500 HD, 3500 HD, 4500 HD Chassis Cab, 5500 HD Chassis Cab, and the 6500 HD Chassis Cab. You will need to visit an upfitter to find a commercial plow to fit the prep package.
How To Install A Front Snow Plow Hitch
As mentioned above, not every snow plow is made equal, and some plows will require a receiver hitch before you can attach them. Receiver hitches are designed to outfit your vehicle for towing and trailering, but they can also be used for farming and snow plowing.
There are different kinds of hitches, some of which can be applied to the front or rear undercarriage of the truck. The Snowsport front receiver hitch, for instance, mounts to the front of the vehicle using side and bottom frame bolts that you can attach to the front of the Silverado. You may need to thread the bolts through from the inside of the frame and through the hole that attaches to the mount.
Alternatively, you may need to use a Meyer Home Plot Hitch Adapter. What this device does is attach to the hitch receiver and elevates the overall height of where the snow plow will be attached. This is good for the Silverado 1500 series that may ride closer to the ground, so if you want slightly higher ground clearance for the plow, you can use the Meyer Home Plot Hitch Adapter.
Before purchasing a hitch receiver or a plow mount, be sure to check what class of hitch it is, what the tongue and gross trailer weight is, and what it’s capable of carrying based on trailering or weight distribution kits. Typically you’ll have access to most of this information directly from the supplier’s website, so you’ll know exactly what the hitch is capable of beforehand.
How To Install A Rear Snow Plow Hitch
As mentioned, some receiver hitches are designed for the front of some vehicles, while others are designed for the rear of some vehicles. It all depends on if you have plans on using a front or rear snow plow. Thankfully Chevy made it easy for Silverado owners to conveniently attach front or rear hitches to the truck. Newer Chevy Silverado pickup trucks already have pre-drilled holes in the frame where you can attach a hitch, such as the rear U-Haul receiver or the Draw-Tite receiver. These particular brands attach to the pickup’s frame with six mounting plate points for maximum leverage and security.
The Curt brand of Class III and Class V receiver hitches for the Chevy Silverado 2500 HD and 3500 HD connect to the frame just beneath the spare tire near the rear bumper. You’ll need a couple of tools to complete the job, such as a socket wrench, ratchet, torque wrench, or an electric impact drill. Which hitch receiver you plan to purchase will determine what sort of tools will be required for the job. Installation is oftentimes straightforward since the Silverado is already designed with towing and hauling in mind, as you’ll simply need to align the hitch receiver with the pre-drilled openings on the frame and then tighten the receiver to the frame.
Just remember that whether you purchase a front or rear hitch receiver, you’ll need to torque the fasteners in place according to the installation manual’s specifications. This way, you don’t lose the receiver in a mishap or have it break off during the middle of plowing snow.
How To Attach A Front Snow Plow To A Chevy Silverado
If you’re plowing on a budget, the SnowSport plows can attach to a general hitch receiver, similar to the ones mentioned earlier in the article. SnowSport plows attach to a hitch receiver using an interceptor module, which connects via pins. Apply the push frame to the interceptor module, and tighten the bolts. Drill out the marked locations on the rubber plate and mount the skid brackets to the rubber. Slide the rubber into the bottom slot on the blade with the skid bracket facing the back of the blade. Attach the slide hinge, mount the blade onto the push frame, and then you’re good to go and ready to plow snow.
Snowbear also has a variety of snow plows available, including electric winch operated plows for the Chevy Silverado that can latch onto a 2-inch trailer hitch receiver, such as the SnowBear Personal Snow Plow. It connects to the Silverado very similar to the way the SnowSport snow plows are attached.
For more advanced plowing for the Silverado 2500 HD and 3500 HD, the Snowbear Hydraulic plow will require a front mount fitting that attaches to the underside of the truck’s frame. From there, you’ll need to bolt on the push frame to the front mount, the cross member, the hydraulic system, and the blade. It takes several hours to assemble this beastly rig, but it’s well worth the price (and time) of entry if you have more serious plowing needs.
For Western branded plows, you may need the GMC/Chevy Ultramount side-mount for the undercarriage, which will allow you to mount a Western brand snow plow to the pickup. For Silverado trucks made before 2013, you’ll need to remove the bumper and splash shield, while on newer Silverado trucks from 2014 and onward, you’ll need to remove the plastic top cover from the front of the engine compartment, along with the front bumper assembly. From there, you’ll need to attach the two side-mounts to the driver and passenger side of the vehicle where the front tow hook lock nuts are located, and then position the mounts to attach to the rest of the frame along with the push beam.
The Western personal plow for GM vehicles attaches directly to the side-mounts mentioned above, and snow plows such as the Defender or Pro series use various automated functions to attach to the truck without the requirement of tools. You simply have to drive the Silverado into alignment with the plow and anchor down the hooks into the side mounts, and then plug in the electrical wires, and you’re done.
Other brands, such as FirstTrax, come with a mounting kit crossbar that you’ll need to attach to your truck’s frame first. FirstTrax makes it easy to attach a plow once the crossbar is installed by simply requiring you to align the plow with the crossbar and then anchoring it into position. Simply attach the latches, and plug in the electronic components for easy assembly.
Depending on the gross weight of the vehicle and the plow you have attached will determine if you may need a ballast included in the bed of the truck to balance out the weight of the vehicle and prevent the plow from causing the truck to become front-loaded. Of course, you will need to check the owner’s manual of the truck to ensure that the gross vehicle weight rating is compatible with the weight of the snow plow you want to attach and any ballast that it may require.
How To Attach A Rear Snow Plow To A Chevy Silverado
SnowSport plows can also be attached to rear hitch receivers on the Chevy Silverado. With the hitch receiver in place, simply install the interceptor module just like for the front snow plow, attach the push frame, drill the holes into the rubber and blade as detailed in the instruction manual, and then hook the plow onto the push frame. You can use the hooks and keys to raise or lower the plow for plowing in reverse.
SnowBear and Detail K2 also both provide universal snow plows for standard 2-inch hitch receivers, which you can attach to the front or rear of a Chevy Silverado. They’re cost-effective and can be attached to anything from a 1500 half-ton pickup to a 3500 heavy-duty pickup.
More complex solutions are also available for rear snow plows, such as the SnowBear Winter Wolf, which requires custom fit brackets to attach using the sturdy two-point mounting system that latches onto the frame of the truck. Assembly is more complex than plows made for standard hitch receivers, but reliability and durability go up greatly since there’s less strain on a single hitch point.
Final Plow Points
One other thing to keep in mind is that not all snow plow blades are made equal. Some are flat, some are curved at 45-degree angles, and some have 90-degree angled edges for pushing large mounds of snow. Which type of plow blade you need will likely narrow down which brands and styles will fit your requirements.
As you consider Chevy diesel trucks for sale, you should make a note of the vehicle’s gross curb weight, the trailering capabilities, and whether you’re going with a hitch-based or custom-mount system for a front or rear-based plowing. All of these factors will determine which sort of truck will best suit your snow plowing needs.