The truck has to be the F 150 HD 7700 GVW (the old F 250 LD), to allow for commercial plowing. Do a search under F 150 there is tons of info on the subject. I posted a link to the exact requirements and other info straight from Ford.
Now I am going to open up a can of worms here. Ford doesn't recomened plowing with an F 150 LD (GVW's less than 7700 is the F 150 LD). However Fisher, Western, Meyer, Snow Way, all make plows for the F 150. Heck Snow way makes one for a Ranger. Now the plows they build for the Light Duty trucks are light duty in design and construction too. They will not take the use and abuse that there big brother's will withstand.
Now everyone says, plow with an F 150 LD and kiss you warrenty good bye. It isn't that simple. It is easier to void a warrenty for have a power chip in your truck's computer then it is for having a plow on your truck. Look at how many people have chips in there trucks, and still have warrenties.
Power chips when you add a chip a code 47 ( i think is the number) appears on the trucks OBD II system. This code can't be removed, unless you a Ford dealer. If you remove the chip, the code is still there. I have been told this my a Ford Mechanic.
Here is a perfect excample of why they can't void your warrenty. You install your plow, plow for 2 storms, and your trucks radio stops working. Is this related to plowing, no. You plow for 2 storms the motor blows and the trans blows. Related to plowing, yes. However if the truck is still in it's warrenty period ( under 36,000 miles or 3years) It is going to be pretty hard to blame these failures on plowing. Lets face it, trans and motors don't blow at 36K just from plowing. For a motor or trans to fail that early there must be some sort of desing defect.
However if you plow commercial with a light duty truck. I will bet money on it that things will break quicker than if you didn't plow or if you plowed with a heavier truck.
I honestly also think that if MR Jones home owner plows his and only his drive with his F 150 4X4, very little extra wear will occur on the truck.
Geoff
[Edited by GeoffDiamond on 03-13-2001 at 02:39 AM]