A plow is a big purchase and, in this part of Ontario, it earns its keep every year. The right one depends on the truck first and the snow second. Here is how to think it through.
Start with the truck
Every plow has a weight, and every truck has a limit on how much weight it can carry on the front axle. Manufacturers publish a front gross axle weight rating, and plow makers publish which of their blades that truck can carry within it. A half-ton pickup and a heavier SUV can take a light- to mid-duty blade; a three-quarter-ton or one-ton truck can take a full commercial blade. Putting too much plow on a truck wears out front suspension, steering and brakes and can affect how the airbags behave. Many trucks are sold with a factory plow-prep package (heavier front springs, a bigger alternator, sometimes a transmission cooler); if yours has it, say so, because it opens up more options.
Straight, V, or expandable
A straight blade is the simplest and most affordable, and it is all most driveways and small lots need. A V-plow folds into a point to break through drifts and packed snow, opens into a scoop to carry snow, and angles like a straight blade; it is the contractor's choice for varied conditions. An expandable (winged) blade widens on the move to clear more in one pass, which pays off on long lanes and parking lots. If you are plowing your own driveway and a neighbour's, a straight blade is the sensible answer. If you are plowing for money, a V or a winged blade will save you hours every storm.
Width
The blade needs to be wider than the truck when it is angled, or the rear wheels run in the snow you just missed. Seven to seven-and-a-half feet suits most pickups; heavier trucks take eight feet and up. Wider is not automatically better: it adds weight, and a blade the truck cannot push is worse than a narrower one it can.
Steel or poly
Steel blades are the traditional choice and take a beating. Polyethylene (poly) blades are a moulded plastic face over a steel frame: snow slides off them more easily, they do not rust or chip paint, and they are slightly lighter. Both are proven; it comes down to preference and budget.
Mount and controls
The mount is vehicle-specific and stays on the truck; the plow attaches and detaches from it. Modern mounts are designed so one person can hook up in a couple of minutes without tools, which matters at 5 a.m. Controls are either a handheld or a joystick, and some systems add features like a return-to-straight setting or automatic float. Lights on the plow are a must, because the blade blocks the truck's own headlights.
Spreaders
If you are clearing anything more than a driveway, a tailgate or in-bed spreader for salt or sand turns two trips into one. Tailgate spreaders are light and easy; in-bed spreaders carry more but take the box. It is worth deciding at the same time as the plow, because it affects the wiring and the truck's load.
Looking after it
A plow works hardest when the conditions are worst, so a pre-season check of hydraulic fluid, cutting edge, lights and wiring is what keeps it out of the shop in February. Store it off the truck in summer, grease the pivot points, and keep the cutting edge from wearing into the blade.
Tell us the truck, whether it has a plow-prep package, and what you plan to clear, and we will match a blade and mount to it with a price fitted.