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btomcik
Dodge Dakota
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1/03/2005
11:02:30
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 Subject: Snow Plow
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I have an '04 4.7L 4x4. The owners' manual says not to use a snow plow on a Dakota as the air bag could accidentally deploy. Has anyone with an '04 installed a plow, and if so, any problems?
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Walt_Felix
Dodge Dakota
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1/03/2005
19:16:09
|  RE: Snow Plow
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I’ve never heard that before and I’ve seen plenty of late model Dakotas with plows on them. I plow with my ’96 and it has a driver’s side airbag but I don’t know what they changed with the sensors since then. If you think about it, every new truck sold these days has dual airbags standard so I’m sure it has to possible.
__________________
Walt Felix
http://www.MoparsinMotion.Com
http://www.Walt-n-Ingrid.Com
    
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Kowalski
GenIII
1/05/2005
17:43:01
| RE: Snow Plow
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Only a few people with plows here I think. The manual specifically referred to a problem with air bag deployment ? Or are you just guessing that ? Never been a problem on anything I've plowed, incuding my '00 Dak. Might check with Fisher - they put a good bit of research into their recomendations. Dodge didn't recomend a plow for my '00, But Fisher said it would be fine and it has been.
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IMHO
Dodge Dakota
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1/06/2005
17:32:15
| RE: Snow Plow
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Personally, with as crappy as the Dakotas front ends are, I think it's nuts to put a plow on anyway. As for airbag deployment, my guess is it's a CYA thing and that you could find a similar statement in any truck's manual.
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Kowalski
GenIII
1/07/2005
08:10:12
| RE: Snow Plow
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Actually the Dakota front end is fairly beefy, rated for 3600 lbs when I bought mine; more than the 1/2 ton full sized Ram. I don't believe you'll find that statement in many trucks' manuals with airbags, no statement like that in mine or any of several plow trucks we have at work. Sensors are typically placed to detect parts of truck crushing during an impact. You shouldn't get that kind of damage with a frame mounted plow frame.
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BruceWard
Dodge Dakota
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1/10/2005
22:10:19
| RE: Snow Plow
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How much does a plow cost and where do you get
one?
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david caputo
Dodge Dakota
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1/24/2005
14:56:11
| RE: Snow Plow
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go to any plow manufacturer website and click on distributor locator, and put in your zip code. i got a quote on a 7 1/2 (i think fisher) plow for $3600, plus tax-sounds a little pricey to me, so i am going to look around. i've been trying to get info about the air bags, but the service dept at the dealer would only say you cant turn off the bags.
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Walt_Felix
Dodge Dakota
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1/25/2005
09:21:48
| RE: Snow Plow
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7 ˝’ may be a bit wide for a Dakota. I believe there are some DOT regulations that specify a maximum the blade can extend past the body when at a straight angle. 6 ˝’ is what Meyers had specified for a Dakota and I believe Fisher also lists 6 ˝’ for the Dakota application. I have a Meyers plow on my '96 but I do wish it were a bit wider. I have aftermarket rims on the truck, which cause the wheels to stick out a couple of inches more than stock. At full angle, a 6 ˝’ doesn't push the snow over far enough too keep the tires from running on the edge of the deeper snow to the sides, causing the tires pack that snow down. I think with a 7' I wouldn't have that problem and I am considering trying to fabricate some winglets to extend the plow blade a little. At a straight push, 6 ˝’ is fine though.
One recommendation I would make is to look at the plow frames on other Dakotas with plows. One thing I don’t like about the Meyers setup is the part of the plow frame that permanently mounts to the truck hangs a bit blow for may taste. It does scrape sometimes when puling into parking lots, especially if the blade is on. The Fisher seems to mount higher but appears to require some modification to the bumper. In this photo, you can see how low the Meyers frame hangs down.
Note: the plow head (the piece with the pump and lights) does come off by puling a couple of pins, I just usually leave it on so I don’t have another piece to store during the summer. The lower frame, which you can see below the pump, stays on the truck permanently and is attached to the Dakota’s lower radiator / lower control arm frame. As you can see, it hangs down fairly low.
I have found a company that makes a rear receiver mounted scraper blade that I’m also considering. They’re available in 6 ˝’, 7’, 7 ˝’ and 8’ widths and only need to be wired. The frame, pump and blade simply connect to the rear receiver hitch. The house my wife and I just moved into is at the top of a large hill with a 1500’ driveway. I need every bit I can get when it comes to plowing the driveway.
I don't know about your area but usually Fall time State/agricultural fairs are a good place to buy plows. We have a big multi-state fair in this area every Sept called the “Big E” I bought my Meyers plow there. Fair special $2200 installed. I bought the plow at the fair and had to bring the truck to a local dealer to have it installed a couple of weeks later.
__________________
Walt Felix
http://www.MoparsinMotion.Com
http://www.Walt-n-Ingrid.Com
Note: I very frequently get email from people asking about the lift kit in my
’88. Typically, I will NOT respond the emails (about 90%) that ask questions
I’ve already covered on my web pages (ie. Where did you get the kit?, Who
makes it?, How much did it cost?, What modifications did you have to make to get it to fit your truck?. How hard was it to install? What problems did you
encounter? etc, etc...)
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Kowalski
GenIII
1/25/2005
18:26:14
| RE: Snow Plow
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Message:
I don't know about the older generations like Walt's, but 7 1/2' is definitely not too wide for gen 3 and up. That's what I have on mine and I think Fisher is pretty good about their recomendations. I think you'll find prices have gone up since Walt bought that one too.
That's a sweet looking A-body notchback there Walt !
Lead, follow, or get out of the way
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david caputo
Dodge Dakota
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1/25/2005
21:12:43
| RE: Snow Plow
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thanks for the post, guys-fisher did specify the 7 1/2 light duty, although i was thinking of trying to get something smaller anyway, but i dont want to be running over what i'm trying to get out of the way, so i think i'll just go with what they suggested-both meyer and western offered the same size blade. does anyone have any idea if i should have the airbags disconnected, and if i have to, can i just pull the fuses when i work the plow? i'd hate for them to go off-ya know? walt-nice truck man. kowalski-were you USMC?-'lead, follow, or get out of the way' was one of the motor transport battalion's motto (actually, in the Marine Corps, it's every unit's motto!) thanks for the help.
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david caputo
Dodge Dakota
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1/25/2005
21:14:36
| RE: Snow Plow
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hey walt-nice website man
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Kowalski
GenIII
1/26/2005
18:19:41
| RE: Snow Plow
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I was concerned about air bags and plowing when they first came out, but I've now plowed with many trucks with air bags and never even heard of one going off while someone was powing. I no longer consider it a concern. You should be fine with 7 1/2' light duty, I'm pushing a regular duty that size. Some people are tempted to put a full steel cutting edge on light duty plows (I think they still come with polymer cutting edge), but they tend to blow out the welds that way - just in case anyone's considering that.
They ended the draft the year before they would have grabbed me. No military service here, I just hate people hogging the left lane when I want to play through ;-)
Lead, follow, or get out of the way
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david caputo
Dodge Dakota
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1/26/2005
20:06:40
| RE: Snow Plow
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thanks-i read in the manual today not to install a plow on daks, because of the airbags, but the installer says dont sweat it-so you're the second person i heard it from. i'm either going to get it this weekend, or wait until the summer and hopefully get a better deal-i've been getting consistent prices from 3600-3800 plus tax. thanks again for the info-dave
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Walt_Felix
Dodge Dakota
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1/27/2005
09:03:43
| RE: Snow Plow
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I put the plow on mine 2 or 3 years ago. Point I was making was if you decide to wait, check out your local fairs in the fall. You can usually find a “Fair Special” price at some and save yourself a few bucks. Looking into it a little more, it does look like 7 ˝’ was what was listed for the Dakota, including my ’96. I remember when I bought mine; the Meyers guy showed me the book and it had a 6 ˝’ specified for my application, but now when I go on the Meyers site they list a 7 ˝’. I guess they must have changed that since then. Like I said before, I wish it were a little wider than I have and most likely this summer, I’ll fabricate some winglets to extend it some. Probably just add 6-8” per side and end up with a 7 ˝’ anyhow. I had made a snow deflector for it last fall with some 2” angle iron and 6 ˝’ of rubber 10” bailer belt from Tractor Supply. Really helps control the way it grabs and throws the snow to the side.
Kowalski, thanks. The B’Cuda is still a work in progress. I have a long list of things planned for it over the next couple of years. Actually, the only one that’s done now is the Mustang even though I’m contemplating a front disk brake swap for it. The ’88 Dakota will be getting a drive train swap including Dynatrac Pro Rock 60 axles front and rear. I have the 7” Skyjacker suspension kit sitting aside for the Ram though I’m strongly considering trading it in for a new Diesel Ram. I want to wait and see how the new Maxx-Cab Rams look when they come out. I have a Dana 44 set aside that I eventually want to get under the front of the ’96 Dakota. As you can tell, I like to mess with things.
__________________
Walt Felix
http://www.Walt-n-Ingrid.Com
Note: I very frequently get email from people asking about the lift kit in my
’88. Typically, I will NOT respond the emails (about 90%) that ask questions
I’ve already covered on my web pages (ie. Where did you get the kit?, Who
makes it?, How much did it cost?, What modifications did you have to make to get it to fit your truck?. How hard was it to install? What problems did you
encounter? etc, etc...)
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Walt_Felix
Dodge Dakota
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1/27/2005
11:38:35
| RE: Snow Plow
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Message:
Correction, not the Maxx-Cab, it was the Mega-Cab I was thinking of. I want to wait and see how they look before I buy the next truck. Rumor is they'll be out spring.
Walt
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jmagsho
Dodge Dakota
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1/29/2005
09:05:27
| RE: Snow Plow
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Message:
I've been looking into plows myself since we've had about 3.5 feet of snow dumped on us in the past week here in Eastern Massachusetts. A friend of mine just put one on his truck called a snowsport. He was looking for the same thing I was - nothing to do any serious commercial type plowing, but just something to clear the driveway. Their website is here: http://www.mysnowsport.com
I checked it out, and you can get a setup for a gen 3 Dak for about $1200.
The thing has no hydraulic or electric parts and only weighs like 110 lbs or something.
Just something to check out since I thought $3500 was a bit much for a new Fisher.
- JM
'01 Sport Plus RC - Patriot Blue, 4.7 5 speed 4x4
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hardy
Dodge Dakota
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1/01/2006
22:57:02
| RE: Snow Plow
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I've got a 98 extended cab and was wondering about putting a plow on it just wasn't sure. did anybody change anything on the front end like coil over shocks or anything? what about the ball joints they seem to wear out pretty quick under normal use.
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Kowalski
GenIII
1/02/2006
16:05:43
| RE: Snow Plow
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After five years of plowing the Dak, I haven't had to replace any suspension components. Hasn't caused any problems at all. You can crank up the torsion bars for a little more height and stiffness if you like.
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Walt_Felix
Dodge Dakota
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1/02/2006
17:36:49
| RE: Snow Plow
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My 96 is still pushing strong. Only problem I have now is yesterday I snapped the greasable pivot bolt the blade pivots on. I called every Meyer dealer within 50 miles of my house today and I couldn't find anyone who was open. We're expecting 8-12 inches tonight so I had to improvise with a 5/8th x 6" grade 8 bolt from Tractor supply this afternoon. Hopefully that will hold until I can get to a Meyer dealer tomorrow afternoon.
__________________
Walt Felix
http://www.Walt-n-Ingrid.Com
http://dodgetruckworld.com/waltfelix
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Hardy
Dodge Dakota
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1/02/2006
21:09:36
| RE: Snow Plow
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thanks for the info. these were just concerns I had since the ball joints on mine seem to wear out after about 65k or so
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jim
Dodge Dakota
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1/07/2006
11:31:31
| RE: Snow Plow
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www.westernplows.com, western, meyer and fisher all offer plows for thoes trucks, as well as that piece of plastic known as snow way
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