Snowplow Brackets on a 40

[CruiserStuff]

Thanks for posting the pics......I've heard this type of set-up explained, but have never laid eyes on one. This does look like the Western brackets, but I don't know for sure. I'm surprised that the leaf spring packs can handle the sort of forces that plowing generates. How long have you run this set-up and how have you liked it?

 

[morrison]

Looks to me like the springs aren't really getting too much force put on them in Cruiser User's set-up. The bracket bolted to the frame takes all the force, the springs just hold things off the ground. It looks like maybe it can slide a little back and forth on the spring if it twists?

 

[DanS HJ-45]

I like that idea more than I thought I would...

I assume that the bracket slides just a bit back and forth as the springs flex, but that most of the load goes back to the frame just behind the spring pin.

The Western setup on our Power Wagon is similar, except for the attachment to the springs. But it does have the braces going back to the frame, and not inside the frame like most Myers setups. That front crossmember looks almost exactly like the Western bracket on the Dodge though.

I want you guys to keep discussing, and then design simply the best 40 series plow mount. That way, I won't have to think about it much when the time comes to add a plow to my 45...

Dan

 

[CruiserStuff]

I'm really enjoying all the feedback and ideas that this is generating. DanS-HJ45......I, too, hope this continues and we can design a GREAT plow system. Did you see the one PHAT MAX posted up recently? Some good ideas there, too. Here's a link to that thread: https://forum.ih8mud.com/40-55-series-tech/338376-plow-tech.html?highlight=snow+plow+teeth

With cruiser user's set-up, my only concern would be the lateral force on the spring packs when you "meet" something with the plow that doesn't want to move (tree stump, pothold, J**p).....especially with the plow at a full angle. Even though the majority of the rearward force is directed into the frame via the rear mounts, the springs take the full brunt of the side-to-side motion and force that is created. What do you guys think?

 

[DanS HJ-45]

I did see that bracket. The only thing I am not so sure I like about it is that I plow a road that isn't exactly flat. While not the Rubicon, I don't know how well a design that leaves room for the axle to drop would to for me. The front end of the Dodge already gets hung up on the road occasionally, but it could certainly be moved up a little.

The lateral forces seem to be the hardest to deal with, speaking as an engineer who hasn't touched a calculator and has just looked at it briefly. But I don't have to worry about this for about a year, so I really like all the ideas I'm getting from you guys.

I'll see if I can't snap some pics of the Dodge later today. One because it is cool, and two because other than it occasionally digging with the bracket, it has worked very well for a long time. And because the Power Wagon is a LOT like a 40 series, just bigger, so a similar setup *might* translate well to the 40 frame.

Dan

 

[CruiserStuff]

Ground clearance and plow brackets don't exactly go together, unfortunately. I plow a lot of uneven ground and the Meyer brackets seem to do fairly well. With the channel design, you can often "get on top of it" and use the channel almost like a slider to get over things.

I'd love to see the pics of the power wagon's set-up - very cool trucks. I saw them in the thread about your 3B conversion and they look great (so does the 40).

I'll post pics of how I'm coping with lateral movement soon......

 

[cruiser user]

I ran this setup on my old 75 fj for over ten years although I only plow my drive and a few friends. never any problems. I have no Idea what plow it was originally made for. It does look professionally made though. I bought the frame out of some guys backyard years ago. If anyone is interested I know where another plow setup for a cruiser is up in the Adirondacks.The owner would probably sell it. When I switched it over to the bj I had to enlarge the clamps to fit the larger spring pacs of the HFS springs, they only just make it now. They do move a little bit but were much looser on the old fj 's stock springs. It s been on the BJ three years now and no problems,again only light duty although we do get some nor'easters here that will dump a few feet of snow as they fly by.

 

[CruiserStuff]

The new brackets are all fabbed and mounted and I have just finished plowing our first "real" snow of the season.....about 15 inches or so. The set-up worked perfectly. Here are a couple pics:

The guy helping me finished the bracketry on Sunday afternoon and it started snowing Sunday night, so I didn't have time to get it painted and "all purdy" but I will later (probably Spring, realistically).

Here are a few shots of the components.....

This is the front hoop as mounted across the front frame rails:

This is how we eliminated lateral movement....a piece of 6 inch channel instead of the two pieces of strap steel that were there previously:

Here's one of the rear, frame-mount brackets....you can also see some of the traigulated "channel" that was made from 2" and 1.5" heavy wall square tubing.....believe me, this is stout:

Another storm expected Friday/Saturday, so I'll keep you posted......

 

[Bennett]

Looks great... simple and strong

Very similar to my set up..one thing I noticed on mine is that the bolt through the frame at the rear is under tremendous amount of downward "shear".. I upgraded to a grade 8 for strength.
keep us posted.

 

[CruiserStuff]

Yes, Bennett, you're right.....I'd say those two bolts through the frame carry the majority of force. I'm running grade 8's also. I thought about going to structural bolts, but then realized that I'd rather shear a grade 8 than to have the frame warp.

Oh, BTW, we welded a piece of strap steel about 3 inches long on one side of each nut for the rear mounting bolts (to tighten the bolt without having to get a wrench inside the frame channel) and a length of 1/4 inch rod to the other side to fish it into the proper spot......worked like a charm. I'll post a pic when I pull it off to paint everything.