Originally published in the November 2015 edition of Tech Trends
(e-newsletter and as an article within NTEA News), this article is also
available to you below as an employee of an NTEA member company.
Fall is in full swing, which means it’s the start of snowplow season in
northern states. Many upfitters are beginning to work with customers and dealers
to prepare for winter weather. NTEA members are inquiring about snowplow
applications as related to new model year vehicles.
Important
info
- The 2016 model year GM C/K
pickups have LED headlamps on many light-duty versions, requiring specific
wiring harnesses from the plow manufacturer. High-intensity discharge lamps
serve as an alternative. The new 2016 C/K light-duty with LED headlamps could
potentially be in your shop soon, as production began in October
2015.
- For the 2015 model year Ford
F-150 and beyond, the snowplow prep option is important as it helps the
vehicle’s electrical system management, ensuring electric power steering is
fully capable in low-speed maneuvering. Be sure to locate the in-dash snowplow
button.
- Adding a snowplow on a truck
with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds or less can affect multiple
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. For this reason, upfitters need to know
which trucks have been tested for snowplow compatibility.
- Only Ford, GM and Ram offer
factory snowplow preparation option codes for specific pickup trucks. Each
company has performed internal testing and reviews on individual models to
ensure their durability and compatibility with snowplow equipment.
More information
available from the NTEA:
Are you faced with technical or
engineering challenges?
Contact the Technical and
Engineering Hotline at (800) 441-6832 for individual attention on varied topics
such as Federal Excise Tax, truck certification and labeling, vehicle compliance
and truck spec’ing. The Hotline is available Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm
(EST). Members can contact the Association as frequently as
needed.