[kaisen]

If you're going to hang a plow on the front of a pickup, it would be wise to buy one with a solid front axle. Preferably one with front leaf springs, although that's minor.

Independent front suspension or Ford's old Twin-I-Beam don't handle a plow as well.

So I'd advise a 1999-2003 Ford F250/F350 gasser as being the best plow trucks out there. The newer 2004-up versions are great too, they just utilize the front coil spring suspension with more trailing arms and links that don't like the pressures plowing can exert. But that may be splitting hairs. It's still way better than a GM IFS, and equal to the Dodge (almost exactly the same coil set-up).

A diesel just adds several hundred pounds over that same front axle that's carrying the plow. Diesels also have larger cooling requirements and struggle with low-speed high-load plowing.

The plow itself is a Coke/Pepsi choice. There are differences in the mounts, the pumps, positioning, controls, etc that you may develop a preference for. Articulating V-plows can be good for residential/hobby-farm plowing as you can direct the snow better. But they are way heavier, more complex, and more money. Otherwise consider adding wings. Or maybe you have enough area off the driveways/pads to push snow where it isn't a concern.



In my opinion, an expensive plow truck never pays for itself. Either have a dedicated old beater plow rig (wood hauler/farm truck in Summer), or stick the $2-4K plow-premium into a tractor, skidsteer, snowblower, or 4-wheeler w/ plow. If you still need a pickup for trailering and such, buy a nice one and keep the plow off of it.

This coming from a Minnesotan that has spent more time in a plow truck then I care to mention.