CHEVROLET Tahoe - Manual (Page 413)

Q:
How do I know if my vehicle can handle a
snow plow?
A:
Some vehicles are built with a special snow
plow prep package, called RPO VYU. If your
vehicle has this option, you can add a
plow to it, provided certain weights, such as
the weights on the vehicle’s axles and
the Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW), are not
exceeded.
Q:
How heavy can a snow plow safely be?
A:
The plow your vehicle can carry depends on
many things, such as:
• The options your vehicle came with, and the
weight of those options.
• The weight and number of passengers you
intend to carry.
• The weight of items you have added to your
vehicle.
• The total weight of any additional cargo you
intend to carry.
Say, for example, you have a 700 lb (318 kg)
snow plow. The total weight of all occupants and
cargo inside the cab should not exceed 300 lb
(135 kg). This means that you may only be able to
carry one passenger. But, even this may be too
much if you have got other equipment already
adding to the weight of your vehicle.
Here are some guidelines for safely carrying a
snow plow on your vehicle:
• Make sure the weight on the front and rear
axles does not exceed the axle rating for each.
• For the front axle, if more cargo or passengers
must be carried, appropriate counter ballast
must be installed rear of the rear axle. Counter
ballast must be properly secured so it will not
move during driving.
• Follow the snow plow manufacturer’s
recommendations regarding rear ballast. Rear
ballast may be required to ensure a proper front
and rear weight distribution ratio, even though
the actual weight at the front axle may be less
than the front axle rating.
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