Unstucking a Plow Truck
You never know just just how capable something is till you push it too far. We finally managed to get the F-550 stuck, while shooting some truck-to-truck photos while plowing uphill on this gravel access road. Scott Anderson dug the snow out between the plow and the front of the truck, and we used the King Ranch to pull the F-550 out. If we didn't have any other trucks with us, we probably could have unhooked the 900-pound plow and backed the F-550 out under its own power.
Glow Plug Testing
Our second day of plowing began well below freezing. We didn't plug the engine block heaters in--but we should have. The 6.0L engine has undergone extensive cold weather development, but the 15W-40 oil in the crankcase still makes these engines wish for warmer climates. Once fired, the engines heat up quickly, thanks to a fast idle mode these trucks will go into when left idling in Park for more than 20 seconds.
The Ford Guys Loved This...
When we got back to our test site around 9:30 a.m., we came across a general contractor in this Chevy 1/2-ton (5.3L gasoline V-8) pickup that got stuck in the snow bank at the end of his employee's driveway. Very convenient. We accused the Ford guys of planning all this but realized it was way too cold for this guy to be faking freezing to death for a photo-op.
Saving the Day
It only took a few minutes with the King Ranch truck to plow the snow out from behind the Chevy. One yank with the tow strap and the Chevy was out of trouble in no time. "Sure, you can repay us," we said. "Just let us plow your driveway."
Send in the Heavy Artillery
With the Chevy out of the way, we shifted the F-550 into Low-range and sent it in to smash through the snow bank. There's nothing like a little real-world testing in the name of helping out our fellow man.
Plowing 3 Feet of Snow
The "driveway" turned out to be a single-lane dirt road about 300 yards long. We doubt it's been plowed all winter. In some areas, the snowdrifts were 2-3 feet deep. We worked the F-550 for an hour or so, using the Boss V-plow to pierce our way up to the house. It was amazing how much snow this truck would move before loosing traction.
Building Igloos
At -4 degrees Fahrenheit, the snow stays dry and won't stick together. With the V-plow in the scoop position (both wings forward), we were able to stack the snow into high banks at the end of the driveway.