The biggest requirement on a plow truck (doesn't matter what brand of plow) is the battery. The bigger the battery (CCA) the better. It is my opinion that the highest you can get that will fit in your vehicle is best. Around 1000 is perfect, but often 850CCA is the highest you may be able to get, which is fine too. I also recommend the dual terminal type, it costs more, but it is worth it.

The great thing about the dual terminal type is that you can connect the vehicle battery cables to one set of terminals, and the plow cables can be connected to the other set of terminals. This way the plow has its own direct connection to the battery. All too often on plow trucks there are so many accessories that require direct battery power that there is no room to add anything else to the existing terminals. This is another reason for the dual terminal battery. See attached photo for an example of a dual terminal battery with multiple accessory connections. Now imagine this same battery with only one set of terminals! Even worse, imagine it as a GM battery with side terminals. How can you possibly make all these connections and ensure they are clan, tight, and making good contact?

Also notice that ALL of the connections have the lugs on the wires sealed with heat shrink. Corrosion is the enemy. Anything that has green corrosion be it the exposed ends of the wires themselves, or the lugs, are the cause or start of a problem. Clean and tight at all times. Fluid Film sprayed on twice a year will keep the connections clean and corrosion free.

And finally, the age of the battery. Don't expect a 6 year old 750CCA battery to be trouble-free operating a plow. Especially if it is a "plow truck" only. Meaning you let it sit for long periods of time not driving it (we'll get back to this again). Just because it has enough power to start the truck does not mean it has enough to operate the plow. IF you are not sure, bring the battery to a shop or big box store and have it "load tested". Explain that you are using it with a plow, and that the plow can regularly draw 200 amps, yes, 200 AMPS. EVERY time you max the plow out and the pump goes into relief, it will draw the maximum amperage. All the way up, all the way left, all the way right, it will go into relief, and pull 200 and often 210, 220 amps. That is a HUGE load compared to starting the truck. Especially in a tight driveway, you can hit that max amp draw 10 times in 10 minutes with the truck at idle, that really sucks down a battery quick, especially an old underrated battery with corroded connections.

the Meyer E-60 with the original smaller Lift Cylinder usually pulls around 210 amps at max. With the cylinder update kit, it will be pulling around 190 amps. The E-57 typically pulls around 180 amps, and the E-47 pulls between 150 and 190 amps. For ALL Meyer motors 230 amps is reject, replace the motor.

Getting back to a plow truck that sits, do yourself a favor and spend $30 on a solar charger. Just sit it on the dash and let it keep the battery charged when the truck is not in use. It sure won't hurt anything having it.

I mentioned that the pump will pull maximum amperage whenever the plow is maxed out in any direction. You can help minimize this by not having "happy hands", constantly moving the plow and maxing it out in any direction. Minimize how often you angle the plow, and let go of the switch or button before it reaches full travel in that direction. IF you are in a small parking area, and you are going to push forward, and then back up 3 more times and push forward, do not raise the plow all the way. Raise it a few inches off the ground, and back up, drop the plow, repeat. The same goes for angling. People think the plow always has to be fully angled, it does not. It is often easier (a little) to push deep snow at full angle, but as long as the snow is rolling off to the side you want it to go to, why angle it all the way? The more it is angled, the narrower the path is you are clearing, and ALL plows have a crossover valve, or cushion valves to allow the plow to absorb a hard hit. When the plow is fully angled, guess what? NO CUSHION, NO CROSSOVER. The plow A Frame, and the truck frame are going to absorb the hit.

-Admin