Plowing with an Isuzu NPR?

[DZL JIM]

Looking at getting an NPR for a work truck, but I need to plow with it in the winter. Thought about doing a 4x4 conversion so it wouldn't be a worry, but has anyone or does anyone plow with just a regular NPR?

If so, how does it do? I don't do parking lots and the like, I build houses so I do our construction drives.

Thanks for any input.

[snowplowjay]

There are a few contractors around my area here who plow with the NPR's or GM equivolents. They all seem to be running the 4x4 versions. There is also a truck dealer located in the next town east of mine (Jukonski Truck) who sells them in the Truck Trader and he always has a few of the 4x4's listed with Fisher or Meyer blades on them. They are a relatively reasonable priced truck so I wouldn't even consider purchasing a 2wd version and spending the money to convert when you can just purchase a factory 4x4.


GOOD LUCK


Jay

[Lawngodfather]

4x4 conversion for an NPR?????????

Anyways heres some pics of an NPR I have saved from don't remember where.

[Lawngodfather]

v plow

[Lawngodfather]

snoway

[Lawngodfather]

Workin it

[Lawngodfather]

I should have one by fall

109" wb is what I am looking for

[Lawngodfather]

more

[thesnoman]

Originally posted by snowplowjay
There are a few contractors around my area here who plow with the NPR's or GM equivolents. They all seem to be running the 4x4 versions. There is also a truck dealer located in the next town east of mine (Jukonski Truck) who sells them in the Truck Trader and he always has a few of the 4x4's listed with Fisher or Meyer blades on them. They are a relatively reasonable priced truck so I wouldn't even consider purchasing a 2wd version and spending the money to convert when you can just purchase a factory 4x4.


GOOD LUCK


Jay


I would think the a 2wd version would be quite workable with a plow if it had at least a few tons of ballast in the backand some good grippy tires. The cab arangement would give very good visabilty plowing it would seem. There are times when I plow in 2wd with my K3500 with 2 to 3000lbs in the bed and it does fine in lots that way. .

[wyldman]

The 2WD version works,but you do need a lot of weight,and even then there will be times it will be difficult.The 4WD versions are much better suited to a plow rig.

If your doing construction drives,I think the 4WD would be needed,as you'll be sliding around alot without it.

[thesnoman]

Our county and state trucks around here push some serious drifted snow here from time to time and they are all 2wd. Some of them have plow frames that attach to the rear axle(s) too for pushing thrust load carring. With proper ballast in it and good tires it will do a fine job with lots. Without any ballast, it will be lacking though.

[wyldman]

The problem with using that much weight in an Isuzu (or Hino,etc),is your going to be way over the GVWR.The smaller lighter Hino's don't have real high GVWR's.If they did,the DOT would be running them too.

The 4WD's aren't much more,you might as well buy the right truck.It will last longer too,as you only need enough ballast to offset the plow and balance the truck.You don't need to overload it to get traction.The truck will last much longer carrying less weight.

[DZL JIM]

Thanks for all the responses.
I figured 4x4 was the way to go (for what I'm doing) it's just hard to find these things around.

[thesnoman]

Originally posted by wyldman


It will last longer too,as you only need enough ballast to offset the plow and balance the truck.You don't need to overload it to get traction.The truck will last much longer carrying less weight.

I do question this though because you want the stronger rear axle to do most of the pushing anyway to extend front drive life and that takes more ballast too.

[Big Nate's Plowing]

Originally posted by thesnoman
I do question this though because you want the stronger rear axle to do most of the pushing anyway to extend front drive life and that takes more ballast too. unless a wheel starts slipping both the front and rear will pull equally. since both driveshafts are connected to the same output shaft:rolleyes:

IMO why buy a truck not equipped for the job then overload it to make it work and abuse it? would you plow with a 2wd f150? I wouldnt, but from the sounds of it you would.:shades

[wyldman]

Originally posted by thesnoman
I do question this though because you want the stronger rear axle to do most of the pushing anyway to extend front drive life and that takes more ballast too.

With a 2WD truck (a pickup for example),will require LOTS of ballast to plow well.A fully loaded salter will do the trick,but your now pushing the limits of the truck,as it's overloaded.The truck will be overworked,just to get traction.

With a 4WD,you only need enough ballast to offset the weight of the plow,and keep the truck balanced.This is usually in the 4-800 lb range for a pickup.you are still well within the load limits of the truck,and it's not working near as hard.Truck is also a lot safer to drive,and much easier to stop.

[erslincoln]

Any idea what models are available with 4wd?

I've been looking and can't find any.

[thesnoman]

Originally posted by Big Nate's Plowing
unless a wheel starts slipping both the front and rear will pull equally. since both driveshafts are connected to the same output shaft:rolleyes:

IMO why buy a truck not equipped for the job then overload it to make it work and abuse it? would you plow with a 2wd f150? I wouldnt, but from the sounds of it you would.:shades

Not really as in snow, there is always "some" slippage, as minute as it might be. IF you carry ballast in the rear and make rear axle load heavier it will deliver more of the pushing tractive effort.

Putting a few tons in a truck that is rated to haul it is not over loading it unless you are one of those that needs 3/4 ton to "haul" groceries from the store. There are a lot of 2WD stake bed and dump bed one ton trucks here that push snow with great success and long life. About 27 years ago we had a blizzard that had us cut off for about 3 days out in a rural area with 2-3 feet and more of snow on the roads with bigger drifts. When we were finally opened up it was by a little old man with his stock 1954 1 ton chevy 2WD dump bed truck with a 235 6cyl and a old vee plow (it was a bit taller than the front of the hood in center of it too) and a few tons of sand in the back. The county contracted with him for his services. He opened the road with little effort, (the engine did not sound too strained at all) and no traction problems that I saw as he went through drifts as tall as 5 feet in some areas. I visited him for a bit and that he resumed his work.

BTW, More than once I have plowed lots that were mild to moderate in 2WD with no problems with my normal ballast and salt load. I keep trucks for many years and have yet to have the first driveline failure with any of them in service in over 19 years now.

[tvpierce]

I've seen a few around here. They're Mitsubishi w/ Fishers. I googled "mistubishi fuso 4x4 plow" and came up with this site:
http://www.trucksmaine.com/newtrucks.html

Scroll to the bottom of the page, there's a sweet looking Blizard setup on one. I'd love to have one of those trucks.

Jeff Pierce

[Lawngodfather]

That's a 38 hour drive for me to Bangor Maine....

Nice looking truck, but it's a stick.

http://www.trucksmaine.com/images/fg_4x4.jpg

[synner]

all the 4x4 's in Ontario are Mitsubishi's, seem to be right in line with the price of Chev/GMC/Isuzu and the Hinos.

[Limestone]

Izuzu does not make a factory 4X4 only one is Mitsubushi and they only come in a five speed.

[jakegypsum]

Has anybody heard about Isuzu having problems in the United States? One of the guy's at work was telling me something about them having some type of problem. Maybe financial or something due to the fact that they have other manufactures build certain vehicles.

My brother-in-law runs an insulation division of our business. His last four box trucks were Isuzu. He just purchased a new Mitsubishi box truck three months ago. He said that all of the good people at the Isuzu dealership were gone and that things over there just didn't seem the same. Last month I drove by that peticular dealership and found that it was closed up. Go figure.

Jake

[snowplowjay]

Well considering the fact that Isuzu is a GM company id say yes they are having trouble in the US right now. One of the main reasons that GM has passed their employee pricing on to the public is due to extremely low truck sales this year to date. So I would assume the Isuzu nameplate is suffering equally as much...

Jay

[atgreene]

Rowe Ford/Mitsubishi in Westbrook Maine has or had a 2004 4x4 with a back-pack toolbox and 9' dump. Sweet little truck, but had a Boss V. Wasn't too impressed with the boss on it. Tried it out last winter. Still was sitting on the lot a few weeks ago. The 4x4's only come in standard tranny, which is why I suspect it's been there for the last year.

Visability wasn't as good as I thought it would be. Price started at 44,900 and was down to 39,900 last I heard. Might have to talk to them again, especially considering fuel cost this winter, might make an efficient little plow rig. Anyone want a Boss V? After pricing the GMC 5500 at $55,000 with body and live hydraulics sans plow, that Mitz looks pretty good. Put a Blizzard on it and would be a nice rig.

[Joey D]

Well considering the fact that Isuzu is a GM company id say yes they are having trouble in the US right now. One of the main reasons that GM has passed their employee pricing on to the public is due to extremely low truck sales this year to date. So I would assume the Isuzu nameplate is suffering equally as much...

Jay

truck sales were never the problem it it overhead. Between over paid former execs with huge pensions and rising heath care cost no one seemed to be looking at the ten year mark down the road and now the company is paying the price.

[cat320]

truck sales were never the problem it it overhead. Between over paid former execs with huge pensions and rising heath care cost no one seemed to be looking at the ten year mark down the road and now the company is paying the price.

Not to get to far off the subject but my town is so worried about pentions and health care .It's getting to the point of every one get your own health and provide for your own retirement like every one else has to .

[Plower737]

I have a 94 Isuzu and I put a 8.5 western on it. We don't get much snow around here. And we don't have any hilly areas, all flat. But it did fine with 2 tons in the back. I only plowed 6" with it. I must say the veiw is alot better than a regular pickup truck. I didn't notice any slippage from the front end when turning or anything. The truck held the plow pretty well too. Just my 2 cents. I too was concerned about putting one on it but figured why not try, if not, put the plow on something else. turned out to be alright.

[Little Truck]

I have a 94 Isuzu and I put a 8.5 western on it. We don't get much snow around here. And we don't have any hilly areas, all flat. But it did fine with 2 tons in the back. I only plowed 6" with it. I must say the veiw is alot better than a regular pickup truck. I didn't notice any slippage from the front end when turning or anything. The truck held the plow pretty well too. Just my 2 cents. I too was concerned about putting one on it but figured why not try, if not, put the plow on something else. turned out to be alright.

I would love to see a pic o that, I have a NPR 2wd and from what I have learned a plow costs more than the truck is worth..

:popcorn2

[Plower737]

Lets see if I can do it... sometimes my pics are too big....

[ponyboy]

i used my mitusu****ty 2 wd for 5 years great when loaded with salt sucked when empty it was a slow trip back to the material pile. my friend has the 4 wd he loves it i hate stick. Its great you are on top of the blade great vision not a lot of power hope you dont get alot of heavy wet snow

[lawn king]

I run a 9' snoway on my npr, i run good rubber and lots of weight in the dump body. The truck plows great with no 4WD!

[lawn king]

4 WD is not the way to go in a cabover! Take a look at the specs and see how much payload you sacrifice when you go to the split front axle!

[blizzard78]

The NPRs are only 2wd if you what 4X4. The Mitsubishi FG is the only game in town for cabovers that are factory in that class truck.The truck is an animal geared low 5.13 ring pinion, 5 speed with exhaust brake 4 cylinder diesel. We run a BOSS 9'XT in 2wd with 2yards of sand, engage 4wd drive and its unstoppable IMO. Only downfall is the truck is not really Highway friendly max speed 68mph @ redline, truck could use a 6 speed.14k gvw

[lawn king]

I have no problem with the 2wd, i run real good rubber and ample weight in the dump body. When i start to feel any traction loss i engage the downpressure on my plow! I would rather mop the floors at a peep show than plow with a standard transmission!

[snowplowjay]

I would rather mop the floors at a peep show than plow with a standard transmission!

LOL!!!

I have to say that power control wise you can't beat plowing with a Standard Tranny. Storm duration wise it does become tiresome and monotonous on the operator. I still don't mind it when I run the standard truck that Billy has.