How To Install a Snow Plow on Your Truck

Updated on Aug 22, 2023

Written by

RealTruck Expert Team

Installing a snow plow on your truck has a number of benefits: you can plow on your own schedule, avoid paying others for the service, and even help out your snowbound neighbors if you’re feeling charitable. You might think installing a plow on your truck is a difficult task suitable only for trained mechanics. However, the majority of snow plows intended for non-commercial use a front receiver hitch as the snow plow attachment. Once you install this hitch, hooking your plow up is a simple matter of sliding its attachment point into the receiver and securing it in place. We show you easy installing one of these hitches is so you’ll be ready to plow when the snow starts falling. Note: This installation is on a 2015 GMC Sierra Denali 2500, but the general installation steps will be similar for almost every truck on the road today.

Installing Your Snow Plow

Step 1: Gather your Hardware

Most front hitch hardware includes nuts, bolts, bolt plates, and fish wire.

Step 2: Assemble Bolt Plate

Thread a bolt through one of the bolt plates and attach the fish wire to the end of the bolt.

Step 3: Thread Wire Through Frame

Feed the fish wire through the exposed end of the frame to the hole just above the sway bar bushing.

Step 4: Pull Wire Through Hole in Frame

This is necessary to pull the bolt and plate into place.

Step 5: Pull Bolt Through Hole in Frame

Make sure the bolt can be pulled through before moving to the next step.

Step 6: Thread Wire Through Hole in Hitch

Pull the fish wire through the hole in the mounting tab on the receiver hitch.

Step 7: Pull Bolt Through Frame Hole and Hitch Mounting Hole

Once both sides are installed, tighten all hardware down with a wrench and socket or impact driver.

Step 8: Hand-Tighten Mounting Nut

Be careful as you tighten the nut to avoid pushing the bolt back into the frame.

Step 9: Repeat on Opposite Side of Vehicle

Once both sides are installed, tighten all hardware down with a wrench and socket or impact driver.

Step 10: Insert Plow Mounting Bar into Receiver

Make sure you use any hitch-fastening hardware included with the plow.

If you’re using a mechanical snow plow, then your job is done! For plows that have electric controls, please refer to your plow’s instruction manual as the installation process varies widely from brand to brand.

If you have questions about snow plows or any other truck accessories, chat or call our product experts.