Custom rt3 boss plow mount for f550

[farm boy00]

Have been looking heavily for a rt3 mount for my 2000 f550 but only found one and didnt have money at the time. But i have inquired one off a chevy through a trade for so have to make it work

Building it all out of spare materials for cost sake. Mostly 2x2.5x.25in and 2x2x.25in angle

Sorry about the bad quality of pictures. Only working with 2 small lights and a 500w flood lights.


Got the bumper off and set the push bar under the truck



Starting to design the uprights. 2x2 angle will be going up to the bumper mounts. There is no other way to attach to the from in the front but bumper mounts



Bad picture but it shows how the upright will look like welded to the adjustments for height on the pushbar



Now it will get raised straight up and bolted.

Next will be doing the back mounts

 

[farm boy00]

Had my dad look at it and we decided that it would need more support incase of a heavy impact. Cut 1/4in plate 3.5in wide and then cut it into a "boot" also.

Have to go through and weld everything up if it bolts up nicely. The adjustment plate has the holes cut on a angle for the push bar so the second mount that got tracked together got put on a angle to straighten the holes but first one didn't. So i will have to try and grind a corner weld and straighten it. The mounting holes to the truck also will get raised 1.5in or so and pushed out 1/4 to make up for adding the plate

 

[franklin2]

Are you going to make some rear frame mounts also like the factory boss mount does in the picture below? I would.

 

[farm boy00]

Are you going to make some rear frame mounts also like the factory boss mount does in the picture below? I would.

Yes. Just need to get more metal.

 

[Cat_Driver]

Do be careful about clearance between the road and the support systems. I had a bran new power wagon with a full snow plow rig on it, and the snow plow frame caught when I was off road and it best the entire truck in half. Funniest thin you ever saw. Picture a truck going down the road darn near shaped like a pyramid. The cab was about a foot away from the bed at the bend. When it happened it pulled all the electrical wires from the starter out.

Can you believe the insurance opted to repair the truck rather than total it. They send it to a big rig repair facility and the straightened the frame and welded 1/2" plate on both sides on the bend in the frame.

So just remember clearance.

 

[yomax4]

Yes. Just need to get more metal.

Your front end looks just like my 99 350 super duty. In MN. there are a ton of RT3 ford mounts on craigslist. Or at least there were. I too was going to fab my own mounts and after buying a mount for $200. I'm glad I didn't. My situation was that I have an RT1. There is no mount for an RT1 in 99 or newer so I bought the RT3 and it all bolted right up to the truck. then I only had to fab the RT1 push bar that I already had to the RT3 brackets and that was the easy part. #2,5 and 7 would be a big fab job. #4 not so much but man, I really suggest that you check Craigslist for a used RT3. Even ups for $50 would be worth it not to have to fab those parts. I just finished my install and wish you luck with yours.

 

[farm boy00]

Do be careful about clearance between the road and the support systems. I had a bran new power wagon with a full snow plow rig on it, and the snow plow frame caught when I was off road and it best the entire truck in half. Funniest thin you ever saw. Picture a truck going down the road darn near shaped like a pyramid. The cab was about a foot away from the bed at the bend. When it happened it pulled all the electrical wires from the starter out.

Can you believe the insurance opted to repair the truck rather than total it. They send it to a big rig repair facility and the straightened the frame and welded 1/2" plate on both sides on the bend in the frame.

So just remember clearance.

Plow wont be much or any lower then the front axle. Will possibly cut off any extra adjustment on the truck side bracket if it hangs lower i will cut it off. Truck don't really be for off road besides plowing or for the farm

 

[farm boy00]

Your front end looks just like my 99 350 super duty. In MN. there are a ton of RT3 ford mounts on craigslist. Or at least there were. I too was going to fab my own mounts and after buying a mount for $200. I'm glad I didn't. My situation was that I have an RT1. There is no mount for an RT1 in 99 or newer so I bought the RT3 and it all bolted right up to the truck. then I only had to fab the RT1 push bar that I already had to the RT3 brackets and that was the easy part. #2,5 and 7 would be a big fab job. #4 not so much but man, I really suggest that you check Craigslist for a used RT3. Even ups for $50 would be worth it not to have to fab those parts. I just finished my install and wish you luck with yours.

I will have about $200 into this after paint, bolts nuts, and everything wise.

The super duty mounts are $250- $650. I found one for a 90s ford with wiring harness but still would do about the same amount of work.

I have only $300 into a 9.2 ft v blade, wiring harness, and joystick. Got it for a steal but will need some welding and new cutting edges next year.

Then will have $50 into a wiring adapter for the lights.

So the total budget this year will be

200
300
+50
----------
$550.

Next year will be another $400 for cutting edge.

Sorry to off track some.
I do like though that this will be heavier then most factory mounts that I've seen on craigslist

 

[farm boy00]

Well got the front brackets fully welded up. My welding still aint that good so my dad went through and hit it hard. Then got some paint and got 3 layers put on to it. Then put some paint on to the push bar and some onto the truck itself. Also painted the outside tires black too (have had them off to fit into the 8ft door on my other garage).



Some more pictures of how the bracket is done



Bolted it up while just tacked and make sure it was aligned



Bumper just set onto the tow hooks. Bunper will be raised another inch or so. Good news is that I wont have to cut the plastic below the bumper for the mount.



Paint on the mounts






The 19.5 in rims look alot better with black paint.

Going back to school wednesday so will stop at tractor supply and get a few cans of spray paint to go over the rims one last time and to do alot more under the truck where a brush wont go.

 

[franklin2]

About being too low; When it's all said and done, just make sure your a-frame or pivot point for the blade is as close to plumb as possible. If your a-frame is tilted down when the plow is on the ground, the blade will want to dig in at the corners when it's angled. Not that much of a problem on a gravel road that has a crown, but a big problem if you are trying to clean snow off a paved parking lot.