Hi Tim, I hope your friends don't give you too hard of a time over the dodge,mine did as well for a bit, they will get used to the dodge and if they are anything like my friends see that it is a fine truck. I was looking at a 2008 ford super duty when I bought my dodge, a 2008 quad cab,2500,big horn/slt,4x4 with the diesel,and manual trans. my truck has the 5,200lbs. front suspension,and I have not heard of the frames bending in the front from plows, dodge has a snow plow prep package for gas engine trucks :snow cheif/snow comander ? I am not an expert on them , but there is plenty of people /information available on this site so you came to the right place ,hope you get an answer soon...and welcome...