If you've ever spent six hours in a truck during a heavy nor'easter, you know how much a fisher snow plow foil can change your day. It's one of those accessories that you look at in the catalog and think, "Do I really need that piece of steel on top of my blade?" For a long time, I thought it was just an aesthetic thing—something to make the plow look a bit more "pro" while sitting in the driveway. But after one particularly nasty lake-effect storm where I couldn't see two feet in front of my hood because of the snow spray, I changed my mind pretty quickly.
Plowing isn't just about moving the white stuff from point A to point B. It's about visibility, safety, and not losing your mind when the wind picks up. That's where the snow foil comes into play. It's essentially a rigid extension that bolts to the top of the plow blade, designed to catch the snow that tries to crest over the top and redirect it back down into the windrow. It's a simple concept, but it makes a world of difference when you're moving at anything faster than a crawl.
The Big Difference Between a Foil and a Deflector
Before we get too deep into the weeds, we should probably clear something up. A lot of guys use the terms "snow foil" and "snow deflector" interchangeably, but in the Fisher world, they aren't exactly the same thing. A standard deflector is usually that thick rubber flap you see hanging off the top of a blade. It's flexible, it's heavy, and it does a decent job.
However, a fisher snow plow foil is a different beast entirely. It's usually a rigid, curved piece of steel or high-strength material that acts like a wave-breaker. Because it's rigid, it handles heavy, wet snow much better than a rubber flap. When you're hitting a big pile or "rolling" snow at a higher speed, the foil forces that snow to stay in the curl of the blade. If you've ever had a face full of snow spray hit your windshield at 2 a.m., you know exactly why that matters. It's not just annoying; it's actually kind of dangerous when you lose your line of sight for even a second.
Why Visibility is Everything
Let's talk about that "blindness" factor for a minute. When you're plowing a large parking lot and you're carrying a lot of speed to throw the snow, the air pressure and the motion of the blade create a cloud. Without a fisher snow plow foil, that cloud has nowhere to go but up and over. It hits your windshield, freezes instantly, and then your wipers are struggling to keep up.
Once I bolted the foil onto my HD series plow, that problem almost vanished. The snow curls forward and stays low. It keeps the hood of the truck cleaner, which means my engine isn't sucking in as much frozen mist, and my headlights stay clearer for longer. If you're doing residential driveways, maybe it's not a huge deal. But if you're doing commercial contracts or long stretches of road, you'll wonder how you ever worked without one.
Is the Installation a Headache?
I'm the first person to admit that I hate spending my Sunday afternoon drilling holes into a perfectly good piece of equipment. Luckily, most Fisher blades are already pre-punched for accessories like this. If you have a newer model, the fisher snow plow foil usually lines up with the existing holes on the top of the moldboard.
You'll want a good set of wrenches and maybe a friend to help hold the foil in place while you get the first few bolts started. It's a bit awkward to balance on your own because of the weight and the curve of the steel. I've found that using a couple of C-clamps to hold it against the blade helps a ton. Once you get the hardware tightened down, it's solid. It doesn't rattle, and it feels like a natural part of the plow. Just make sure you use the genuine carriage bolts that usually come with the kit—they're designed to sit flush so snow doesn't catch on the bolt heads.
Durability and Long-Term Use
One concern I had before buying mine was whether it would make the plow too top-heavy or if it would get bent out of shape if I hit a frozen snowbank. I've had my fisher snow plow foil for three seasons now, and it's held up surprisingly well. Fisher builds these things out of pretty thick gauge steel. I've accidentally "tapped" a few frozen piles while stacking, and while the paint might have a few scratches, the foil itself hasn't buckled.
One thing to keep an eye on is the hardware. Because of the salt and brine they put on the roads, those bolts can get pretty crusty over time. I usually hit mine with a bit of fluid film or some other rust inhibitor at the start and end of the season. It keeps the corrosion at bay and ensures that if I ever did want to take it off (not that I would), I wouldn't have to cut the bolts off with a torch.
Does it Change How the Plow Handles?
You might think adding more weight to the top of the blade would change the trip action or the way the truck handles, but it's really negligible. The fisher snow plow foil is heavy enough to be tough, but not so heavy that it messes with the balance of the unit. If anything, it actually helps the "roll" of the snow.
Fisher plows are famous for that "roll" action—the way the blade is curved to keep snow moving. The foil just extends that curve. It makes the plow more efficient because you aren't losing half of your load over the top of the blade. You'll find you're making fewer passes to clean up the "trails" left behind by snow that spilled over.
The Cost Factor: Is it Worth the Money?
I'll be honest, Fisher parts aren't the cheapest on the market. You can definitely find generic rubber deflectors for half the price of a genuine fisher snow plow foil. But here's the thing: the generic stuff usually requires you to drill your own holes, and the rubber eventually curls or tears.
When you buy the actual foil, you're getting something that matches the powder coat of your plow and fits the radius of the blade perfectly. It looks like it belongs there. To me, the time saved on the job and the lack of frustration from not being able to see is worth the extra fifty or sixty bucks over a cheap DIY solution. In this business, if an accessory saves you thirty minutes a night, it pays for itself in a single season.
Final Thoughts on the Setup
If you're on the fence about whether to pick up a fisher snow plow foil, I'd say go for it. It's one of the few upgrades that actually improves the experience of plowing. It's not just a "nice to have" luxury; it's a functional tool that keeps your windshield clear and your snow piles where they belong.
Whether you're running an older HD blade or a brand new V-plow, check the compatibility for your specific model. Fisher has different versions for different blade widths and styles, so you want to make sure you're getting the right part number. Once it's on there, you'll probably find yourself looking at other trucks without them and wondering how they manage to see anything at all in a storm.
Plowing is hard enough on the body and the truck. Anything you can do to make the job a little smoother and a little safer is a win in my book. Stay warm out there, keep your lights clear, and let the foil do the heavy lifting when it comes to that annoying snow spray. You'll thank yourself the next time the wind starts howling and the snow starts flying over the hood.