Yeah, anything 3/4 ton or bigger is much heavier duty than the half tons. However, I use a '89 suburban for plowing and it works good. But I am easy on the truck, I'm sure if someone else was driving there would be nothing left.
Also, on this topic....straight from '01 manual:
If your vehicle doesn’t have the snow plow prep
package, adding a plow can damage your vehicle,
and the repairs wouldn’t be covered by warranty.
Unless your vehicle was built to carry a snow
plow, don’t add one to your vehicle.
If your vehicle has the snow plow option called
RPO VYU (snow plow prep package), then the
payload your vehicle can carry will be reduced
when a snow plow is installed. Your vehicle can
be damaged if either the front or rear axle
ratings, or the GVW, are exceeded.