One of the more common concerns people have when thinking of getting a snowplow for their ATV is how well it actually works for plowing snow. How much snow can it handle, and how does it really perform in the more challenging plowing conditions?
I myself was on the fence on whether I should get a plow for my ATV or if I should add some more cash and get an ATV snowblower instead. I did a little research to help me decide, and I will share my findings in this post.
So how well do ATV snow plows work? An ATV snow plow works really well for almost any depth of dry snow or for moderate to low depths of wet snow. It’s fast, maneuverable, and great for sidewalks. However, for deep and heavy snow, you will probably be better off using a heavier machine or a snowblower.
There is definitely a need to elaborate a bit on the short version of the answer above.
How well an ATV snow plow actually works depends on many factors such as what you are comparing up against, what you are planning to achieve, what kind of snow conditions you typically get where you live, and what realistic alternatives you have to choose from.
Related: 3 Best ATVs for Plowing Snow; Buyers Guide
Dry snow weighs almost nothing. A breeze of wind will move it on the ground. With powdery snow like this, it doesn’t really matter how deep the snow is. It doesn’t weigh anything so that the ATV can handle it.
However, you may find it a bit challenging to keep all of the snow in front of the blade. As you speed up, the powdery snow will overflow the plow blade, so that you need several passes to move all of it.
If you expect a lot of plowing in conditions like these, it’s a good investment to upgrade your plow with a rubber deflector that mounts on top of the blade. This will allow you to plow snow in depths near the height of your blade without overflowing issues.
Most places get these kinds of conditions with really deep and light snow only a few times each year. Instead, it’s the more challenging conditions that become the deciding factor whether an ATV snow plow is the right choice for you.
This is where things start to become a bit more challenging. The wetter and more compact the snow gets, the harder it will be to plow. This is true with all snowplows, not just with ATVs.
In most cases, the ATV plow will have no problems with a couple of inches of even the heaviest stuff. When depths start reaching 6-8 inches, the bike’s relatively low weight starts showing in the form of less than optimal plowing performance.
Tires may start spinning, and you may find that it’s struggling to keep the blade all the way down to the ground.
The compact snow will lift the plow blade so that you need to go back for a second pass. But then you also need to tackle the snow-packed by your tires from the first pass. To prevent the blade from lifting, you can install a so-called down-force kit.
The only problem is when the snow is deep or wet; the front end wants to push to whatever side the blade is angled.
Having a 4×4 quad is a must.
For more inspiration on what you can do to prevent your tires from spinning, I recommend you head over to this article about the best ATV weight for plowing snow.
Real snow storms with several feet of snow are the most challenging. When you expect more than a few inches of heavy snow, you simply have to go out and plow during the snow.
Now, this is what I call winter!If you wait until after the storm has finished, you may find yourself facing more than the ATV can handle efficiently.
If you put some effort into it, you will eventually tackle deep, heavy snowfalls as well, but it takes much more time and will put a lot more strain on the equipment.
So as you probably understand by now; Whether an ATV snow plow is the right choice for you depends a lot on what kind of snowfalls you expect to get.
There is a huge difference between having 20×2 inch snowfalls and having 5 heavy snowfalls of a foot or more with snow. For the latter, and if you don’t want to go for a plow halfway through the storm, you should consider looking for other alternatives.
Keep in mind that the blades on ATV snow plows are relatively narrow (50inch is considered average) compared to plows built for trucks or tractors. This means that you will not move as much snow with each stroke as you will with the others.
For 2-3 homes, a few hundred yards of a driveway, and few mid-sized parking areas, the capacity should be more than enough. But if you plow many wide roads or huge parking lots, other alternatives with wider blades and heavier vehicles are better.
On the other hand, few if any machines can compete with the speed, maneuverability, and nimbleness of an ATV. These abilities compensate quite a bit for the lack of pure pushing power.
Over time, this has the results evening out a bit.
It’s almost like comparing a race car to an SUV. The SUV can bring more people than the race car, but it will need twice the time to get there (as long as we leave speed limits out of the equation!).
This especially comes true where there’s not much space, like in small driveways, between buildings, and on sidewalks. You’ll find that areas like these often need to be left unplowed when using a truck or any larger size machine.
After some practice with the ATV, you will be able to «dance» around and have these areas free of snow in no time!
ATV snowplows are not very good for piling snow, plain and simple.
If space is a limiting factor so that the snow needs to be piled through the winter, you might as well start looking for other options right away. A snowblower or a tractor with a front loader is my top recommendation in this case.
But if you are not too tight on space, you can stack up quite a bit of snow as long as you plan accordingly. Ideally, it would be best if you pushed the snow out over the brink of a small hill or into the ditch of a road or a parking lot.
It’s crucial that you push the snow far enough at the beginning of the season, so you have room for more on top or at the back of the pile.
You will not be able to move the snow pile with the ATV as soon as it has frozen solid.
The plow will dig in as soon as it is lowered too low on soft grounds like unfrozen dirt and gravel roads. Most plows are fitted with flotation shoes to prevent this from happening, but this is simply not enough in the softest conditions.
When the ground freezes solid, however, you should have no issues on hard surfaces like pavement and concrete.
You need to expect to go through a learning process before you can master your ATV and plow to its maximum potential. Beginners may feel they struggle a lot, even with smaller depths of snow. But this will get better over time for sure.
Another aspect to consider on the «user experience» side of things is the lack of protection from the elements. Suitable clothes and heated grips are a must if you want to avoid freezing your nuts off!
Last but not least, plowing with an ATV is a lot of FUN!
For many buyers, this is the deciding factor for choosing an ATV plow over, let’s say, a snowblower.
Unless the snow depths are too challenging, or the weather is not too bad, you may expect quite the joyful experience of doing something that otherwise is seen as quite a daunting task.
Related: Are ATV Plows and Plow Mounts Universal or Model-Specific?
Understanding how well an ATV snow plow actually works may be a bit easier when we compare it to its most relevant alternatives.
A snow blower is a lot slower than a snowplow but will handle much deeper snow.
You can pile snow where you want it, but when the snow is light and dry, it seems half of it will fly back straight in your face. Don’t get me wrong, I love my trusty Toro, but my cheeks are often quite red after a job well done.
Using a snow blower can also be quite exhausting. Not as bad as using a shovel, but more than riding an ATV with a plow.
For larger areas as long driveways, a snow blower will simply be too slow to handle the task efficiently.
For me, this is the best option as the task on hand is clearing several feet of snow when I get up to the cabin. I’ve found it to be the perfect combination of snow removal capacity and portability (I need to bring it there on a trailer).
Rammy offers some fantastic snow blowers for ATVs.As soon as the snow removal job is done, I can use the quad as transport from the main road and all the way up to the cabin.
You can get both plows or snow blowers that you can attach to your lawnmower tractor. But this ride is a lot less nimble, runs slower, and can be used only on smooth surfaces. Most of them lack 4×4, so the tires will spin as soon as snow depths get above an inch.
If you own a small farm or any other type of bigger property, this may be just as good an option as an ATV with a plow.
The front loader enables you to pile snow more efficiently, and the heated cabin will be very nice to find on the coldest days.
The extra weight ensures that you can handle most plowing situations. Even when plowing icy and compacted snow.
It is, however, quite a bit slower and can’t get to the tightest spots.
How much snow can an ATV plow?
Most ATV snow plows should be able to plow 6-8″ of light snow. When the snow is wet, however, this number is significantly lower.
Are ATVs good for snow plowing?
ATVs are great for plowing tight spaces with a lot of obstacles. They can handle moderate amounts of snow but do not work so well with wet and icy snow. They are usually good enough for most homeowners.
What about moving dirt with an ATV?
If you’re up for some light landscaping in the warmer seasons, the ATV plow may be just what you need to get the job done. Leveling sand, dirt, or gravel should be no problem as long as you don’t dig in too much at the time.
However, I would not use it grading longer dirt roads, as this can be very rough on the quad.
What Kind of Job Are You Doing?
The type of job you plan on doing will play a huge part in the type of plow you chose. Generally, if you are plowing a heavy amount of sidewalks, which are very narrow, you’re going to want a smaller plow. You’ll want a plow that will clean the entire area without going over the edge of the sidewalk. BOSS offers a four foot ATV plow that is ideal for sidewalk use. Wider UTV snow plows are more equipped for residential, short driveways. If you are looking to plow more rugged terrain, such as a long camp drive, you might want to consider a v-plow as it can more easily break trail and cut through ice.
ATV Vs. UTV
As noted above, the type of job you’re doing is going to help determine the plow you get. Odds are, it has already also determined the type of machine you have. If you’re on a municipal snow removal team, you’re probably got, or are going to want, a heated UTV cab for many hours on the job.
With the larger UTV, your options for a snowplow will be different than those of an ATV. Generally, the bigger the machine, the bigger a plow you can use with it. Once again, if you’re doing a lot of sidewalk work, you’ll probably have an ATV which means you’ll want a smaller, narrower plow.
Straight or V
There’s no doubt, both plows are tough. Straight blades are very popular as they are generally lighter and less expensive. However, the V-plow can handle snow in a very different way than the straight blade. Because of the arrowhead configuration of the V-plow it can slice through frozen snow more readily than a straight blade. Stacking snow is also a tad different, as you can put the V-plow into scoop mode and direct exactly where the snow will go.
Lift System
There are three main types of lift systems that are available for ATV or UTV plows: manual, winch or direct lift. A manual or winch lift systems may be fine if you only have one or two homes or jobs to do.
Both of these options will require you to manually angle the plow left, right or straight, and with the manual lift system, as its name states, you will have to raise and lower the blade by hand. If you are a medium to large sized contractor or municipal team with a sidewalk crew, you will want to consider a direct lift hydraulic plow. By having the hydraulic system, it eliminates the need to get off of the machine to angle or lift the blade. This makes a usually cumbersome job faster and easier to do. It also minimizes the risk of slipping on the ice as it reduces the time off of the machine.
Plow Materials
There are two options to choose from when it comes to the different plow materials: steel and poly. Both materials are tough and up for the job, however, there are typically two schools of thought when it comes to choosing a plow material: the slick, corrosion resistant quality that poly has and the rigidity and durability of steel. Snow and slush will slide off of a poly blade with ease and a steel blade provides excellent value while providing a durable, rigid blade to slice through snow.
Again, both materials are up for the task and BOSS offers various commercial grade snowplow applications in both materials.
Ease of Use
You should always consider ease of use when picking out any snowplow. If the plow isn’t going to be easy to attach or control, you won’t enjoy working with it very much. You should watch for the type of attachment system that the plow utilizes. If the plow is hydraulic, you should be mindful of the type of controller it is equipped with. BOSS offers the easy to use, RT3 attachment system for select plows. The SmartTouch 2 controller is available for all UTV applications and BOSS’s ATV controller feature an easily accessible handlebar mounted controller. You should also look into whether the hydraulics are standard or are an additional package to add to your plow. BOSS offers fully hydraulic lift and angling standard on each of its ATV and UTV plows.
Consider the Seasons
One major aspect to consider when adding a plow to your ATV or UTV is the changing of the seasons.
Most likely, you’ll want your ATV or UTV to be trail compatible again come summer. When purchasing a snowplow, look at the undercarriage and whether you’ll have to remove it during the warm months of the year. All of BOSS’s applications offer exceptional ground clearance so that in most circumstances you won’t have to remove the undercarriage at all during spring and summer and can still ride the trails with ease.
There are numerous uses for ATV and UTV plows, from residential driveways to municipal sidewalks all the way to personal use for camp or cottage drives. When you go out to purchase an ATV or UTV snowplow, remember to keep these areas of focus in mind.
90,000 as an ATV will help in the farm-work with a snowmobile and other tasks
on the quadnce, you can transport goods, can be transported by the goods mow grass, remove snow or debris, and work the soil and perform many other tasks.
Sometimes even a tractor cannot replace such equipment - for example, if you have to work in a limited space. We will tell you in more detail how you can use an ATV on the farm and how to choose the right equipment that will cope with hard work in the article. nine0007
Small dimensions . The width of ATVs is usually less than 130 cm, and the length is up to 250 cm. Due to the compactness, you can comfortably work in confined spaces, as well as choose fast paths that are inaccessible to large vehicles.
Another advantage of the small dimensions is that you need a minimum of space to store the ATV.
Low fuel consumption . The average 500 cc ATV consumes 11-15 liters per 100 km - when driving on country roads and light off-road. nine0007
Can be used for entertainment . On an ATV, you can go off-road or go on a picnic with your family.
A four-wheel drive ATV with a reduction gear is needed for chores.
It is better to choose with an engine capacity of more than 400 cm³. It is desirable to have a power steering - it will allow you to get less tired from driving.
Globally, all ATVs are divided into 2 types. ATV - with motorcycle controls and landing, as well as SSV - with automotive. Let's analyze what their features are:
ATV
More affordable than SSV;
More manoeuvrable;
Less weight has a positive effect on flotation.
SSV
Comfortable;
Rollover protection with frame and seat belts;
Roof, doors and windshield prevent rain and dirt from entering the cabin, allow you to work in all weather conditions;
Load capacity and pulling capacity higher than ATV. nine0007
ATV
SSV
Transporting goods . ATV trunks can usually load 60-100 kg, and utility SSVs in the back can carry up to 350-450 kg.
If this is not enough, you can use a trailer.
Tillage . For ATVs there are plows, cultivators and harrows.
Cleaning . With the help of the blade, you can rake snow and large debris. For cleaning small debris such as leaves or sawdust, there are special brushes. nine0007
Grass cutting . ATV mowers allow you to mow grass, weeds, shrubs and small trees with a trunk thickness of up to 2-5 cm - depending on the model.
Loading . The bucket can load firewood, sand, soil or snow.
Spreading . The spreader allows you to distribute seeds as well as fertilizer or sand.
In addition to the above works, the ATV is perfect for hunting or fishing trips.
CFMOTO CFORCE 500 HO .
ATV with a 500 cc injection engine with 38 hp. It has a transmission with a plug-in all-wheel drive, a "lower" and a differential lock. On luggage platforms it can carry up to 60 kg in total. There is no winch in the basic configuration. Electric booster too. Independent front and rear suspensions have 160mm and 200mm of travel respectively. Clearance - 270 mm. Tires are 26 inches. nine0007
CFMOTO CFORCE 1000 EPS . Due to the "liter" engine with a capacity of 75 hp. this ATV is great for hard work. Like the previous version, it is equipped with an all-wheel drive transmission with a reduction gear and a forced locking of the front differential. On trunks in total it is capable to carry up to 60 kg. In the basic configuration there is a winch and electric power steering. Both suspensions are independent: the front has a travel of 205 mm, the rear - 195 mm. Clearance - 285 mm. Tires are 27 inches. nine0007
CFMOTO UFORCE 1000 EPS .
SSV with a "liter" 72-horsepower engine and all-wheel drive transmission with forced differential lock and "lower". Particularly interesting for the economy due to the dump body with a load capacity of 350 kg. The interior of the model is three-seater, the seats are adjustable and heated. The roof, doors and windshield with wiper are included as standard and allow you to work in different weather conditions. Also standard equipment includes a winch and electric power steering. Suspension independent: front stroke - 180 mm, rear - 190 mm. Clearance - 265 mm. Tires are 27 inches.
For farming, we recommend an all-wheel drive ATV with an engine capacity of more than 500 cm³. Utility ATVs are primarily distinguished by a more affordable price and compactness, while SSVs are distinguished by comfort and a large carrying capacity.
Snow always falls unexpectedly, but it requires a quick response from the owners of the house.
Since sometimes it even interferes with going outside, and if it is not removed in time, it will only accumulate. Read our article on how to clean snow the right way. nine0007
Brief content of the article:
We will look at the most common types of snow removal from the territory that have proven to be effective.
The first thing that comes to mind is manually clearing snow with an ordinary shovel. Plus, it's cheap, but the price comes with a hefty amount of physical labor.
Buckets are made of plastic. But there are plywood or metal, although they are not always convenient. Often waving a 7 kg shovel is very tiring for the back and arms. Especially for this, telescopic models with a lightweight body are produced, but they are less durable. nine0007
In general, a shovel has the following advantages:
Only if it is steel and the paint has peeled off on it, after work it is necessary to cover it with oil.
Disadvantages include manual labor. Removing snow on the site requires time and considerable effort. Otherwise, with a shovel, you can even clear away cars that have filled up or the roofs of houses, garages, greenhouses. nine0007
If cleaning the surrounding area with a shovel is too difficult, but you want to meet the minimum budget, a scraper will come to the rescue. Its bucket is similar to a shovel, but the sides are much higher. The handle is double and arched. In fact, this is a manual bulldozer.
Unlike a shovel, snow does not need to be moved to another area. The scraper picks up large clods and drags them.
Has the same advantages as a shovel.
And in addition to them, you also need to apply less force. A person rests on the handle with all his weight and pushes forward, working with the weight of his body. In addition, it copes well with sticky snow. nine0007
Its disadvantage is that it is bulky. Cleaning the area from snow will not be difficult, but it will be difficult for them to clear a thin path.
In addition, on surfaces such as paving slabs, it is almost useless. Due to low maneuverability, they cannot clear the roof or the car.
A pile of salt on ice is a classic of housing and communal services and management companies. Many have adopted this experience for private homes, as it is cheap and fast. The whole process is simply to evenly sprinkle salt on the snow, from which it quickly melts.
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Such clearing of the site from snow has the right to life only if the snow is removed from the sidewalk paths. Although salt is effective, it does not disappear after dissolution. Penetrating into the ground, it kills and impoverishes it. There are frequent cases when perennials simply do not sprout and die after such harvesting.
The same can be said about Peskosol. This is a ready-made factory mixture of sand and salt. For plants, it is even more destructive, but it is better to sprinkle sidewalk paths with it, since sand increases the friction force. By the way, it is sold in large bags of 20, 25 and 50 kilograms. nine0007
Be sure to remove all residues afterwards. The melted snow will turn into ice overnight and it is unlikely that it will be possible to simply shovel it with a shovel. You will need to sprinkle with salt again and only then remove.
By the way, the stores also sell mixtures called “Anti-icing agent”.
These mixtures lower the melting point of ice and it turns into water.
Unlike salt, they last longer. But they are made on the basis of chlorine, which quickly spoils shoes, especially leather ones. nine0007
How to remove snow quickly? You will need equipment that automatically rakes and throws snowdrifts to the side. The following 3 options are suitable for a private plot.
Here's a 21st century approach to snow removal! Snow throwers throw back blockages with clods of 10-15 meters in a matter of minutes. Snowplows for the home are bought, if necessary:
2. Work a large area. It is not so easy to clean 400 square meters on your own. It would be much more convenient to automate the process.
Especially since snow throwers are not expensive. Starter models sell for $110, but they are enough for medium tracts. By the way, since they can send all the snow into one pile, after that it is worth ordering the removal of snow from the territory.
Their disadvantage is the huge energy absorption. Almost all snow throwers run on electricity and consume it quite willingly. The average machine is equipped with a 2 kilowatt engine. nine0007
Universal motoblocks are also suitable for cleaning a summer cottage. Although this is a type of compact tractor, some have the additional function of a snow blower.
Shops sell attachments and snow removal equipment.
Motoblocks often run on gasoline, which is cheaper and more mobile, although they work on a similar technology with snow throwers - throwing clods a few meters. nine0007
In addition, even a walk-behind tractor will be much more useful, since it can also be used in summer.
An ATV is more than just a fun vehicle. If you buy a snow bucket for him, as in the photo, he will turn into special equipment. This tool has 2 advantages:
2. Modularity. The blade is removed in 5 minutes and the buggy can be used again for fun.
Of the minuses: the price. This bucket costs 2 times more than an inexpensive snow blower or a good walk-behind tractor. On average, the blade costs 650-700 dollars, which is comparable to the ATV itself.
Post published: 24.
