It’s pretty hard to believe that fall is already here for some parts of the country. And soon, the winter snow will be flying. So now is the perfect time to explore your snow plowing options. But you may be wondering if you have the right vehicle. ATVs are super versatile with a plow, as are UTVs. But which is better equipped for the job? The answer will come down to your snow plowing conditions since ATVs and UTVs each have their unique strengths.
It’s known that UTVs generally come with more power and capability than a traditional ATV. So, you might assume that using a UTV for plowing snow is the better choice. And there are specific scenarios in which the UTV is the ideal vehicle for the job. Polaris suggests if you have a large driveway, wide walkways, or extensive paths to clear, UTV snow plowing is probably best.
Many sources suggest the key to effortless snow plowing depends on the weight and traction of the vehicle. The heavier the ride, like with UTVs, the more traction you can harness. And the short answer might be, yes, UTV snow plowing can be better than ATV snow plowing for this reason alone.
ATVs may have a reputation for being the fun, adventure-seeking rides of summer. But don’t assume they can’t cut the mustard when it comes to plowing snow. In fact, despite having less engine power than some UTVs, an ATV can be an absolute boss in the snow.
As Gearachu points out, a 400cc ATV can push snow like a champ. Narrower driveways and walkways can quickly be cleared of snow with the right ATV.
ATV snow plowing is often popular among consumers because the average city sidewalk and driveway are smaller than those who usually live in more rural areas, with more ground to cover and snow to push.
Regardless of whether you opt for an ATV or UTV, you’ll want to equip your ride with the right tools.
Can-Am points out a few areas to consider before buying yours, including four-wheel-drive capability.
It’s equally important that your ATV or UTV has ample torque, given the amount of snow you plan to be moving. Engine power matters, but the proper torque can get the job done in either variation. Maneuverability and reliability matter too. So, be sure to choose a model ATV or UTV that can handle the workload you plan to face.
If you have a large area to plow that may require a few hours, you’ll need a healthy horse attached to your plow to avoid breakdowns or mechanical failures. Don’t be afraid to go for comfort, as well, including features like heated grips or enclosures to keep warm.
There is always a wrong and a right way to plow snow, regardless of your chosen vehicle, to do so this winter. Cranking on the four-wheel drive and charging ahead isn’t going to be ideal. Instead, most ATV and UTV experts will tell you to be mindful of how you plow snow, including recognizing the snow conditions and adjusting accordingly.
Plow angles are essential to ensure you avoid ramming into the ground or hitting obstructions. And purchasing the right-sized plow for your ATV or UTV will ensure you harness the most power without overworking your vehicle when plowing.
When you’re ready to prep for winter snow, you can weigh your options between both ATVs and UTVs. Depending on the kind of snow plowing you anticipate, both can be viable choices for the job.
RELATED: What’s the Difference Between an ATV and a UTV?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
In general, a shovel has the following advantages:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
In addition, even a walk-behind tractor will be much more useful, since it can also be used in summer.
