Anybody using their ATV to plow snow?

[marlin mike]

I have a 400 Eiger that I am thinking about putting a plow blade on. I have never plowed with an ATV just pickups. I was looking for suggestions on what type, length, brand, ect. of blade to bye or to stay away from. Or am I just wasting my money as I get lots of snow during the winter? Thanks for all replys.

[Old Syko]

I have a 400 Eiger that I am thinking about putting a plow blade on. I have never plowed with an ATV just pickups. I was looking for suggestions on what type, length, brand, ect. of blade to bye or to stay away from. Or am I just wasting my money as I get lots of snow during the winter? Thanks for all replys.

Haven't used it yet this year but I will.  I run a 60" Eagle plow on a 650 Prairie and I've had both for 10 years.  The plow came from Shadetree Powersports and it is heavy, which is a good thing.  The light weights tend to ride over the snow.  I air up the front tires to 20# or so to help handle the weight when it's lifted.  Couple years ago we got 30" then it turned off cold, around 0 with a good wind.  It was hard for the wheeler to handle but we got the drive and part of the road opened.  When trenching water and drain lines the wheeler does a much better job of putting the dirt back than anything else I own.  My advice is to stay away from the lightweights and unless you only intend to clear sidewalks you won't want one of the V plows.  Use a winch to raise and lower.  The manual lifts will wear you out quick.  When plowing either add a hundred or more pounds to the rear rack or do what I do.  I get the wife to ride along. 


With only a foot or so of snow you can blast on through the stuff but you want to be aware of any hidden obstructions.  Buddy of mine, not too bright, hit a piece of pipe at about 30, went over the bars and broke a hand and arm while the rest of us laughed ourselves sick. 

[FPH]

I know a guy in Canada that uses one to clear commercial parking lots.  Also uses a Dodge truck.

[mechanic]

Whats snow?
 
Ben in Ga.

[Dave in WV]

 I've got a 54" Warn Cyclone blade for my Grizzly 660. I use a winch with a synthetic winch line to raise it. I have the "center" mount and it seems to be a well built system. This is my 4th winter with it and it does a good job. Get a  piece of hardened steel for the wear edge and have mounting holes burned. I've used the same wear edge for 3 winters so far it's still good to go. I've got a piece of old conveyor belting across the top edge to keep the snow from blowing back in my face. Last month we had 10" of very wet and very heavy snow and if I kept my momentum up it did well. At slow speeds the snow's weight pushed me off to one side some. It really doesn't make much difference if you have a 400cc or a 700cc ATV plowing. They weigh about the same so you can only get a certain amount of traction. I like my tapered blade for snow removal but the straight blades are a better all around blade for plowing year round. Wax the blade before you use it. Spray the blade with PAM or other brand of cooking oil to help the snow slide off.

[Old Syko]

Whats snow?
 
Ben in Ga.

Just think of many inches of Jawja peach fuzz all over everything.   


Dave's right about the Pam.  Spray a lot and often for best results.   


The regular blade does seem to be a bit more versatile than the cyclone but either works well.  Don't have any idea how many miles mine has been pushed but the original wear bar should last a couple lifetimes.

[Dave in WV]

The original wear bars on pavement don't last us long here. We do the subdivision (3 miles of street) and  with original wear bars you'll go through 2-3  a year depending on the amount of plowing. I got tips and info from a neighbor before I bought my plow and a guy at work told me about using hardened steel for a wear bar. He's used his hardened steel wear bar 7 years to do his subdivision. YMMV

[Old Syko]

The stops on the ends of the blade are there to keep the wear bar from wearing out.  If your wear bar is getting worn out you need to adjust those stops.  When properly set those round pucks should be the first thing to wear, not the bar.  As they wear, readjust them to keep up.  They do work because they are much harder material than the original wear bar.

[cwlongshot]

Yup!

Works great!! I plow with my Sportsman 700 and a 60" Polaris plow.

Plowed 24" of wet snow two years ago, it moved it just fine!!

CW