How to Turn Your ATV into a Snow Plow

What to Know about Your ATV Snowplow

When you want to clear snow fast, without the hassle of shoveling, using an ATV snowplow is a great option. It’s compact, agile and easily maneuverable, and can make keeping your driveway, sidewalks and access roads clear of the white stuff fun. Plus, your 4 wheeler with plow is effective. It works really well for tackling light, dry snow up to 8 inches deep, and can handle smaller levels of wet, icy snow. A larger UTV snowplow can usually handle even bigger jobs with ease.

You’ll have options when choosing the best ATV snowplow kit for you, including manufacturer-specific models. When you’re making your selection, think about factors like level of difficulty for installing and uninstalling, weight of the plow, and whether your snow-moving requirements will be better served by a V-shape blade or a straight blade.

Following are 4 considerations for your ATV snowplow.

Make sure your ATV has enough power. Before you pick up a plow kit, check your ATV’s specifications to be certain your machine has enough power to wield a snowplow, and shove and haul snow. Most any mid-to-upper ATV size, a 400cc engine or larger, should be up to the task, depending on what you need it to do. Of course, you don’t want to overtax your ATV, which can result in damage or injury. You want the right ATV tires too. Our line of Master ATV tires provides top traction, no-slip turning and strong braking, in snow, mud and more.

Do all the maintenance before attaching your ATV plow. Getting your ATV tuned up, fluids checked, tire pressure optimal, battery charged and fuel tank filled is much easier to accomplish before the weather turns frigid and the flakes start falling. A winter of plowing requires your ATV to be in tip-top shape.

Take care in mounting and maintaining your plow. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions when mounting your plow. Set the depth of your plow blade based on how much snow Mother Nature has dropped, keeping in mind you need ground clearance so it doesn’t dig in, and you want the optimal angle to keep from taking too big a bite with each pass. Check all the connections and the plow depth a second time just to be sure. If your blade adjusts manually, lubricate the moving parts to make adjustment easier. If you’re using a winch to adjust the blade height, make sure all the pins are in place and secure, and the cable is straightened out. Spray the plow blade with silicon spray or wipe it down with cooking oil to help the snow roll off the blade without sticking.

What to do after you’re finished plowing. Clean off the blade and your machine as much as you can because leaving them covered can turn into a real mess in freezing weather, plus can promote corrosion or rust, especially if you’ve been using melting salt. If you’re leaving the plow blade in place, lower it to the ground so as to avoid putting extra weight on the suspension and/or winch.

For further information regarding using your ATV snowplow, take a look at our Treadworld Toolbox article titled Tips for Plowing Snow with Your ATV Snowplow. And be sure to check out our complete line-up of Master ATV tires and UTV tires for top traction and maneuverability in snow and all conditions.