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Snow plowWhat is Snowplow? Is it Useful?
The winter season brings with it a sense of magic with snowfall, trees covered with fluffy, white snow, cozy evenings in front of the fireplace with your loved ones and fun time playing in the snow for kids. But as an adult, winter also brings a sense of dread because snowfall means snow clearance responsibilities that can take away winter’s joy.

While there are various ways to remove snow, in this article, we brings you one of the more efficient ones so that you don’t have to spend a lot of your precious time clearing the snow. Read on to learn everything you need to know about snow plows.

What is Snow plow?

A snowplow is a piece of equipment or a device that is mounted on a vehicle to remove snow and ice from outdoor surfaces like driveways, roads, sidewalks, etc. Sometimes, the term ‘snowplow’ is also used to include the vehicles to which they are attached, but it is important to note that the snowplow is just the attachment to a winter service vehicle like a pickup truck.

Snowplows are attached to the front of the vehicles so that snow can be pushed to clear a path as the vehicle moves forward. They are one of the most efficient methods for homeowners and businesses alike to safely and quickly remove snow from their properties.

What are the Types of Snowplow?

Snowplows are manufactured in a varied manner to meet different requirements according to the location where they will be used. For example, a narrow driveway would need a smaller snowplow instead of a wider one. Whether you are planning to buy a snowplow for residential purposes or to start a service professionally, you need to know the various types of snowplows available and the purpose of each so that you can choose the right one according to your requirement.

The following are the five types of snowplows:

Front-end Plows: As the name suggests, front-end plows are mounted on the front of the vehicle to push the snow forward to clear the snow. They are the most common type of snowplows.

Rear-end Plows: Rear-end plows or tow plows are mounted on the back of the vehicle, and they push the snow in the same direction as the front-end plow to remove snow more efficiently.

Rotary Plows: Rotary plows are similar to snow blowers in that they blow the snow piled on the side of the roads to make a wider path. They are used in regions that receive extremely heavy snowfall.

Wing Plows: Wing plows are attached to the side of the vehicle, and they work in combination with the front end plow to clear the snow on the sides of the path. They are generally used by government snow removal services as they have to clear snow from a large area in a short amount of time.

Underbody Plows: Underbody plows are attached underneath a winter service vehicle to scrape snow that has become compact on the roads. They can be used either in combination with a front-end plow or on their own.

What is the Usage of Snowplow?

Snowplows are typically used to remove snow in regions that receive high average annual snowfall or where large amounts of snow need to be removed quickly.

Airports, parking lots, highways, sidewalks are areas that are too long or large to use a snowblower for snow removal. Snowplows are the best options to use in such locations where they can quickly push all the snow to the perimeter when they are attached to a vehicle.

People with physical limitations also use a snowplow for snow removal as it allows them to remain seated and operate the machinery to complete the task.

What are the Benefits of Snowplow?

Snowplows are amazing instruments that make the task of snow removal easy and efficient. The following are the benefits of hiring a snowplow service:

Snowplows make the process of clearing snow fast and efficient. The blades of a snowplow are made of durable materials that allow the plow to scrape the surface completely clean without risk of damaging the equipment. Because of this, there is no need for multiple rounds of plowing, thus saving time.

Lightweight snowplows can be attached to already existing vehicles, reducing your investment costs.

Snowplows decrease the risk of slip-and-fall accidents as plowing while adding de-icers will clear the area of snow and ice both. This will provide traction to walk safely.

Because snowplows clear the snow efficiently without leaving trails of snow, this will reduce indoor messiness due to wet snow that can get dragged inside due to foot traffic.

Snowplows can handle large volumes of snow with ease. Do you have a long driveway or a parking lot to clear? Snowplows are what you need.

Is an ATV Snow Plow Worth the Investment?
Why discuss the necessity of an ATV snow plow? Well, while the winter weather may be beautiful, it also can make life slightly harder. Icicles form on the roofs, sidewalks become icy, and driving on the icy roads becomes more dangerous. However, one of the most difficult chores that winter brings is removing snow from driveways and roads. Plowing snow can be a long process, but with the help of some tools, it can be made easier.

So, if you have been pondering the idea of purchasing an ATV snow plow, you have come to the right place. Whether you own a snow plowing business or you just want to remove snow from your driveway, an ATV snow plow can make life much easier. In this article, we will take a look at if a 4 wheeler with snow plow is worth the investment. Let’s begin!

Why Do I Need an ATV Snow Plow?

One of the questions that you may be wondering is if you need an ATV snow plow or not. Whether or not you need a 4 wheeler with snow plow depends on how much snow you get and for what purpose you need it. If you have a snow plowing business, then the product may be a good investment. It is especially useful in areas that are too narrow for a large snow plow.

Also, if you plan on using your 4 wheeler with snow plow for home use, you must consider if you are in need of a snow plow. Is shoveling snow too difficult for you? Is your driveway very large? These questions will help you determine if this kind of product is necessary. Also, in order for you to use an ATV snow plow, you will need an ATV or UTV. So, consider this option especially if you have an ATV already or plan on purchasing one. Otherwise, the investment will be huge!

Different Types of ATV Snow Plows

Just like other snow plows, there are two different types of ATV snowplows. These types are the straight snow plow and the V-snow plow. Both types are durable, but they do work slightly differently. Here are the differences between the two different types of ATV snow plows:

Straight Snow Plow

This type of snow plow is the most popular. Straight snow plows are much more lightweight, which makes it easier to put on your ATV. They are also much cheaper. That said, they may not be as durable when it comes to removing snow from driveways and roads.

V-Snow Plow

V-plows 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.

Different Materials ATV Snow Plows Are Made From

There are two options to choose from when it comes to different snow plow materials. These materials are steel and poly. Both materials are durable, but they each have their own benefits. Snow and slush will slide off of a poly blade with ease, while a steel blade provides a durable, rigid blade to slice through the snow. However, both 4 wheelers with snow plow materials are durable and perfect for tough jobs.

Lift Systems to Choose From

There are three main types of lift systems that are available for ATV or UTV plows. The lift system types include the following: manual, winch, or direct lift. A manual or winch lift system will require you to manually angle the plow left, right, or straight, and with the manual lift system, as its name suggests, you will have to raise and lower the blade by hand. If you plan on plowing a lot of roads, you will want to consider a direct lift hydraulic plow. Having the hydraulic system eliminates the need to get off of the machine to angle or lift the blade. This makes the job of plowing snow go much quicker.

Things to Look for in an ATV Snow Plow

In addition to the different types of ATV snow plows and the types of materials, there are some other specific things to look for in an ATV plow. Below is a list of some things to look for when shopping for an ATV snow plow.

Blade Width

The blade width is the most important consideration. If you have a UTV with a width of 60 inches or more, purchase a snow blade between 60 and 70 inches. For an average-sized ATV, purchase a snow blade between 50 and 55 inches.

Blade Height

The next consideration is how high you need the ATV snow plow to be. Most snow plows are between 16 to 24 inches high. Short snow plows do not require as much power to push, and they work great with smaller ATVs. Larger ATVs, however, can handle the extra weight of a tall snow plow. Therefore, a large snow plow will work well with a larger 4 wheeler.

Weight

If you have a small ATV, you should plan on purchasing the heaviest snow plow. A larger ATV or UTV should be able to handle a heavy plow without any problems. Choose an ATV snow plow that will work well with your 4 wheeler.

How Does A UTV Snow Plow Work?
A UTV snow plow is a great choice if you need to clear a lot of snow from a long driveway or a parking lot. It’s better and easier than manually shoveling snow, and cheaper than hiring a snow plow service (if you already have a UTV). Most farming UTVs can easily handle snow plowing. All you need to do is buy the right snow plow system and attach it to your UTV. In this quick guide, we tell you everything you need to know about plowing snow with your UTV, how to set up your UTV to plow snow, and the best tips for quickly and safely clearing snow with your UTV.

How Well Do UTV Snow Plows Work?

UTV snow plows work extremely well to clear snow. Most UTV can easily push up to 8 inches of snow, and we’ve seen people who’ve used theirs to clear even thicker snow.

What makes UTVs so good for clearing snow is that they have big powerful engines, and they are heavy. This gives them better traction and brute strength to push snow.

Any challenge you might face will likely not be about the thickness of snow. Things like having room to maneuver your UTV, how to pile snow, and how to maximize traction are what you need to think about most.

How Do You Plow Snow With A UTV?

Plowing snow with a UTV is a 3-step process: preparing your machine, prepping the area to be plowed, and finally doing the actual plowing.

1. PREPARING YOUR MACHINE

Make sure your side by side is ready to plow snow before the first snow falls. As winter approaches, do everything necessary to get your machine in good plowing shape.

The first thing is to have the right snow plow, if you haven’t already bought one.

Most UTVs work with a 60-inch wide blade. You can opt for a straight blade or a V blade plow. A straight plow is cheaper, but a V plow does a better job plowing through thick snow banks and directing snow.

Decide if you want a winch snow plow system or a hydraulic snow plow. A winch snow plow system is the best one for most UTVs. It’s affordable and works with the winch already in your side by side.

The main downside of a winch plow is that you can only move it up and down while in the vehicle. To change the angle of the blade, you have to get out and do it manually.

A hydraulic snow plow is more expensive and has higher maintenance requirements. On the upside, you can move it up and down as well as angle it using controls in the vehicle.

Once you get the right snow plow, fit it to your UTV as directed in the manual.

Also, make sure the UTV itself is ready for the winter season. Check the engine and fluids, make sure the suspension is good, and check the tires.

Talking of tires, you may need to get a new set that’s suitable for snow and mud. If you have all-terrain tires, you can try using snow chains on them to improve traction.

We also recommend installing a windshield on your UTV, if you don’t have one. It’ll protect you from the snow and elements. If your budget allows, get a full cab enclosure and maybe even add a heater.

2. PREPPING THE AREA

Start prepping the area to be plowed before any snow falls. The main thing you need to do is mark any sections you don’t want the plow to run over using markers.

This could be a rose bush, a fire hydrant, or sprinklers. Some of these things will be buried under snow later, making it harder to figure out where they are.

Markers are also great for indicating the boundary between the driveway and lawn.

You can make your own markers or buy them online like this set of 100. Whichever markers you use, make sure they are tall enough not to be covered by snow, and that they are highly visible.

3. PLOWING SNOW

Don’t wait until a lot of snow has fallen to start plowing. While a UTV can push 8 inches or more of snow, it’ll be easier if you clear only a few inches at a time.

There are two techniques for plowing snow: windrows and pushing snow.

The windrow method involves pushing snow to one side of the driveway, forming long lines of snow called windrows.

Windrows work best for long and narrow driveways, or if you’ve no space for a high pile of snow.

To form windrows, angle the blade to one side, allowing snow to move to one side. Form the first windrow as far as you can from the driveway to give you space for additional windrows in the future.

Occasionally angle the blade to the other side to avoid piling one windrow too high.

The other option is to push snow straight on with the snow plow blade. You’ll need to identify a place to pile up the snow. Be careful not to pile it in the street or someone else’s property.

Push the snow into a pile. As the pile gets bigger, you’ll need to partially drive over it as you raise the snow plow. This allows you to pile the new snow higher.

Once you dump the snow, back up before raising the snow plow. This ensures you don’t put a lot of strain on the plow and winch. Once the pile gets too high, start another one.

Snow Blower or Plow: What’s Better?
Freshly fallen snow looks beautiful, as white crystals blanket everything in sight. Unfortunately, that includes your sidewalks and driveway, where snow removal is necessary for ease of movement and safety. There are a number of snow removal options to choose from, and which works best for you and your property is a personal decision that only you can make. Before you head out to purchase a snow blower or plow, do your research to make the most of your investment.

Snow Plow vs. Snow Blower

Shoveling snow is back-breaking work, and only practical in areas of the country that experience snow once or twice a season. For the rest of the country, a snow blower or plow is the perfect solution for safe snow removal, but which one is right for you?

Snow Plow

A snow plow is an accessory which is affixed to the front of a commercial vehicle, ATV, or UTV, and used to effectively scoop and displace snow with a curved, angled blade. If you’re wondering if a snow plow is the best option for your needs, consider the following:

Pros

Speed – With the right vehicle behind it, a snow plow can quickly and effortlessly clear large volumes of snow.

Capacity – A snow plow is a great solution for larger applications such as long driveways or parking lots.

Reliability – There is little that can go wrong with the snow plow itself, and if it is attached to a dependable vehicle, it can provide years of reliable service.

Cons

Cost – Purchasing a heavy duty snow plow is a big investment, in addition to the cost of vehicle purchase and operation.

Visibility – Visibility is reduced at the ground level, with an increased chance of an accident or damage to the vehicle or property.

Space Restrictions – Do you have a dedicated space to store your snow plow during the winter and/or offseason? In addition to storing the plow itself, the nature of the equipment means there are limitations on where it can place the resulting piles of snow.

Damage – Increased speed, limited visibility, and a powerful motor can result in damage to your vehicle, lawn, structural components, and surfaces such as brick or loose stone.

Limitations – The size and power of a snow plow render it ineffective for clearing areas such as a deck or patio, sidewalks or paths, and short to medium sized driveways.

Snow Blower

A snow blower is an independent unit which is guided by the user from behind. While there are many different makes, models, and features to choose from, the basic mechanics are the same: snow is removed from a designated surface using a rotating, spiral blade which picks it up and propels it out the side.

Pros

Size – Their compact size makes a snowblower much easier to store, and maneuver in tight spaces.

Visibility – Ground level access means you can see everything in front of and around you.

Safety – Built-in safety features and hands-on control are safer for the user and their property.

Efficiency – Make quick work of smaller driveways and walkways.

Cons

Exposure – During the process of clearing your property, you will be exposed to the elements, including freezing temperatures, falling snow, or cold wind.

Time – It can take much longer to clear a large area using a snow blower in comparison to a snow plow.

Capacity – Smaller, single-stage snow blowers work extremely well with light and fluffy snow. Snow that is heavy and has a lot of moisture in it makes using this machine more difficult due to their design and lack the power. Two-stage or three-stage snow blowers are designed for heavier snow.

Depth – Single-stage snow blowers are best suited for snowfall up to 6 inches or 15.24 centimeters. Deeper snowfall requires investing in a more expensive machine like a two-stage or three-stage snow blower.

Motoblock or cultivator: decide on the choice
Any land plot intended for growing fruit, vegetables and cereal crops needs processing and care. A variety of equipment is presented on the modern market, which greatly simplifies the preparation of soil, allowing you to clean it of weeds, loosen the soil, form beds, harvest and carry out a number of other agricultural work. It is necessary to choose a walk-behind tractor or cultivator, starting from the area of the plot, budget, tasks and other factors.

The motoblock is a type of minitractor and is a compact uniaxial agricultural machine equipped with a diesel or carburetor engine. Motor-blocks are equipped with separate wheelsets and have a simple construction, so they are easy to operate and maintain. Among the main advantages of motoblocks:compact sizes;multifunctionality;

installation of additional attachments;high speed of work.

Motoblocks on the market today are equipped with good comfortable handlebars with knurled handles to prevent slipping even when operating in bad weather conditions. Motoblocks come with either diesel or gasoline engines. Diesel-powered power units are considered more functional and reliable, however, they are characterized by high fuel consumption and often there are difficulties with ignition at negative air temperatures.

Many modern models are equipped with special transport wheels, simplifying the task of moving them from place to place. The owner of the walk-behind tractor can replace the star-shaped cutters with disk cutters, as well as make adjustments to the various units of the unit at their own discretion. You can attach a trailer to the walk-behind tractor, turning it into a real uniaxial mini-tractor, with the help of which it will be possible to side up the field, harvest and transport the tool a short distance within the village. The disadvantages of motoblocks include:high cost in comparison with cultivators;greater consumption of the fuel mixture;impressive weight and transportation difficulties.

Features, pros and cons of cultivators

Cultivators are usually equipped not with wheels, but with disk cutters.They are manual and automatic. Moto-cultivators are equipped with electric or gasoline power units and are intended for deep soil cultivation. The weight of medium-power units, as a rule, does not exceed 47 kg, and the power can reach 6.5 hp. Such models do an excellent job even with heavy and “difficult” soil. The cultivator is a structure consisting of the following elements:axle and wheels;

transmission;power unit (gasoline, diesel or electric);system responsible for managing the unit.

Gasoline cultivators of high power (over 6.5 hp) are designed to work with any soil and can be used to cultivate areas of several tens of hundred parts. The motor-cultivator copes with the tasks of cultivating the soil, weeding beds, destroying weeds and harvesting. As practice shows, an aggregate with a capacity of up to 3-3.5 hp is quite enough for soil treatment at a speed of up to 2 hundred parts per hour. It is about normal soil without hard lumps. For difficult soils, it is worth choosing models with pneumatic tires that significantly increase the permeability.

Cultivators are considered more narrow-profile machines than walk-behind tractors. Such equipment is intended primarily for cultivation and tillage and is distinguished by:high maneuverability;light weight and dimensions;low cost in comparison with motoblocks;high productivity when loosening the soil;simplicity in operation and maintenance.