ATV's and snow plows

[TowPro]

I figure with all the diesel heads around here, there has to be a lot of opinions on ATV's, so here goes.



I currently have a little Yamaha Bear Tracker 250cc 2wd. (camo if it matters). I use it for yard work, bringing in firewood, towing the leaf rack, yard work and snow plowing driveways.



My snowplowing consists of the following.



I have around 400' of 10'-20' wide driveway that has blacktop at one end and at the garage door openings. One section of this driveway is 20% grade but it is stone.



My neighbor has 100' of concrete on a 20% grade (which I share to my bottom garage where my truck parks), plus he has an additional 1000' of stone driveway. (I really need to keep this concrete section open so I can get my truck out!)



My Yamaha can move the snow, but its way to small. If I don't plow down the concrete driveway first I will be stuck at the bottom because of the 2wd.

I run tire chains but it is making a mess of my new blacktop.



Last year I broke off the trailer hitch pulling around 300 lbs of firewood so I put a 1 1/2" receiver hitch on it.



I am looking for a new ATV that fits the bill a little better.

The new Honda Fourtrax Rancher ES 4x4 has caught my eye. I like the fact it is now 420cc, has fuel injection (maybe it will run better cold) and has water cooling! Even when its 20 deg out my Yamaha will run hot because I am beating the heck out of it trying to plow! I called CycleCountry who makes my plow, they said if they will get this new model as soon as they come out, and if they need to make a new plow mount kit it will take 6 weeks. That's well into snow seasons so I guess I should keep my Yamaha for the rest of the winter



I guess no one can have an opinion on this model since it hits the show room floors next month. Some times I am afraid to buy a new model but I did survive the 98. 5 ISB I owned.



What kind of ATV are you using for plowing snow? All the dealers recomend the smaller 350-400cc sizes saying its eaiser to drive them for plowing.

 

[Partyat33]

I have not plowed with it but I have a 04 Rancher ES. Beautiful machine. Very reliable.

Easy to drive.

 

[WVanHemert]

Bomb Outty 800, it is great being able to plow at 25k's on a quad when your driveway is a quarter mile long.

 

[JOdell]

I have a 2000 Honda 450 Foreman S. I do contract snow removal on sidewalks with it. It is a very good machine. I really like the reliability of Honda. I would say that even a new model would be just fine. -Jason

 

[mcsinfl]

I'm an atv enthusiast, own 3, read all the mags/websites, etc. I like the sport machines, so I don't know a lot about the 4x4's, but here's my quick 2 cents:



-you can't go wrong with Honda, they're very dependable machines in general, somewhat dated in technology, but they’re slowly updating their fleet (i. e. the new rancher), and you can beat the living p*** out of em and they won't die

-pretty much all the new 4x4's in that class are outstanding machines (400's-450's), Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki, Arctic Cat (most are rebadged/reworked Suzukis), Kawasaki (some are also rebadged Suzukis, at least the sport models), Polaris, Bombardier (now Can-Am again, set the standard in this class with the introduction of the Outlander several years ago).

-look closely at which have the features you may want and add up the pros and cons of each

--straight axle is more stable in corners, but less ground clearance

--strongly consider full locking diffs, many only have limited slip, some have both full lock, limited, and off

--many come with receiver's for a hitch in the back already built in

--I believe the Bombardier has an inline brake system, no foot brake only hand, and the fronts and rears are not independent of each other like most other brands... I personally want my front and rears as separate controls

--access/use of controls and functions are they conveniently located?

--fuel injection is the way to go in my book, plus you can often buy performance boxes that will give you more hp/rev



If I think of others I'll add it to the post, hope this helps,



Mark

 

[Johnny5]

I plow with my Polaris Magnum 500 4x4 and it has a 5ft blade. It plows like a beast but when the snow gets to the 1ft mark then you have to attack it in increments. I am always getting to do the neighbors drives when the city plows drop their windrows on them and those windrows get pretty dense and up to 2 ft at times but this ATV handles it.



You definitely need a 4x4 and get the biggest you can. To date I have yet to use chains but if conditions got icy I probably would have to...

 

[BigPapa]

Mark,



Nothing personal, just a couple of corrections:

Arctic Cat (most are rebadged/reworked Suzukis)

Some have Suzuki engines. That's it.

Kawasaki (some are also rebadged Suzukis, at least the sport models)

Kawasaki and Suzuki "shared" some models. It's over in 2007. Some Suzuki's are manufactured by Kawasaki and some Kawasaki's are manufactured by Suzuki.

I believe the Bombardier has an inline brake system, no foot brake only hand, and the fronts and rears are not independent of each other like most other brands...

When the hand brake lever is pulled, it applies the front and rear brakes. When the brake pedal (foot pedal) is depressed, it applies the rear brakes only.





Great info otherwise.



Scott

 

[Nate]

Put a plow on the truck



I've plowed with ATVs before, but they are weak compared to a plow on a pickup. We get hit with 2-3 feet overnight just about every winter in Maine. Have fun trying to do that with a 4 wheeler.

 

[HOBrian]

I plow with an 01 Polaris Sportsman 500HO 5ft plow. That thing is great, I have never had a problem with this machine! Ever! Good luck with your choice.

 

[mcsinfl]

BigPapa, thanks for the clarification, I know less about the 4x4's than the sports. The a/c sport 400 is a suzuki with a/c plastics, and I thought some of the 4x4's were the same. I would have to agree with Nate though, if you're in an area that gets a lot of snow and you have a lot to clean, mounting a plow on your truck is much more efficient. Personally, I love the snow and could sit on a atv with a plow all day long (it sucks living in Florida now :-( )

 

[JJPage]

Do not overlook the Suzuki 500 Vinson, this is a great machine and you cannot beat the price. My driveway is similar to yours and I was amazed at the amount of snow this unit will push, it is available with either a five speed manual shift or an auto w/dual range.



After owning several sport Atvs (Warrior,Banshee,Raptor) I thought this would be rather dull, and it is, but it sure does plow snow!

 

[JGrefenstette]

best friend plows with a Grizzly 660, tends to overheat.

 

[Babyfat]

Kubota Rtv900 With Blizzard Plow

 

[Babyfat]

Or This Better Pic

 

[Matt400]

Hey TowPro,

Since your 4x2 yammie has been hanging in there then a more heavy ATV with 4x4 should make a considerable difference.

Where we are ATV's won't move snow unless you get it fast when its not too deep but that could mean plowing through the night. The snow here is wet and heavy requiring 2wd auto's to use tire chains.

Seems in the east conditions are much different allowing the use of smaller plows and pusher equipment.



Are snow throwers popular in your area? Maybe give the yammie a break and get something you can use after its dumped all night long, check these out-

http://www.hondapowerequipment.com/snotra.asp

 

[Jesselee]

i have a grizzly 660 with a 60" plow and never had any over heating problems but then again with a plow that size it two passes and thats it :-laf my buddy just got a rancher 4x4 the cheapest one you can get,its a good quad but its has no suspension what so ever .