ATV snow plowing abilities

[Doc]

I just finished reading an old topic here on using an ATV for snow plowing, and there seemed to be a lot of concern about the ability of an ATV to move heavy snow. I have been using an ATV to plow my 1000' driveway for in excess of 30 years. The first one I used was a 2 wheel drive Yamaha in the 228 cc range, and it did all right, but there were definitely limitations. Then I moved up to a 400 cc Yamaha in 2004, and there was only one storm that made me not even take it out of the barn. Pick-up trucks couldn't even handle that one. Now after 20 years of handling all kinds of snow with a Yamaha 400, I finally bought a new one ( a Yamaha 450), and yesterday I did the driveway, and the snow was dripping wet and heavier than I have ever seen. No problem......Didn't even spin a wheel. 

[First-light]

Hey Doc what is your plow? I use my tractor with the metal skis clamped to the bucket but would rather get a plow for my quad. 

[Doc]

  On 1/30/2025 at 10:39 PM, First-light said:

Hey Doc what is your plow? I use my tractor with the metal skis clamped to the bucket but would rather get a plow for my quad. 

Expand  

I'm not sure what the name of it is, and I'm not sure that there is a name indicated on it. But make sure that you look it over pretty good before buying it. I would go to a dealer that sells and services the brand of ATV that you own. The attachment features and clearances are located differently from one to another. The other thing that has become necessary for me is a winch system that lifts and lowers the blade. My earlier plows were lever-lifted, and that worked fine back then. But on a long driveway like mine, that sucker gets mighty heavy.

[First-light]

  On 1/31/2025 at 11:55 AM, Doc said:

I'm not sure what the name of it is, and I'm not sure that there is a name indicated on it. But make sure that you look it over pretty good before buying it. I would go to a dealer that sells and services the brand of ATV that you own. The attachment features and clearances are located differently from one to another. The other thing that has become necessary for me is a winch system that lifts and lowers the blade. My earlier plows were lever-lifted, and that worked fine back then. But on a long driveway like mine, that sucker gets mighty heavy.

Expand  

Good info. I'll stop by Arkport Cycle and see what they say. I'm running a 2010 Suzuki 400 4wd. Low hours in great shape. Thanks. 

[Doc]

  On 1/31/2025 at 1:02 PM, First-light said:

Good info. I'll stop by Arkport Cycle and see what they say. I'm running a 2010 Suzuki 400 4wd. Low hours in great shape. Thanks. 

Expand  

That definitely will do the job.