Best ATV for plowing snow?

[Barndog56]

Well I was going to ask you guys, but then I thought I'd ask Google AI. Is anyone dead set against any of these brands mentioned, or for them?

It'll be used to plow our driveway and most likely the MIL' s as well. Only had to do it twice so far this winter. Other than that just rides around our little 5 acres, and maybe pulling the gorilla cart full of manure.

Looking to stay as far under $10k as possible.

What's more important, getting the right brand and model, or buying from the dealer with the right service department?

 

[Kdog]

One more consideration is the weight being added to the front end of your ATV. Regarding which brand, everyone has an opinion, but around here, Honda is king and retains it's value longer.

Down here in the south we just use our backpack blowers if we can get to it before it ices over and it hasn't been driven on. Had two snows so far this year with the first being a wet heavy ~5" and the other was a dry 1.5". I have a Red Max EBZ8560 and my son has a Stihl BR 800X and both made light work of the snow. Think it took me 20 minutes to clear the wet heavy stuff and maybe 7 for the dry powder. Similar results for my son at his place.

 

[ruskbucks]

I have rode a yamaha grizzly before and was very impressed. The thing was a absolute tank but had plenty of get up and go they have power steering on them that is really nice. I have bought a new yamaha warrior in 1994 had it for 15 years and sold it to my cousins husband it is still going today. I now own a yamaha viking sxs and love it. I have never had a mechanical problem with either of them. The Hondas are known to be bullet proff also. I just like the yamahas more.

 

[bigboreblr]

Engine size is sorta mute. ATV's lack the weight to use their power pretty much regardless of size. Everything these days is liquid cooled. ATV's with belt drives should be avoided. Likely to smoke a belt.

What are you plowing, dirt driveway, paved? I have a cheap cabelas plow on my 420 rancher. The plow should have trip and should be able to dip somewhat left to right with uneven ground. ATV mounting can limit you considerably offroad when not using the plow, stuff stick underneath.

Nice level paved stuff, almost anything can do that both plow and machine. Hills, ruts, rock bigger than goldballs sticking out in frozen ground. They take a beating.

I like an atv that has alot of sales volume, so parts are easy and cheap to come by.

For me, another ATV. I wouldnt look anywhere except honda. ruskbucks is right, yamaha is a good machine. They just stopped making snowmobiles. Not sure of the future of other motorsports. Might want to look into it.

 

[SD51555]

Can you get a plow worthy ATV and a plow for $10,000? I made a $2,000 error trying to put too heavy of an implement in front of a light atv.

 

[Jerry-B-WI]

I have a 1998 Arctic Cat 454. Been plowing about 500 feet of gravel drive and 1/2 acre yard at my cabin since I bought it.

Don't have much advice about brand but I'll list the features I'd get if I bought another.
No smaller than 450
Power steering
Heated grips and thumb warmer.
4x4
Hi-Lo range
5 foot plow

My plow is a mid mount and it was armstrong operated originally. Cycle Country sold a small winch for lifting the plow and that thing is a blessing. The plow doesn't weigh enough to ruin the suspension. Don't know what type of service the newer ATV's need but I haven't had mine to a dealer since I bought it. I think if I bought a new/newer ATV I'd look heavily at Honda. I like the front and rear racks on them better than other machines. You'll probably want chains too.

 

[Foggy47]

Can you get a plow worthy ATV and a plow for $10,000? I made a $2,000 error trying to put too heavy of an implement in front of a light atv.

Still feeling the burn eh? Mistokes.....we all make 'em.

 

[Foggy47]

I have a 1998 Arctic Cat 454. Been plowing about 500 feet of gravel drive and 1/2 acre yard at my cabin since I bought it.

Don't have much advice about brand but I'll list the features I'd get if I bought another.
No smaller than 450
Power steering
Heated grips and thumb warmer.
4x4
Hi-Lo range
5 foot plow

My plow is a mid mount and it was armstrong operated originally. Cycle Country sold a small winch for lifting the plow and that thing is a blessing. The plow doesn't weigh enough to ruin the suspension. Don't know what type of service the newer ATV's need but I haven't had mine to a dealer since I bought it. I think if I bought a new/newer ATV I'd look heavily at Honda. I like the front and rear racks on them better than other machines. You'll probably want chains too.

I'd be careful with chains on concrete drives. Really can scratch stuff up with chains....IME.

 

[Jerry-B-WI]

I'd be careful with chains on concrete drives. Really can scratch stuff up with chains....IME.

No concrete, all gravel and grass.

 

[Jerry-B-WI]

Still feeling the burn eh? Mistokes.....we all make 'em.

I see what you did there.

 

[Foggy47]

Some of those newer style V-plows are really nice. Not sure a smaller wheeler can handle the weight of them....likely better with a UTV? Dunno. But those V-plows that convert to one-way plows via hydraulics and can "invert" to clean wind-rows from plowing sure seem nice. I'm sure they are expensive too. But if you got allot of plowing to do.....that would be an investment worth making. Me?.....I got a cheap-o One-way snowplow for my UTV with a poly blade....and go to OZ in the winter. LOL I only plow snow (if absolutely needed) at Christmas....when we go to MN for a week or two.

I did run a 12" log thru that poly blade when we had a really heavy snow up at my deer land. We had a major windstorm.....and I was plowing pretty fast to open a trail when I hit a tree that had snapped off from the snow load (major snow and ice storm). Ruined the poly "fabric" that is used in the plow....but no other damage to the steel structure. I think I paid about $80 for a replacement hunk of plastic, and was back like new. Not sure what would have happened to a steel blade?

 

[Telemark]

Yamaha Grizzly is an excellent machine for just about anything. I've plowed with a Can Am, and no complaints there, though it requires a bit more maintenance than a Yamaha.

Honda is becoming extremely popular, but I've never driven one of their ATVs.

If you live somewhere that heavy snow is common, plowing it with an ATV is a bummer. They really can't handle much more than a few inches. And you have to go from the outside in on your road or driveway.

If you only get a little snow at a time and just need to clear the driveway off, it should work great.

Be aware you will need to get down off the machine to change the angle of the blade. And you need a good winch installed, as that's what raises and lowers the plow.

 

[Tree Spud]

I've owned Kawasaki's for 25 years and have had very good luck with them and very few issues. Have used a plow attachment on both the 750 Brute ATV and Mule Pro-FX EPS. The Mule worked best for plowing as it had a longer blade and good angle adjustment and adjustable shims for above ground.

I found the ATV sized plowing set-up to be very limited in moving snow. Blade was short and snow packed up very quickly. You can't really make any long runs at snow so you just have to be patient and pick away at moving the snow. The problem is that once the snow packs up you can't really move it any more.

Have you considered a snow blower attachment for an ATV? May be a better option as you can move the snow away from where you are plowing.

 

[SD51555]

Still feeling the burn eh? Mistokes.....we all make 'em.

I'm over it. I took my medicine on the deal. I have a whole new respect for what machines can do, and what they should do. I guess if we were to quantify that can/should do cost, it'd be the life of the machine. If a machine should go X hours, but that's cut down by Y % because of the life it lived, the purchase cost should be increased by the shortened life + extra wear parts and labor if necessary.

 

[Barndog56]

A few more details. I currently have a 2000 Yamaha Kodiak 400 that I plow with. It has done the plowing fine since I bought it used 6 years ago. It had issues when I bought it, and has added more since. Those include transmission, u-joints, winch solenoid, electric start, and who knows what else, too much expense for a 25 year old machine.

And the last time I used it, I almost died trying to get the thing just to start. Too old for the damn pull start when the push button no longer works. And it would be nice having one my wife can start when she wants to lead the dogs on a run around the property. Hence the upgrade.

I should be able to migrate my current 4 foot plow to the new one, will just need to attach the steel mounting plate to the frame. It's a 4 foot steel blade that has worked fine for our gravel driveway.

Sounds like the Honda will be my first look, and maybe a Yamaha 2nd. Now I'll have to do some digging locally to see where the best place to look is. I kind of despise dealing with anyone who gets paid commission on sales. No offense to any of you who do. Lol

Thanks for the help. You guys are the best!!