Gator XUV and winch mount for snow plow

[proff49]

I recently purchased a 620i and have been looking at snow plows and winch mounts. I've got the plow narrowed down to two but don't know what to do about a winch mount (already have a winch). The only info I can find talks about using the front receiver and a drawbar-type mount. I don't have a problem with this but it seems to me this could be to low to lift the blade high enough. Does anyone know of any mounts that are made for the front receiver or fit in the front bumper? I could make something for the front receiver to get the winch higher if I have to but I'd rather just buy something.

If anyone has any pics of their xuv with a winch and blade it would be greatly appreciated. BTW, I'm getting either the Eagle straight or v-blade, whichever funds allow when I decide to purchase it.

 

[proff49]

No one is using a winch with a snow plow?

 

[prosumequipment]

No one is using a winch with a snow plow?

C'mon, man! It's July!

Actually, depending on your Gator's front brush guard, Eagle plow has a winch mount that may do the trick.

 

[proff49]

Thanks for the pics. Looks like that will do it. I knew Eagle made one but the only picture I could find didn't show it well at all. It was use in conjunction with a larger brush guard/bumper and I couldn't tell how it mounted or if it could be used without the brush guard. This is what I was looking for.

C'mon, man! It's July!/QUOTE]

I know it's early. I just don't want the snow to be flying and me still trying to figure out what I want.

 

[FatTire]

With a winch operated plow, there is no down pressure. Is that what you want?

 

[proff49]

It's not exactly what I want but the money is about all I can justify for no more than it will be used. I'm in southern Ohio and we don't get a lot of snow. Some years it won't get used at all. All I really expect to be able to do is get enough snow off so the sun can melt what is left, maybe use a little calcium to help it along. I can get a complete Eagle plow package for just over $600 shipped. If I see more of a need later on I can always get something better. I just done't want to spend $2000+ on something that might get used a few times a year.

 

[proff49]

What about mounting the winch to push tubes? I won't be using it for anything else so there is no need to have it mounted to the gator when I'm not plowing. It looks like it would be really easy to make a plate for the eagle push tubes to mount the winch on.

 

[prosumequipment]

I'm sure it could be done if that is your preference, there is room. Some extra work to set up a mount plate, attachment point for the hook, and how you're going to hook up and disconnect wires seasonally.

 

[DIXIEDOG]

C'mon, man! It's July!

Isn't that when everyone orders their plows?:laughing: I just ordered one last week myself :ashamed:

 

[FatTire]

Yeah, if you aren't going to use it all that much, $600 would be a great way to go. I have the Deere V-plow and it works well, but I wouldn't want to pay that much to use it a couple of times a season.

 

[proff49]

prosumequipment--- Thanks for the pics. I think it could be done pretty easy. I've got some good webbing used for rope rescue that I can use for the hook. Should be able to use extension cord plugs with leads on the winch to connect the power. Making a mount for the winch will take a little cutting and welding but shouldn't take more than a few hours. I already have everything I need so it would be cheaper and the winch wouldn't be mounted the rest of the year that I don't need it.

FatTire--- I'd love to have one of the nice plows but just can't justify the cost. I found an Eagle v-plow, tubes and mount for $670 shipped. This is probably what I'm going to get.

 

[proff49]

prosumequipment--- Did you have to use the heavy duty front shocks on the gator? I really hate the thought of spending $220+ for shocks that I don't need most of the year.

 

[jcmseven]

You do not have to use the heavy duty shocks. Works fine without them. In fact for a winch mounted plow that is not that heavy it really is not worth the compromise to get the heavy duty shocks. Those plows weigh generally just over 110 pounds in most cases. Now with a big V plow like a Boss, or equivalent, that weighs more, one would need either upgraded shocks or those new Fox ones on the 825i. I have successfully plowed with a 72:" Eagle Plow on three different Gators without the HD shocks.

John M

 

[proff49]

Thanks for the info. They say the Eagle v-plow I'm looking at weighs 132#. With winch and everything mounted it will be a little more. I weigh 235 and only lose 1 1/2" of clearance with me standing on the front bumper. I realize the plow is going to be farther out but I couldn't imagine it dropping it much more.

 

[jcmseven]

It will not, the plow is actually not that heavy. It will drop the front but I plow a lot in winter on all sorts of hills and dales and have never had any issue with the plow affecting steering, etc. You would notice the front end drop some, just not that much. It is not worth getting the HD strut kit. What IS worth it is to consider the Unisteer PSA unit. While I felt the Unisteer to be a bit jumpy and not as smooth as the EPS system on my current Polaris, one area where I felt it a big improvement was steering with a heavy front plow. It made my XUV a much more efficient plow machine. If you are looking to spend some money on plow and accessories therein, that is a good place to do it.

John M

 

[SpudHauler]

I had a winch plow system on my ATV and it worked great. Now I have a UTV with hydraulics and it still does not have down pressure and it works great too.

Winch systems usually pick the blade up quite fast and one way to save your cable and help this situation is to remove the original cable all together. Then get 10 to 12 feet of cable and use that with the plow. This helps because you have less diameter of cable on the spool so the wind up speed of the cable is reduced.

Another item is a pulley at the plow end and connect the hook back to the machine. Double cable means 1/2 speed.

On my ATV I had a switch on the frame-work of the plow so it cut the power on the up lift when it reached the top.

If you keep pressing the button that winch will pull until it bends everything it can, mainly the winch plate. I bent two.:laughing:

 

[ihuntbear]

when I installed the plow on my rhino I had to take the cable off and use a strap because the cable kept getting stuck in the winch from raising and lowering.When I installed the strap everything was good

 

[SpudHauler]

Yes I Hunt Bear,

That's what happens when you leave all 50 feet on the spool. No room when it gets loose and bunched up. Then you need to hook it to a tree and back up just to get it un-spooled. Not good if your stuck in the mud 10 miles from home or help.

It was suggested that you take half of the wire off a new winch if you're doing a lot and get stuck often. Less chance of wire binding up.

I've cut my cable in half ever since. Now run 25 feet instead of the usual 50.

 

[proff49]

Thanks for all the advice guys. No doubt it will save me some frustration in the future. If I end up doing a lot drives I'll have to look at power steering. I had intended on using this for personal use but have five others around me asking about it. 1 concrete, 1 asphalt, the others are gravel. Don't think I'll touch the gravel, though. Mine is hard-packed crusher run. I know it will scrape some of it up but nothing like the others that are 4"-6" of lose gravel.