KFI Snow Plow for 2015 RTV x1100c

[Nevadblue]

RTV Plow Install

This winter has been rough here, LOTS of snow. I didn't want to put a plow on the RTV, but it became a necessity. Not needing the expense of the beautiful Boss plow, I found and ordered a 66" KFI plow. It has arrived, very quickly due to an excellent ebay seller and business owner. He managed to find a plow for me and get it here quickly.

I thought I would document the installation since info on these is kind of scarce.

Here is the RTV and my work area.

The plow cost $688 delivered. I also ordered an adapter to raise the front lift point and a winch bracket. I had a winch already, new in the box from some years ago. Wiring and winch mount are in route.

Here is the plow, spread out and mostly assembled in my 'clean room'.

The plow came in a nice floor for the room. grin... The push tube assembly came in the other box leaning on the snow bank. Everything is VERY well made, excellent quality. I bet they raise prices next winter and up production. Very little stock is available right now, surprise!

The plow came with everything shown, including the rubber flap and skid shoes and the mounting bracket for the RTV. The bracket isn't in the picture, it came in a separate box just after I took the pictures. I will post more pics tomorrow when I install the plow.

I will be lifting the plow with a ratchet strap (I hope) for a couple of days, until the wiring parts and winch mount arrive. A friend has a shop that we can get in, and he will let me put the RTV inside and help with the wiring.

---
Ken
2015 RTV-X1100C, 2006 BX-24, 2010 Rat Terrier

 

[ovrszd]

Nice purchase Ken!!!! Man,,,,, you definitely need it!!!!!

You've had more snow this Winter than we've had in the last five.

Anxious to follow your install and pics of using the plow.

Welcome to TBN.

 

[nybirdman]

Nice looking plow.I would hate to do that install in the snow and cold.We put a plow and winch on a friends Honda a couple years ago.It's in the my garage right now replacing the winch.He buggered up the winch cable and destroyed the winch.I would advise putting a "rope" replacement in place of the wire cable for snow plow duty.

 

[ovrszd]

Nice looking plow.I would hate to do that install in the snow and cold.We put a plow and winch on a friends Honda a couple years ago.It's in the my garage right now replacing the winch.He buggered up the winch cable and destroyed the winch.I would advise putting a "rope" replacement in place of the wire cable for snow plow duty.

In my opinion, the secret is to not spool out the winch any further than necessary. Problem is as an operator you want to make sure it's down. So you hold the button just a second after the winch is on the ground. This creates a couple feet of slack in the cable. After awhile the cable gets so tangled that it starts cutting itself. Not good.

 

[Greenfield Dave]

Looks like a good plow, but I don't see any trip springs on it. I've had a plow on my Mule for over 10 years, and you want it to trip if you hit something. And you WILL hit something. I have the shoes about 3/4" below the blade so I don't move gravel. I drop it down then raise it slightly so they don't drag. You'll love it!

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

In my opinion, the secret is to not spool out the winch any further than necessary. Problem is as an operator you want to make sure it's down. So you hold the button just a second after the winch is on the ground. This creates a couple feet of slack in the cable. After awhile the cable gets so tangled that it starts cutting itself. Not good.

I installed a winch and universal swisher bucket on an ATV my mother owns and I used that to haul creek gravel for driveway repair and maintenance on a 800 yard driveway. I was cutting 6-10ft sections out of the wire and recrimping it every few weeks, it wasn't until I got to the last row of wire before the wire started to last, i think the key is and what i am doing from now on is only keeping 10ft or so of cable on the winch at one time, seemed to work the best.

 

[Nevadblue]

Looks like a good plow, but I don't see any trip springs on it. I've had a plow on my Mule for over 10 years, and you want it to trip if you hit something. And you WILL hit something. I have the shoes about 3/4" below the blade so I don't move gravel. I drop it down then raise it slightly so they don't drag. You'll love it!

The trip springs are in the box beside the blade. I haven't installed them yet. I wanted to look at the angle adjustment first, just to make it all easier.

On the winch cable, I will have to learn I guess. I hope to use the winch for other things so I will figure out something to protect the cable. I have an idea, but need to assemble it all first.

 

[ovrszd]

You'll figure it out Ken. I look forward to your progress.

 

[Nevadblue]

Snow Plow Success!

I got the plow installed and tested. It works great. I did discover that following instructions is a good thing sometimes. I installed the stop bolts that set the blade tilt angle before installing the springs. The instructions say otherwise. I did it because it was 'easier' to access the bolts. BUT, there is no reasonable way to stretch the springs into place if you do it that way.
So, I removed the stop bolts and installed the springs. Then I stood the blade assembly up, on the blade, with the push tube assembly sticking straight up. Then, with a foot on the blade, you can pull the push tube assembly back and put in something to hold it there while you install the stop bolts. I used one of the 5/8" blade mount pins to wedge the thing in place while doing this.
Oh, tools are nice too. Most of my hand tools are in my service truck which is buried under a glacier. So, with a 10" adjustable wrench, a pair of pliers and a FOUR INCH pipe wrench, I got the job done. I needed the pipe wrench to hold the allen head stop bolts while installing the lock nuts. Of course, no large allen wrenches in sight.

I plowed about a half mile of road first, then went up to the last house in the canyon, nearly a mile, and all worked well. The last part had deeper snow since it had not been graded since the last snow. I am happy. The RTV had grumbled in deep snow before, but with the blade on it sailed right through with no issues. I am running about 5 to 8 MPH, depending on how rough the ice under the snow is.

Here is the inspector helping me look at the plow after the first workout.

And a couple of closeups showing the sophisticated blade lift system. You can also see the blade stop bolts.

Also, note the angle of the 'pull' on the strap. With a winch, it will be worse. There is a bracket on the plow, but I didn't use it because of the strap. The bracket fits in several places, but KFI makes this part, which is in shipping now, to make the angle of pull for the winch better. It bolts onto the angle circle on the plow.

This bracket will allow me to bolt my winch on the RTV. It too is in shipping.

 

[ovrszd]

I thought maybe you had gotten stuck and your helper had to pull you out with his harness and leash???

Love it when a plan comes together.

P.S. I'm pretty sure you are the only man to ever not follow instructions.....