Plowing 1/2 mile driveway with a UTV. Should it be done?

[Industrial Toys]

I would never consider suggesting anyone use a belt driven machine to move snow. Also, nothing with a diminutive drivetrain that costs a fortune to repair.

 

[DK35vince]

I would never consider suggesting anyone use a belt driven machine to move snow. Also, nothing with a diminutive drivetrain that costs a fortune to repair.

Why.
The majority of ATV's, UTV's around here are belt drive, and many of them are used to plow snow with no issue.
Use low range for plowing and you shouldn't have any problems.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Get back to me in a few years of doing that. Those CV joints and other drive train components are barely large enough to transport the machines themselves, never mind this brutal kind of "work".

But the worst part is the cost to repair these UTVs. Parts in particular. You don't find them at NAPA or Pet Boys.

Just my opinion though.

 

[Einthewoods]

I have used my atv with plow to do our driveway and large area to park the cars. It works well until the banks get too high, and then they just start creeping in. I also think it is really hard on them as you end up hitting the banks pretty hard, and that just can't be good on the frame or it in general.

Now that I have a tractor, I'm hoping that the atv gets to be an atv again and maybe only used for small cleanup plowing.

 

[Clint S]

Unless you have an enclosure for the UTV , you will get sick of snow in your face fast. I just bought a 580jd and front blower for my 75yard drive. After one time, I pulled my old plow truck out and got it ready. Heat and out of the elements is soooooo nice

 

[2ndhalf]

I would pull the trigger on the UTV. It is something the family can use on 150 acres every day. A plow truck or a tractor is not going to get used as often. How often do you think you will even be plowing the drive vs. using the UTV daily for all types of running around on that acreage. I say since you have access to tractors and a plow truck this is a no brainer IMO ... UTV.

It would also be pretty fast I would think if you do have to plow.

Look at the Gravely Atlas.

 

[Old Red]

So many people are afraid of these belts. My 2010 polaris ranger 800HD I bought brand new in August 2010 pulls a 12 foot cultipacker, plows my neighborhood and does all sorts of farm tasks and I have yet to smoke a belt. You just have to be smart.....and not all that smart really to be honest. When you are doing work or creeping around put the sucker in low gear and you will not smoke your belt.

I just plowed a ton today with my Polaris Ranger. I plowed my blacktop neighborhood. The neigbhbors posted and thanked me on facebook and said it looks better than the city and state roads. I plowed several driveways today and made a few bucks.

Hands down the UTV as a plow machine is a sleeper. I use a motoalliance plow with hydraulic angle. The winch raises and lowers it. I have about 1 grand in the plow system. It's a beast that is made in China but backed by an awesome USA company that will take great care of you.

You will not be disappointed in the recreational and work value of a UTV....you will be very pleased at how they plow and play.....but a tractor will do more work and if I had 150 acres I would buy the tractor first unless you can get that other tractor ver very easy....I have 3 tractors....2 at the 110 acres and 1 at the 3 acres which is my house....

anwyay, just go get you the Polaris Ranger Northstar Edition Ranger it's only 20+ grand. Hand them the money, look the other way and you will have a lifetime, dependable kick ***** machine that will ride better than you can imagine and work or outwork with the best of them.

 

[Old Red]

I would never consider suggesting anyone use a belt driven machine to move snow. Also, nothing with a diminutive drivetrain that costs a fortune to repair.

You ever owned one? Just curious? I'm just gonna guess that you are Honda man correct?

 

[TSO]

Buy an old plow truck. You can probably get one, ready to plow, for under $3000...

Here's the truck i bought 2 years ago... I think i paid around $1500, including the plow. Ran good. Not pretty, but drove and pushed snow well enough.

 

[oosik]

My driveway in a mile long gravel - straight as an arrow - big deep valley in the middle. My M6040 with grapple, loaded rear tires and HD Rhino 8' rear blade weighs 10,100 pounds. Tires are R-1 all the way around. I REALLY would not want to try plowing snow with anything that weighed much less or was more lightly constructed.

There are a few spots where the weight, HP and traction are all necessary to plow the snow.

I've always owned an open station tractor. Cabbed might be nice but there are just too many areas where I'd be breaking glass trying to get around and through my big pine trees.

Honestly, being retired - if its that cold out - I have no need to be out in it.