Plow with the ranger or stick with the tractor?

Msamt · Oct 9, 2015

I'm struggling with a decision, figured I'd let the community help me spend money. My kioti DK45 has been my snow removal tool for the past two years, last year with the ratchet rake snow edge on it. Now thta I have the ranger 570 mid size, was looking at a winch and blade. Of all the plows out there, they all seem a bit of a mickey mouse setup for what you pay for them. My bucket does just fine for my smallish driveway (~75ft x 25ft), but I now have a back blade if I want to pull snow away from the house. What would you do? Would you spend 800$ for the ranger plow setup, and have the blade sit around all summer, or stick with the tractor?
Thanks for the help!

Thomas · Oct 9, 2015

I would stick w/tractor.
Tractor can keep snow banks back easier and you'll get much better ride,plus able to push wet heavy snow easier.

LD1 · Oct 9, 2015

Id stick with the tractor too for the reasons mentioned above

check · Oct 9, 2015

For me it is a matter of timing. With my ATV plow I can clear huge long driveways very very quickly after a snowfall, as long as it's not deeper than about 8 inches. Then, if and when the banks start to pile up, or there is a lot of deep snow, out comes my tractor with the snowblower and FEL. With the blower of course, you travel very slow, and clearing banks with the FEL is also quite slow (even with my bucket expander on).

In your case, you have a pretty short driveway, plus if you have the time why bother spending the extra money on the plow?

By the way those plows are a lot tougher than you may think - at least the one I have on my Can Am ATV is. I have had mine for about 10 years now, and have run into snow banks at a fairly good speed and stopped dead, and hit various objects, and I have never damaged it.

Avondale · Oct 9, 2015

I have the Polaris supplied plow with my Ranger 700. It works well especially if I load the back with cement patio stones. I also had to add lights on a bar over the plow (when raised, blocks some headlight function) and also on the rear as I plow after work, mainly. IF you do serious off-roading, the frame mount stays on the Ranger and does take away some ground clearance.

As mentioned, best suited for fast work but like all plows in deep snow country, a tractor with FEL or blower will be handy to push the banks back.

ProjectKing · Oct 9, 2015

check said:
For me it is a matter of timing. With my ATV plow I can clear huge long driveways very very quickly after a snowfall, as long as it's not deeper than about 8 inches. Then, if and when the banks start to pile up, or there is a lot of deep snow, out comes my tractor with the snowblower and FEL. With the blower of course, you travel very slow, and clearing banks with the FEL is also quite slow (even with my bucket expander on). In your case, you have a pretty short driveway, plus if you have the time why bother spending the extra money on the plow? By the way those plows are a lot tougher than you may think - at least the one I have on my Can Am ATV is. I have had mine for about 10 years now, and have run into snow banks at a fairly good speed and stopped dead, and hit various objects, and I have never damaged it.

This is great advice. That is what I do too.

To understand how well a ATV/UTV can plow watch my two videos here.

https://youtu.be/ELv1V0UtIvQ

https://youtu.be/UIrsWFjb1z0

In the video that's a 60" Moose plow. Highly recommend. The Foreman has no problem pushing it in 8" of snow. You cannot let the snow become packed or the tractor will have to come out.

Good luck!

Msamt · Oct 10, 2015

Thanks all for the replies, I know I can do what I need to with the Ranger, but it really seems like sticking with the tractor is the way to go. I'll give the back blade a try this year and revisit after that. Thanks again
MT

jcbGM · Oct 10, 2015

For a driveway this small stick with the tractor. The tractor is better at "placing" snow. It you had a long run, the utv would work better. Our driveway is a bit over 1/4 mile long and the utv is the only way to go. It's gotta be at least 5 times faster, but doing the area near the house and detached garage is a bit if a pain with the side by side.

DIXIEDOG · Oct 10, 2015

My tractor gets used to move banks generally once a year....I use my Gator 825i and it works excellent for snow removal. It's far more maneuverable and easily three times as fast.

I've had Super Duty plow trucks with commercial Fishers on them as well as an old style S-10 with a Fisher plow on it....still have my International 2544 with snow bucket and Kubota BX 1860 with loader and backblade for snow removal......the Gator is the most efficient snow removal I've tried to date. It's easy to fit in spots and it's got a lot of power to push that 6' 8" Boss V blade....perfect combo in my opinion.

RoyJackson · Oct 10, 2015

I agree with Dixiedog...in fact, I had purchased the plow he had before the BOSS he has now (it was an Eagle plow).
The only downside of a UTV plow (any plow, actually) is you run out of room sooner or later (if you have the snows we have in Vermont).
But for snows less than 6-8 inches, and on drives the size the OP has (75ft x 25ft)...UTV and plow would be a great choice...do dress warm though, especially if you don't have a windshield!

Paystar · Oct 11, 2015

I have a Sportsman 500 with the Glacier quick hitch and a 60" Razor plow. That Polaris plow and quick hitch setup is awesome.

I also have my Kubota B2620 with loader, rear snowblower and a LandPride 60" hydraulic angle rear blade.

The Polaris is by far the fastest unless it is a deep snow. Then the blower can't be beat. Just remember, those atv plows with winch lift are hard on cables. Mine snaps once or twice a winter due to the sharp angle over the fairlead and working always within that couple inches of cable. So then I tried winch rope. Snaps that after a while too.

Now I've decided to save my atv's for fun and let the tractor do the work. The rear angle blade, I never even put it on. The blower is just so easy and efficient, albeit a bit slower. But it doesn't matter how deep the snow is.
And when I want to peel some of the base down I use my loader.

Kinda wish I never spent the money to buy the rear blade. All I ever use is the box blade, loader and blower. You can do anything with those.

DIXIEDOG · Oct 12, 2015

Paystar said:
I have a Sportsman 500 with the Glacier quick hitch and a 60" Razor plow. That Polaris plow and quick hitch setup is awesome.

I also have my Kubota B2620 with loader, rear snowblower and a LandPride 60" hydraulic angle rear blade.

The Polaris is by far the fastest unless it is a deep snow. Then the blower can't be beat. Just remember, those atv plows with winch lift are hard on cables. Mine snaps once or twice a winter due to the sharp angle over the fairlead and working always within that couple inches of cable. So then I tried winch rope. Snaps that after a while too.

Now I've decided to save my atv's for fun and let the tractor do the work. The rear angle blade, I never even put it on. The blower is just so easy and efficient, albeit a bit slower. But it doesn't matter how deep the snow is.
And when I want to peel some of the base down I use my loader.

Kinda wish I never spent the money to buy the rear blade. All I ever use is the box blade, loader and blower. You can do anything with those.

If you ever go back to your atv plow use a boat trailer strap...the strap is the same width as a common Warn winch drum and it won't break. Before I went with the fully hydraulic Boss V plow setup I used the same boat strap for multiple seasons with no problem....it works great.

Msamt · Oct 12, 2015

Great knowlege base here, thanks all for the feedback. I am gonna stick with the tractor as my drive is so small. I may try out the back blade, it was purchased for dirt work, and has been fantastic making my woods into a great utv/snow machine trail network, so It was so with it. I had read the strap thing in place of the rope or cable for plowing on the ranger forum, going to file it away for when I do get a plow, if ever.
Now, I'm pretty much ready for the snow, and the wood will all be in the basement today!

Garandman · Oct 12, 2015

Do you get a big EOD (end of driveway) pile from plowing? I'd think that argues in favor of the tractor.

IndyIan · Oct 12, 2015

I'd put the rear blade facing backwards, and then you can move snow in both directions and hardly have to turn your tractor around which saves a lot of time. Also you can push snow up almost as well as with the bucket.

check · Oct 12, 2015

DIXIEDOG said:
If you ever go back to your atv plow use a boat trailer strap...the strap is the same width as a common Warn winch drum and it won't break. Before I went with the fully hydraulic Boss V plow setup I used the same boat strap for multiple seasons with no problem....it works great.

Hey! Great idea! My cable is always breaking on my ATV plow. Will try your idea this winter.

Paystar · Oct 12, 2015

DIXIEDOG said:
If you ever go back to your atv plow use a boat trailer strap...the strap is the same width as a common Warn winch drum and it won't break. Before I went with the fully hydraulic Boss V plow setup I used the same boat strap for multiple seasons with no problem....it works great.

Thanks. Good idea!

WilliamBos · Oct 12, 2015

Get a Polaris Glacier Pro plow, they are second to none. Quick connect and disconnect. I have a Glacier 3 for my 400HO. Ihave zero rergerts about buying it.

Msamt said:
I'm struggling with a decision, figured I'd let the community help me spend money. My kioti DK45 has been my snow removal tool for the past two years, last year with the ratchet rake snow edge on it. Now thta I have the ranger 570 mid size, was looking at a winch and blade. Of all the plows out there, they all seem a bit of a mickey mouse setup for what you pay for them. My bucket does just fine for my smallish driveway (~75ft x 25ft), but I now have a back blade if I want to pull snow away from the house. What would you do? Would you spend 800$ for the ranger plow setup, and have the blade sit around all summer, or stick with the tractor?
Thanks for the help!

RoyJackson · Oct 12, 2015

DIXIEDOG said:
If you ever go back to your atv plow use a boat trailer strap...the strap is the same width as a common Warn winch drum and it won't break. Before I went with the fully hydraulic Boss V plow setup I used the same boat strap for multiple seasons with no problem....it works great.

Yep...did the same thing here (DixieDog suggested it) and the boat strap worked great....also, much less expensive then cable if you do need to replace it.