Do you actually plow snow with your UTV? for multiple seasons?

[milkman636]

I've been shopping for a UTV lately. One of the things I want it to be capable of doing is pushing snow. I live in Michigan and take care of snow on a couple properties with a tractor currently, and I'll be adding another with 300' of sidewalk to the routine next winter. I see lots of reviews of new purchases, but very little feedback from experienced owners. In my mind a Kubota RTV with a hand throttle kit and V-plow setup appears to be up to the job. But, I enjoy riding around on quads and stuff and want a little fun factor too. Is there anybody out here with a cool setup that has the capability to run 40+ mph, push 8" of snow (not at the same time of course), and has held up for a few years of doing it? Can a SxS be fun and still really do the job without breaking?

 

[LouNY]

Look at the frame and suspension components size as well as the axle and hubs,
then compare them to a 1/2 ton pickup most of which the manufactures will state not to be used for plowing.
Just my take on the issue, some people do use them.

 

[milkman636]

It seems like most UTV manufacturers are selling plow packages for UTVs now. If ford or GM offered me a factory plow on my half ton I'd expect it to be designed for the job. That's why I'm hoping for some feedback from actual owners. Fun and useful seems like an attractive combination.

 

[shooterdon]

I used a plow on a Polaris 800. I live in Michigan.

You will need chains.

You cannot push up large mounds of snow like you can with a plow truck.

I bought a beater plow truck after the first year. Cost was $3500. Likely the least expensive solution. I would get it stuck trying to push up a tall pile about 3 times a year....operator error and a poor designed mount.

I now use both a front mounted blade and pull blower on a good sized tractor. I got tired of 8’ banks of snow.

 

[Industrial Toys]

just my take on it. The more you beef up one area lacking, the more stress you impose on the whole machine. Until you end up with some VERY expensive repairs.

A tractor is supposed to be built to do work. MOST UTVs are not. They are delicate by comparison and have tiny drivetrains. Built mostly to move themselves around. My opinion only.

And pushing snow is usually not the problem. It's dealing with freeze/thaw cycles and having frozen banks. Your driveway becomes like a frozen narrow louge sp?.

 

[bullbreaker]

Wheres ArlyA when you you need him ? .............................:snowman:

 

[timswi]

I've been shopping for a UTV lately. One of the things I want it to be capable of doing is pushing snow. I live in Michigan and take care of snow on a couple properties with a tractor currently, and I'll be adding another with 300' of sidewalk to the routine next winter. I see lots of reviews of new purchases, but very little feedback from experienced owners. In my mind a Kubota RTV with a hand throttle kit and V-plow setup appears to be up to the job. But, I enjoy riding around on quads and stuff and want a little fun factor too. Is there anybody out here with a cool setup that has the capability to run 40+ mph, push 8" of snow (not at the same time of course), and has held up for a few years of doing it? Can a SxS be fun and still really do the job without breaking?

I have plowed with an RTV 1100 for about 10 years, does a great job...Not gonna get 40 MPH even with a turbo and a super charger though--LOL

 

[milkman636]

I used a plow on a Polaris 800. I live in Michigan.

You will need chains.

You cannot push up large mounds of snow like you can with a plow truck.

I bought a beater plow truck after the first year. Cost was $3500. Likely the least expensive solution. I would get it stuck trying to push up a tall pile about 3 times a year....operator error and a poor designed mount.

I now use both a front mounted blade and pull blower on a good sized tractor. I got tired of 8’ banks of snow.

Thanks for the feedback shooterdon. I just sold my ATV and in the market for a UTV anyway. Clearing a sidewalk will be completely new territory for me and I'm trying to find a good tool for the job. A plow truck may be a bit big, like my current tractor setup. I'm just reaching out for more real world experience, like yours,before I get dialed in on equipping an UTV to push snow.

 

[milkman636]

I have plowed with an RTV 1100 for about 10 years, does a great job...Not gonna get 40 MPH even with a turbo and a super charger though--LOL

Thanks timswi. I figured the RTVs would be the best UTV for the job. Do you have a hand throttle in your RTV? I've seen it on some and was curious about it. Knowing that HSTs perform better with is higher engine speed, I figured that a hand throttle would be a useful option to get things moving in heavy snow. The dealer I talked with last week seemed puzzled by my questions about it. Speed is the only concern I have about the RTV. I'd like to be able to at least stay within earshot of my kids on the dirt bikes.

 

[nybirdman]

My son's work purchased a RTV last year($38K) and he says it is a beast for moving snow but certainly not fast.I plow mostly with my tractor but just purchased a 2020 Yamaha Kodiak that I am putting a plow on for this winter.Previously plowed with a 400cc ATV and it did a decent job.I have a Yamaha Viking also;no plow but I am sure at 1200 lbs.it would push a lot of snow.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Definitely, The hydraulic driven RTVs are a workhorse. I guess the Mecron is of similar design. I could be wrong.

 

[milkman636]

My son's work purchased a RTV last year($38K) and he says it is a beast for moving snow but certainly not fast.I plow mostly with my tractor but just purchased a 2020 Yamaha Kodiak that I am putting a plow on for this winter.Previously plowed with a 400cc ATV and it did a decent job.I have a Yamaha Viking also;no plow but I am sure at 1200 lbs.it would push a lot of snow.

Ironically, I just sold my 2017 Honda Rancher. but I never tried plowing with it. I thought about a plow for it, but the used market is so good that I got $800 more than I paid for it a couple years ago. The viking is interesting to me as well. I can get a leftover one of those for about $5000 cheaper than the RTV. But I would really love some feedback from an owner that has plowed with one. It's good to hear that you think it would be capable of plowing snow. They offer a 10 year drive belt warranty, and the sales guy seemed to think that warranty still applies if you buy their plow package. I'm not 100% confident about that though. How long have you owned the viking? Is it as rock solid as they advertise?

 

[nybirdman]

Ironically, I just sold my 2017 Honda Rancher. but I never tried plowing with it. I thought about a plow for it, but the used market is so good that I got $800 more than I paid for it a couple years ago. The viking is interesting to me as well. I can get a leftover one of those for about $5000 cheaper than the RTV. But I would really love some feedback from an owner that has plowed with one. It's good to hear that you think it would be capable of plowing snow. They offer a 10 year drive belt warranty, and the sales guy seemed to think that warranty still applies if you buy their plow package. I'm not 100% confident about that though. How long have you owned the viking? Is it as rock solid as they advertise?

On my fourth new Yamaha;Grizzly,Rhino,Viking and Kodiak.The Rhino has 4k miles when traded,no problems at all ,my 2016 Viking has 1400 miles;both used in my business but not for plowing.I have a cabbed tractor for snow plowing but just purchased a Moose plow for the 2020 Kodiak.Smaller machine will be used for the light and tight stuff.My son has a 2004? Grizzly that he used like a tractor for many years,pulling logs,snow plowing ect.and it's still going.
Yamaha has the best CVT system and a ten year warranty on the belt;they don't ask what you are doing with it!I have owned Honda
Suzuki,Kawasaki and Yamaha.
I would have no qualms putting a snow plow on my Viking.

 

[ProjectKing]

Thanks timswi. I figured the RTVs would be the best UTV for the job. Do you have a hand throttle in your RTV? I've seen it on some and was curious about it. Knowing that HSTs perform better with is higher engine speed, I figured that a hand throttle would be a useful option to get things moving in heavy snow. The dealer I talked with last week seemed puzzled by my questions about it. Speed is the only concern I have about the RTV. I'd like to be able to at least stay within earshot of my kids on the dirt bikes.

Can you please explain what you are talking about a hand throttle for a RTV?

Hydro RTVs use an accelerator pedal like a normal UTV or truck. It’s link to the hydro unit so they faster it goes the faster the engine turned.

 

[ProjectKing]

You can check out my Honda Foreman plowing snow. Works very well. And it’s a Honda so it’s still going! Lol

Honda Foreman 450 vs. 16 Inch Snow Storm, ATV Snow Plow - YouTube

 

[milkman636]

Can you please explain what you are talking about a hand throttle for a RTV?

Hydro RTVs use an accelerator pedal like a normal UTV or truck. It’s link to the hydro unit so they faster it goes the faster the engine turned.

Yes, the hand throttle is a knob on the left side of the drivers seat that sits in front of the hydraulic dump bed control lever. It’s raises the baseline engine speed independently of the foot pedal. I’ve seen it on a couple of them that I’ve looked at. And then some don’t have it. It seems like it would be good option to have have full hydro pump speed available at low travel speed. That was my assumption of why they would add it. I was hoping someone on here could fill me in more about it.

 

[milkman636]

On my fourth new Yamaha;Grizzly,Rhino,Viking and Kodiak.The Rhino has 4k miles when traded,no problems at all ,my 2016 Viking has 1400 miles;both used in my business but not for plowing.I have a cabbed tractor for snow plowing but just purchased a Moose plow for the 2020 Kodiak.Smaller machine will be used for the light and tight stuff.My son has a 2004? Grizzly that he used like a tractor for many years,pulling logs,snow plowing ect.and it's still going.
Yamaha has the best CVT system and a ten year warranty on the belt;they don't ask what you are doing with it!I have owned Honda
Suzuki,Kawasaki and Yamaha.
I would have no qualms putting a snow plow on my Viking.

I like the Vikings. I had two of my kids with me in the one I test drove and we were not cramped at all.
And it was priced well compared to some others. It’s on the list of possible candidates, especially if I get more good feedback. And I like the choice of color on yours.

 

[milkman636]

You can check out my Honda Foreman plowing snow. Works very well. And it’s a Honda so it’s still going! Lol

Honda Foreman 450 vs. 16 Inch Snow Storm, ATV Snow Plow - YouTube

That foreman does a nice job. My hesitation to adding a plow on my Rancher was I thought 1st gear might be too tall for pushing a load slowly. It looks like the Foreman may have a lower first gear than the Ranchers. I’m a Honda fan, and I have noticed foreman’s with dual range transmissions that interest me. But they’re priced really close to what I can pick up a SxS for.

 

[ProjectKing]

Yes, the hand throttle is a knob on the left side of the drivers seat that sits in front of the hydraulic dump bed control lever. It’s raises the baseline engine speed independently of the foot pedal. I’ve seen it on a couple of them that I’ve looked at. And then some don’t have it. It seems like it would be good option to have have full hydro pump speed available at low travel speed. That was my assumption of why they would add it. I was hoping someone on here could fill me in more about it.

Well that’s very interesting!! Thank you for explaining it to me. I’ve never heard of it before. Yes would be real handy. I know RTV900 can have hydraulic operating tools attached to it... like a jack hammer or saw. That makes sense on why it would need the hand throttle.

 

[ProjectKing]

That foreman does a nice job. My hesitation to adding a plow on my Rancher was I thought 1st gear might be too tall for pushing a load slowly. It looks like the Foreman may have a lower first gear than the Ranchers. I’m a Honda fan, and I have noticed foreman’s with dual range transmissions that interest me. But they’re priced really close to what I can pick up a SxS for.

Yes first gear is very low. It’s amazing how hard that foreman can pull. The engine has gobs of low end torque. A lot of the plowing I shift up to 2nd gear so the blade will throw the snow. I don’t normally plow really deep snow. And also if the snow becomes frozen then to clean to pavement I have to use my tractor. But if you keep up with the snow falls the Foreman works well.