Gator XUV and winch mount for snow plow

proff49 · Jul 20, 2010

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 · Sep 23, 2010

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 · Sep 24, 2010

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 · Sep 24, 2010

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 · Sep 26, 2010

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 · Sep 27, 2010

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 · Sep 27, 2010

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 · Sep 27, 2010

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 · Sep 27, 2010

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.