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ProMark Offroad Blog

Winch Strap Solution for ATV Plows

Written By: Esther
January 30th, 2012 | Filed under ATV Snow Plows | No Comments »Tags: , ,
Winch strap

Use a strap for plowing to save wear and tear on your winch cable.

If you’ve already got a winch on your quad just in case you get stuck, why not use the winch to lift your snow plow? Might as well put your ATV winch to work in the winter and have fun clearing your driveway in the process.

Winch Straps for Plowing

Before you put your ATV winch to work plowing, you might want to modify the winch strap, especially if you plow often. Since lifting and lowering an ATV plow only uses a small section of the cable, it can wear down your cable over time. Synthetic winch rope handles plowing better, since the rope is more flexible than wire cable.

Installing a Winch Strap

Something we’ve found that works even better is to wrap a 2-inch wide strap (such as a tie down strap, a boat transom strap, or an old seat belt) around the drum. Here’s how to rig it up:

  1. Take the winch hook off the rope or cable.
  2. Thread the loose end of the strap through the loop on the end of the winch rope.
  3. Then power the cable in until the strap is securely anchored on the drum. There should be at least 3 or 4 wraps of the strap around the drum even when the plow is fully lowered.
  4. Attach the winch hook to the end of the strap and hook the strap to the plow.

Now you’re ready to plow. Just remove the strap and use the cable when plowing season is over.

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ATV Snow Plowing Tips for First Snowfall

Written By: Esther
December 15th, 2011 | Filed under ATV Snow Plows | No Comments »Tags: , ,
Snowplow in action

Push snow further out for early season snowfalls.

Winter is just beginning. Right now, there’s plenty of room to pile up snow on the sides of your driveway with your ATV plow, and tufts of brown grass are still poking out. You may be tempted to think you can just push the first few snowfalls to the edge of the driveway and call it good, but experienced plow drivers know that where you pile snow early in the season will make a huge difference later in the winter.

Push It Back

The more snow you pile up along the edge of your driveway, the narrower it will get. The snowbanks will start to close in on your driveway, creating a claustrophobic tunnel.

To keep the full width of your driveway open, push the first snow straight back a few feet into the grass. The more snow your region gets in a typical year, the further back you’ll want to push the first snowfall.

Pile It Up

As the banks on the side of your driveway get higher, you’ll need to start piling the snow higher. Use the ATV winch to lift the plow blade as you approach the snowbank. This helps you push the snow further off the driveway and keeps you from smashing into the packed snowbank, which can damage your ATV plow.

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ATV Eagle Plow Country Style Now at ProMark Offroad

Written By: Esther
December 9th, 2011 | Filed under ATV Snow Plows, ProMark Offroad News | No Comments »Tags: , , ,
Eagle ATV plow

Eagle ATV Plow - Country Style

We’ve added a new Eagle snow plow blade to our line of ATV plows. The 50-inch wide Country Style ATV Plow Blade is designed primarily for the Eagle ATV front and original systems. Tall on one end and short on the other, this plow blade is designed to push more snow without letting the snow spill over the top of the blade.

Eagle recommends the Country Style Plow for long driveways and places where you need to push snow further. The blade is constructed with 12 gauge steel and powder coated for long life. Steel skids with rubber bushings, heavy duty wear bars, and a top side rubber flap are included. Proudly made in the USA!

Get it now and your orders ships free (lower 48 U.S.)!

Features:

  • 50″ Length
  • 27″ Height (23″ on short side)
  • 12 Gauge Steel Construction
  • Powder Coat Finish
  • 7 Gauge Steel Skids
  • Heavy Duty Wear Bar
  • Top Side Rubber Flap
  • Black Color
  • Made in the USA
  • Manufacturer Part Number 2915

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Posted in ATV Snow Plows, ProMark Offroad News | No Comments »

ATV Plow: Straight or V Blade?

Written By: Esther
November 1st, 2011 | Filed under ATV Snow Plows | 1 Comment »Tags: , , ,
ATV plow

ATV plow with straight blade

The other week, a customer contacted us on Twitter about needing a V-plow for his Arctic Cat Prowler. “Do you carry the V-Plow?” he asked. “Didn’t see it and not sure if I want it yet.”

While a V-plow on an ATV is good for some applications, such as clearing sidewalks or breaking through hard-packed snow, overall a straight blade beats out a V blade for most ATV plows.

If you’re clearing a narrow walkway, a V-plow will get the job done in one pass. But with down-and-back passes to plow a driveway, a straight blade is more efficient. Using a fixed V-plow for multiple passes means that you can only use half the blade, which takes twice as long.

Although a V plow ATV is better for breaking through hard-packed, deep snow, it’s better to plow with the storm than let the snow pile up and crust over. The heavier the snow, the more important it is to plow with the storm. Your ATV and plow blade can only handle so much weight.

As a bonus, straight ATV plows are cheaper than V plows. If it’s a larger snow carrying capacity that you’re looking for, upgrade your straight blade with a set of plow wings.

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Posted in ATV Snow Plows | 1 Comment »

Choosing an ATV / UTV Plow

Written By: Esther
October 25th, 2011 | Filed under ATV Snow Plows | No Comments »Tags: , , , ,
ATV snow plow

Clear your driveway with an ATV plow!

Before you know it, you’ll be waking up to a fresh layer of snow on the ground. Are you ready for winter plowing? Forget the back-breaking shovel, and use your ATV or UTV to plow the driveway. You might have so much fun, you’ll be clearing the neighbor’s driveway, too.

Want to buy an ATV snow plow but not sure which one is right for you? Here are some of the differences between the ATV plows available at ProMark Offroad.

Original Eagle ATV Plow

The Original Eagle Plow is designed for use with ATVs, with a reinforced steel blade available in three different widths. The base mounting plate can stay on your quad year round, which means less time spent installing and removing the plow each season. Plus, this ATV plow works with any lift system: manual, electric winch, or electric lift. A quick latch bracket system lets you install the plow in minutes.

Available Options:

  • 50″, 54″, and 60″ steel blade for ATVs

Gen II Eagle Front Mount ATV / UTV Plow

The Gen II snow plow is designed for ATVs and UTVs, with three blade widths available for each. The high clearance on the front mount means that you can leave the mount on year round without losing any ground clearance. The model-specific mount offers secure mounting that a universal mount can’t give you, and the quick latch bracket system lets you install the plow blade in minutes. This ATV / UTV plow is not compatible with a manual lift; an electric winch or electric lift is required.

Available Options:

  • 50″, 54″, and 60″ steel blade for ATVs
  • 60″, 66″, and 72″ steel blade for UTVs

A.R.M. Cycle Country ATV Plow

The A.R.M. Cycle Country plow is the easiest system to install. The universal mount clamps onto the A-arm of your ATV with no custom mount, fabrication, or drilling needed. This universal plow fits all ATVs and comes with the option of a poly or steel plow blade. The poly blade is lightweight and forgiving on driveway surfaces that are easily marred, such as asphalt or decorative pavers. The speed latch system allows for drive-up attachment.

The A.R.M. plow system reduces ground clearance by several inches, so you may want to remove the plow mounting hardware before taking your ATV off road. An electric winch or electric lift system is required to operate the plow.

Available Options:

  • X-Force 52″ poly blade
  • Bear Force 52″ steel blade
  • ATV only (no UTV option)

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Posted in ATV Snow Plows | No Comments »

ATV Plow Tips and Maintenance

Written By: Esther
February 2nd, 2011 | Filed under ATV Snow Plows | No Comments »Tags: , , ,
ATV Snow Plow

The better you take care of your ATV plow,
the longer it will last.

If you want your plow to work at peak performance, it’s important to know how to properly maintain and operate your plow. These operating tips are geared specifically towards the X-Force poly plow, but they also apply to most other ATV plows and brands.

  • To get the best performance from your plow, set the suspension on your ATV to the stiffest setting.
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  • When plowing snow or dirt into a pile, back up slightly before raising the plow.
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  • Check the bolts, nuts, and fasteners for wear and tightness on a periodic basis. Replace or tighten hardware as needed.
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  • Inspect all metal parts on the plow and mount on a regular basis. Replace parts that appear rusted or deformed.
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  • Inspect the winch cable for excessive fraying, cut strands, and other damage prior to use. Make sure the cable doesn’t rub on any sharp edges.
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  • Use plow skids to keep the plow blade from scratching the road surface and to make the wear bar last longer.
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  • Adjust the plow skids to the proper clearance. For plowing on gravel, adjust the skids so that the edge of the wear bar will be just above the gravel while plowing (usually about half an inch). For plowing smooth, level surfaces, adjust the skids to the same height as the edge of the wear bar.

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ATV Plow Kit Review

Written By: Esther
January 17th, 2011 | Filed under ATV Snow Plows, Customer Testimonials | No Comments »Tags: , , , ,
Eagle ATV Plow

The Eagle Original ATV plow makes plowing in deep snow fast and easy.

We love hearing from our customers, whether it’s a suggestion for a new product, feedback on our existing products, or just to let us know how things are working out. The following comment is from one of our customers who bought an ATV plow kit. After using the kit to plow out after some heavy snowstorms, he contacted us to let us know how the plow was holding up under harsh winter conditions.

“Hello. I recently purchased an ATV plow kit from you. All too often we hear nothing but negative comments from people when things go wrong, and seldom positive when things are right. Well, after installing the plow kit and now using it in rather deep snow, I must say that I’m impressed with it. The blade angle adjustment is well engineered, yet simple and very effective. I’m very satisfied with my purchase of this kit and the quality of the kit, not to mention it’s priced right. My neighbor also has a 4×4 ATV and was shocked when he saw the amount of snow I was moving in a very short period of time. He is now considering purchasing a plow kit. If so, it will be from your company… Great product.”

- Bob Litzinger

Bob bought the Eagle Original ATV snow plow kit, starting at just $360 with free shipping to the lower 48 states.

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Tips for Plowing Snow with an ATV

Written By: Esther
January 12th, 2011 | Filed under ATV Snow Plows | 1 Comment »Tags: , , , ,
ATV snow plow

For deep snow, plow in layers.

Plowing Deep Snow with an ATV

For heavy snowfall, plowing with the storm is the best way to go. But we know that doesn’t always happen. So when there’s already 10 inches on the ground and you’re just breaking out the plow, here are a few tips to make sure your ATV plow setup can handle the job.

For plowing deep snow, only lower the plow half the depth of the snow. For example, if there are 10 inches of snow on the ground, only lower the plow 5 inches. Plow the top layer of 5 inches, and then lower the plow to the ground and remove the bottom 5-inch layer of snow.

When plowing at an angle with deep snow, only plow half the width of the plow to prevent the snow from spilling off the side of the plow.

When plowing a snowbank, square up the ATV to the snowbank and plow across the bank. Don’t plow with your blade or ATV at an angle to the snowbank. The force of hitting a snowbank at an angle can break your plow.

Other ATV Snow Plow Tips

We recommend installing a second winch on the rear of your ATV in case you get stuck in a snowbank, high centered, etc. For aggressive plowers, a rear winch is a big deal if you happen to get stuck.

One of the trends we’re starting to see for plowing is replacing the winch line with a 2-inch strap or seat belt. The wider strap spreads out the stress and saves your winch line for recovery use only. We recommend doing this if you have problems with your winch line breaking.

Winch Line Stopper

A winch line stopper keeps your hook from getting winched into the fairlead.

Recommended Plow Accessories

There are a few ATV plow accessories that can make your life easier. You’ll find some of them on your own, but here are three that we recommend:

  1. Large bottom roller fairlead

    2. Constant use at a sharp angle can make your winch line wear out faster. A large bottom roller can reduce the stress on your winch line.

  2. Winch line stopper

    3. Since you can’t see the winch line while you’re plowing, a rubber stopper prevents you from winching the hook into the fairlead.

  3. Plow wings

    4. They make your plow job cleaner, faster, and easier by keeping snow from spilling off the sides of the plow blade.

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Posted in ATV Snow Plows | 1 Comment »

Choosing an ATV Winch for Snow Plowing

Written By: Esther
January 5th, 2011 | Filed under ATV Snow Plows, Choosing a Winch | No Comments »Tags: , , , ,
Eagle Original Mount ATV plow

A winch with a mechanical brake is better for plowing because it prevents the line from bleeding out.

In order to use your ATV plow, you need some type of lift mechanism. The three options you can choose from are a manual hand lift, a 12V electric winch, and an electric lift system. Some plow kits—such as the Cycle Country plow and Eagle Gen II plow—require an electric winch or lift, in which case a manual lift is not an option.

Why Use an ATV Winch for Plowing?

Since a large number of ATV owners already have winches installed on their machines, an electric winch is the simplest and most affordable option for lifting your plow. And if you don’t have a winch installed yet, it still might be one of your best options because of the fact that you can use it for offroad riding, landscaping, yard work, and plenty of other applications. A winch is good for more than just plowing.

1500 lb Winch

The 1500 lb XT winch comes with a mechanical braking system that's ideal for snow plow use.

Which ATV Winch Is Best for Plowing?

Some ATV winches are better for plowing than others. One of the differences between winches involves the type of braking system: mechanical or dynamic. A mechanical brake is a physical brake that works similar to the way the brakes work on your car. The mechanical brake stops the drum from turning when there is a load on the cable. A dynamic brake is built in to the winch. It uses the resistance from the winch motor to prevent the drum from turning. Hoisted weight may cause the winch line to bleed out on a winch with dynamic braking.

Winches with mechanical brakes are better at holding a load, which makes them a better option for plowing snow. With a mechanical brake, you won’t experience the plow slipping or line bleedout that you might experience with a dynamic brake.

What Size ATV Winch for Plowing?

Generally, almost any winch capacity will work for plowing. Even a light duty 1500 lb winch has more than enough power for most plow setups. If you plan to use the winch for more than just plowing, check out our article on choosing an ATV winch for tips on figuring out what size winch you need.

A mechanical brake is the key factor in choosing an ATV winch for plowing snow. The following ProMark Offroad winches come with mechanical braking systems:

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Biggest Mistakes when Plowing Snow with an ATV Plow and Winch

Written By: Esther
December 30th, 2010 | Filed under ATV Snow Plows | No Comments »Tags: , , ,
Snowplow in action

Two of the biggest plowing mistakes are lifting the blade too high and lifting the plow in a snowbank.

Things we’ve learned the hard way about plowing with an ATV and winch:

  1. Pay attention to how high you lift the blade.
  2. Back up slightly before lifting the blade out of a snowbank.
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The two biggest problems that cause damage to your ATV plow and winch are lifting the blade too high (which bends the winch mount and plow mount) and lifting the plow while it’s embedded in a snowbank (which can strip the winch gears, bend your equipment, and break your winch line).

Lifting the Plow Blade

Keep an eye on how high you lift the blade when plowing with your ATV. The easiest way to keep from lifting the blade too high is to watch the front of the ATV. If you lift the blade too high, the winch will start to cinch down the front of the ATV. As soon as you see ANY movement on the front of the ATV, stop winching immediately!

If you let the winch continue to pull down the front of the ATV, the mounting plate will eventually hit the front of the ATV and you’ll have a bent plate to deal with. Even a light duty 1500 lb ATV winch has more than enough power to mangle a winch plate and plow mount.

Piling Up Snow

The second thing to remember is to back up a few inches before lifting the plow out of a snowbank. You run into problems when you ram snow into a hard-packed wall, stop there, and then try to lift the plow. If you try to lift the plow before you back up, you can easily snap your winch line, strip the winch gears, or bend up your plow equipment. The winch and plow cannot handle the weight of the entire snowbank, which is what you are trying to lift with the plow embedded in the snow. Disengage the plow from the snowbank before lifting the blade.

So how do you pile up snow on a huge snowbank without lifting the plow when you hit the bank? Start lifting the plow as you approach the snowbank. Lift early instead of waiting until you hit the bank. Then, when you hit the snowbank, start backing up before lifting the plow any further.

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