ATV Snow Plows vs. Snow Blower

[ndbwhunter]

I've got a snowblower (old and shitty) that just isn't doing the job anymore. Am I better off spending $400-700 on an ATV plow to make short work of the larger areas, or just get a newer snow blower that can be used on the driveway and sidewalks. The walkways around the house are relatively short so they are easy to shovel, unless we get a bunch of snow and high winds. Access to these walkways is limited, so I would only be able to use the plow in the driveway and city sidewalk.

How well do the ATV plows work with wet/heavy snow? Will I need tracks, or will chains do the trick?

 

[guywhofishes]

I have often pondered this. I always realize in the end that you need to push the banks a heck of a long way away from the area being cleared or you start to create "snow fences" from the snow you moved - you can't just push it "off to the side" or "to the end". Then the next wind comes up and snowing or not you gotta move snow again. The miracle of the blower is it can throw it far and smooth so it doesn't catch snow.

So in a big yard out in the country where "lawns" and such aren't cleanly delineated you can just push snow around far enough away to where it's not a hassle later. In town you have many conditions where you can't - the snowblower allows you to put snow where it won't trouble you again.

Get a pretty wide blower and don't look back is my opinion.

 

[lunkerslayer]

Probably not a good option for some

 

[3Roosters]

I have both...and use my snowblower more often..mostly because I don't have a long driveway garage pad and it is sloped a little. I do have chains on the back of the atv. Like was mentioned ..if you have wide open flat areas and a long driveway..atv would work better. Sidewalks- I prefer snowblower..I have an older one as well...just do a little TLC summerizing the thing each spring and mine has started right up. Based on my particular situation concerning MY snow issues, I use my snowblower more often. Your situation may be different.
Wouldn't break my heart not to have to use either!

 

[dust in the wind]

I've got an ATV with a plow that I use. Live in town, while my driveway isn't long, it is wide (48' wide from garage to the sidewalk).

Works well for me, I do push the snow to the side and push it towards the back so I don't create a big pile on the side of the driveway.

So far I have not needed chains. The wet heavy snow we got the other day was no problem for it. Also works fine on the sidewalks.

 

[Bowhunter_24]

I use my atv with a blade. I will never use a snowblower again, unless its a big one on a tractor.

I can push my driveway in literally a tenth or less of the time it would take to use a walk behind snow blower. And its actually fun.

I have no chains. Just give her hell.


Take with a grain of salt as I don't live in town

 

[guywhofishes]

I can push my driveway in literally a tenth or less of the time it would take to use a walk behind snow blower. And its actually fun.

THAT ^^^^ is what makes me ponder it on occasion. I occasionally drive by somebody who gets to push snow around on a wheeler and it looks like they are playing in a sand box. Makes me jealous compared to walking slow-like along behind a snowblower like every other dork on my street.

#firstworldproblems

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Then again - I later drive by in the spring and their lawn is sometimes torn all to $$$$. ;:;rofl

 

[jtillman]

After my snowblower broke down a few years ago....I moved to the ATV with a plow. Will never go back to a snowblower (unless I'm in a cab). I live in town, but have a rather large yard....if I had a smaller yard with no room to push the piles back...the ATV / plow would be an issue.

 

[dust in the wind]

THAT ^^^^ is what makes me ponder it on occasion. I occasionally drive by somebody who gets to push snow around on a wheeler and it looks like they are playing in a sand box. Makes me jealous compared to walking slow-like along behind a snowblower like every other dork on my street.

#firstworldproblems

It is fun! Heck, I'll do the street if the plows don't come around soon enough!

 

[LOV2HNT]

What Bowhunter_24 said. I live outside the city a little bit and have a 2 acre lot, so I got plenty of room to push the snow so it don't create snow fences. I'll raise the blade up a little bit once I hit the grass so I don't tear the hell out of the lawn. Sold my snow blower to Dirtymike cause it never was used after putting on the plow.

 

[dust in the wind]

Then again - I later drive by in the spring and their lawn is sometimes torn all to $$$$. ;:;rofl

Ha! That thought is in the back of mind too but I am raising the blade on the grass areas and hopefully not digging up the yard with the tires. So far I haven't seen much for grass coming up around my path.

 

[johnr]

I side with guy on this one. I also take extreme care of my lawn, and don't want to drive on it, or scrape it with a blade. When spring comes I like to be excited not PO'd

 

[dust in the wind]

I side with guy on this one. I also take extreme care of my lawn, and don't want to drive on it, or scrape it with a blade. When spring comes I like to be excited not PO'd

if one is careful it shouldn't be much of an issue. Heck I drove the 3 wheeler all over the yard in the winter when I was younger really didn't damage the grass any - Dad would have tanned my hide if I tore it up.

 

[lunkerslayer]

Is it wrong if I don't like to shovel my sidewalk from my house to my unattached garage?

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I do shovel for the MiLf mail lady though

 

[Tommyboy]

I have both and live in town. I use my quad and blade far more. Mostly because its fun as mentioned above, but also because I do 1/4 of my alley, my two driveways (one up front and a double in the alley), my neighbors two driveways (same as mine) and the sidewalks. I can do all of that in about 90 min at the max with an average snowfall. I have no problems in the spring with the grass (I like to keep mine up and looking nice) being torn up. I do raise the blade and never hammer the throttle on the grass. I push it all over to one side and have never ran out of room to push it. I stay off of my neighbors grass with the quad. If I had to use a snowblower for all of that, I would never have time to write posts like this.

Also, I have never had to chain up for plowing. 4WD seems to do the trick.

 

[martinslanding]

It all depends on the snow wet-heavy or light and fluffy.

The "give’em hell" issue with the ATV is if that snow freezes things start breaking and cost adds up…I would make sure I had chains (or tracks) this would help to keep the blade from getting damaged.

I personally use a snow blower (I don’t have ATV with plow) nice 8 hp with 28’’ cut doesn’t take me long to do driveway and sidewalks, being a corner lot I need to do a whole half block on the south side…one pass down and back and she’s good to go….in heavy snow years I do blow back patches on the grass to make room for new snow and drifts…I would be very leery ripping up the front lawn with a blade, mamma would not be happy come spring….

 

[ndbwhunter]

After my snowblower broke down a few years ago....I moved to the ATV with a plow. Will never go back to a snowblower (unless I'm in a cab). I live in town, but have a rather large yard....if I had a smaller yard with no room to push the piles back...the ATV / plow would be an issue.

My yard is not very big, and having alley access to my garage really limits my options for relocating the snow. Although an ATV would be fun, I'm beginning to think that the snow blower would be more useful for my current situation.

 

[johnr]

A heated driveway and sidewalk would of course be the best option. I know there was a house in Briarwood that had that back when I was a high school kid.
Sometimes wealth does buy happiness, and a snow free driveway.

 

[guywhofishes]

A heated driveway and sidewalk would of course be the best option.

uh... well that doesn't seem very sustainable johnr... I suggest you examine your commitment to mother earth... uh... well...

 

[martinslanding]

My yard is not very big, and having alley access to my garage really limits my options for relocating the snow. Although an ATV would be fun, I'm beginning to think that the snow blower would be more useful for my current situation.

Since you’ve owned one you know what to look for…stick with a good two-stage well known brand, try to maximize width with HP for your pocket book….lots of cheaper ones have lots of plastic parts that can break over time…keep it high end parts and engine and simple controls…it should last 10+ years