Affordable UTV Snowplow
After getting our UTV I quickly went on the hunt for an affordable snowplow I could use to clear my 300 foot long driveway when we get snow here in Maryland. I was quite shocked to find prices $600 to $1600 for a plow kit (and these offered no control mechanisms and relied on an existing winch). Luckily I found the Kolpin AT 48-60 inch Switchblade Plow kit. It was listed as being universal and the price was under $400 with shipping!
It took a good week to arrive via freight shipping. The single box weighed about 90 pounds. I also ordered the side markers so I could see the position of the plow when it was in front of my UTV. Assembly of the plow and arm took me almost 2 hours but I had a few interruptions while I was working on it. I chose to set it up at the full 60 inch length and would do the same if I had to do it again. 48 inches would be narrower than my Massimo MSU-500s wheels and I felt my UTV had more than enough power to push at the wider assembly choice.
As the instructions suggest I assembled everything without tightening until everything was together. It certainly helped make sure things aligned well and saved having to undo anything to fit another part. A good socket set and/or power driver is highly recommend- you will be tightening down dozens of nuts and bolts in the assembly process. Once the plow and arm are assembled you need to find a spot to place the mount on the underside of the UTV.
The instructions are quite vague for this stem since the kit is “universal”. You want to find a spot on the frame just behind the front wheel axels. The hardware in the kit allows you to get creative in how the mount plate is secured to the UTV. You should end up using 2 U bolts on each side and have at least one on each side wrap around the UTV frame beam.
Mating the plow arm to the mount plate is secured with 2 pins and clips. This is the only part of putting the plow into use where you will need another person to get down on the ground with you, slide the plow arm into the mound and lock the pins into place. Then let out 1-2 feet of winch cable and clip it onto the ring behind the plow blade and retract the cable to raise the plow. Removing the plow is easier- drop the winch cable down to lower the plow, pull the mount pins, disconnect the winch hook and back away.
I’ve already cleared 2 major snows this season with my new plow and I could not be happier. Unlike my yard tractor plow where I needed to add wheel chains and weights to have any chance of getting a good push the UTV plow experience was awesome. I did all of the work in low gear. Since my driveway is gravel I adjusted the plow feet to extend 1.5 inches down to make sure I was only plowing snow and leaving the gravel where it belongs. You do need to get out of the UTV cab to adjust the plow angle but I pretty quickly came up with a pattern that let me keep it in one position the entire time.
The plow marker poles I added to the order were a wise choice. When sitting in the UTV you have no visibility of the plow so the markers let you know where it is and if it’s up or down. I got both the plow kit and markers shipped right to my door for under $400. Time will tell on the durability but it looks like it is built to last. I am very pleased with the Kolpin Universal Plow.
