OK, winter is fast approaching.... I've had a 420 Rancher for about 6 months now and I want to get it ready for the snow. I have a fairly long blacktop driveway that I want to plow with it...

Can anyone recommend a plow and online retailer where to get it?

Couple of questions:
1. Winch vs. Manual lift? I'm thinking of getting a winch installed and using that as the plow up-down instead of the manual handle. Any pro's vs. con's for the winch? I've used my neighbors atv w/plow the last couple of years and he has the manual lift - the major con that I see for the manual is its either fully up or down. With the winch I could leave it several inches above the ground to perhaps clear an area of the lawn or an area that has rocks/gravel... anything else I'm missing?
2. Size - whats a good size to get for the Rancher? does it matter?

Any other recommendations/feedback would be most welcome - especially tips on where to buy online.

Thanks in advance!!!

 

I could also use a plow for my Honda Rancher 420, and have found several different plows and related products online. Feedback from anyone who has used one of these or any plow on an ATV would be greatly appreciated.

This one has no controls and claims to be motion activated:
Amazing-ATV-Machinery.com

Here is a large Swisher 62" where a mounting kit and winch are required:
RideGear.com

The Swisher 50" which can be used with either a winch or optional manual lift:
SwisherInc.com

Here's an expensive power lift gizmo that claims to work with most any plow and ATV:
MilbarProducts.com
Caution: be prepared to be assaulted by the loud annoying music of their demo!

Bare bones 50" & 60" plows, even the rubber plow flap is sold separately:
MooseUtilities.com

This one offers a few plow sizes. Their website shows lift options and PDF installation manuals for many ATV models, including the 2007 Honda Rancher 420:
CycleCountry.com

Warn offers standard plows and a "Cyclone Angled" model in different sizes, with different lifting options:
Warn.com

American Mfg. is another maker. Their website takes some effort to figure out, but through trial and error I managed to find they have an application for the Honda Rancher 420, via Product Catalog > Plow Mount Application Chart, Page 1.
EaglePlows.com

Though some of these sites are only product information by the manufacturer, it shouldn't be hard to find an online seller for any of them ... just google a specific make and model.

 

Went thru the same thing woodrat, ralphkaz
Finally settled on a Warn I ordered from www.motoxoutlet.com seemed the best price.....they also offer cycle country.
I got the standard 54" plow, with the electric actuator. Really didn't want to use my winch for lifting. Final total with shipping was 500.00 complete with 420 rancher mount.
Put it all together this morning and am ready for snow. Went together in about 2 hours.
Hope it does the job!
I only have a small drive way into my garage and will also be plowing a gravel parking area I use to park trailers on. Guess my only disappointment was seeing" made in China" all over the Warn products, but I guess it is now the way of the world.
Good luck on your guys search RalphKaz and Woodrat.

 

thank you both for the feedback! greatly appreciated... It will take a little while to look through it all and make a decision. I want to get this thing ordered pretty soon though cause in Chicagoland the snow can come early! :-)

Regarding the actuator - I thought those were basically a mini-winch... where did you mount it? any specific reason you didn't want to use the winch for lifting the plow?

 

RalphKaz
Yes it is mainly just a small winch that mounts on the plow push tube up next to the plow blade, then uses a nylon strap up to the front rack bar.
Just didn't want to ty-up my winch in case I find myself in a stuck sucks kinda deal, and besides it is really hard on the winch cable pulling at such a downward angle. And also the actuator will lift the plow higher being the winch on the rancher is mounted so low.

 

Thanks tramp, that looks like a good option for the whole package. I'm still looking at details and comparisons.

 

hey i have a 2000 rancher with a winch and i have a cycle country 48inch plow on it. ive used the manual lift and i had the winch all ready so i just went to useing that instead...my bud has the moose plow and it does a nicer job as with deeper snow it rolls it off the blade were as mine it just stacks like. but this is my opnion and if i had to buy a new one it be the moose. easy install and works great

 

NeilinVT, thanks for your input. That's good information.

 

have an 03 350 4x4 rancher and 07 rancher 4x4es 420. both have warn winches. both use the winch to work the plow. make sure you get the roller fairlead for the winch. this will not wear like the stock plate. it rolls therefore no wear. i recommend the winch vs. the manual lift. you have the ability to lift a lot easier as you pile it up and have the ability to plow as deep as you want. a few years ago in cinti we got 20 inches of snow and ice in 3 layers. you can not push 16". all you do is push about 4-6" at a time and you do that by only allowing your plade to not go down to the ground. this is the plus why to use a winch vs a manual lift.

I have a 1500 winch on the 03 and a 2500 on the 07. the winch size will not make a difference for plowing. now the clevis grab hook on the winch makes a difference. the 1/4" hook works the best and gives the best play on the hole you hook up to on the blade vs the 5/16" hook. the plow i use is a 48" straight plow from cycle country.

get a winch and use it. get any plow. i would recommend the 48" on the smaller atv's. the bigger the blade, the more snow you push, therefore you need a bigger engine, more powerful bike to push it with. this is why i would recommend a 48", no smaller but no larger. 48" cover the width of your bike.

 

I have the new cycle country teflon plow in a 60 in for my griz 700. the new cycle country dirt rolls right off of it and doesn't stick on it.
for anything under 500CC is recommend a 54-48, depnding the weight of the ATV. I paid $425 OTD for my cycle country 60 inch.