OK, so I'm another Newbie. I'm an old fart, as my teenage kid says, trying to act like a kid again, I guess. Last year I discoved snowmobiling and had a blast. I made a trail up the steep hill behind my house to connect to the main trails in southern NH. Hey, for the first time in a long time I actually liked winter. Which gets me to the point. I have a long (1/4 mile) gravel driveway that slopes gently to the road. I have for years plowed it with a 1967 Jeep which is pretty rusted out, runs poorly, has not brakes, and in which I don't want to invest any money or buy a truck. I don't really need a truck for anything else. So I was hoping I could do some plowing with an ATV and (to justify its existance to my frugal Yankee nature and my wife), and to allow me to get up the steep trail to maintain it and just explore my woods (I've lived on the property for my whole life which is more than a half century, yet rarely make it up into my backland. So, I did a little (maybe not enuf) and ordered a Sportsman 500 HO cause I wanted an automatic, and I actually thought that a BIG, HEAVY machine would be good for snow plowing. I have heard various opinions on how much snow this will push and how well will it work. What do you folks think. Also, I've been reading about all the maintenance these machines (especially Polaris?) require on this forum. I don't expect to drive mine hard up the trail cause it don't want to erode it. Please tell me this expensive thing I just bought will hold up OK if I maintain it and don't abuse it.

 

Your new Sp should last a long time if you maintain it properly. My father has a 1996 SP500 and has never had a problem. They are great machines. There is more maintenance on it then some others, but that is because of the features such as the auto tranny and IRS suspension.
As for plowing, you will be amazed at its capabilities. I grew up in northern WI, ans spent the last 4 years in southern Maine. The SP will have no problems with plowing, even with the largest blade you can buy for ATVs. Many people even use two wheel drive machines with smaller blades for plowing.
My step dad has a 1992 350L Polaris that he uses for hauling wood and plowing. Even that machine does extremely well at plowing the deep snow in northern WI.
I think you will be extremely happy with your new ATV.

 

Your going to love plowing with an atv, I've got one and if you asked my wife she would tell you I pray for snow (just so I can plow). Your Sportsman will plow well and you'll like the auto for it. Get yourself a 60" blade and then you'll have to decide winch lift or manual - it's really a personal preference. If you don't need a winch for other uses -then get the manual, it's quicker and cheaper.

enjoy!

 

The Sportsman will plow snow with little to no effort.But PLEASE,dont forget to use LOW RANGE when you are plowing.I added aftermarket Goodyear Mudrunners on all 4 corners of both my Sportsman and my Xplorer 4x4s,its very hard to stop them,traction is super.Last Dec 13th,Michigan got hit with about 15 inches of snow over night,I plowed my 100ft long driveway with no problems.If you guys get ALOT of snow at one time,I DONT recommend the 60 inch snow blade on a long drivway like yours.I'd go with the 48 ince blade instead.

Reliability?
You either get a good Polaris or you get a bad one.In BOTH instances for me,BOTH my Polaris 4x4 ATVs have really gone thru worn parts VERY fast.I thank God I have the 3yr extended warrenty.

Best of luck,
Bill

 

I have a 1999 sportsman 500 with 27 inch XT's. I live in the country and have a driveway that is 700 feet long. I bought a 60 inch moose plow. I think it is called the "state" plow. It is 26 inches on one end and tapers down to 16 inches. I think this plow works great. I go pretty fast so that I can throw the snow 15 to 20 feet. It does become a chore later on when the wind blows drifts in.

 

I have a a 2000 SP500 and the polaris plow. I live on a 1 1/2 mile private road and plow the whole thing all winter long with only this machine. I love it, it has never let me down. Fifteen inches is no problem and I am sure it will plow deeper snow. Never a single problem. I do like the winch for raising it and lowering it though, especially on driveways. I also use chains on the back which I cut down from some care chains I got for $5 at a garage sale. Go for it, you'll love it!

 

I'v been plowing with my magnum for a few years,
and it did the job.The money I made in 99 bought me a brand spankin new 2001 sportsman 500HO with a deluxe plow kit.
I was doing small parking lots and houses faster then the trucks because I can turn it on a dime,and get in the tight spaces.
I even got 2 casinos )for $50per hr per quad

Aside from being a great investment, you will now see parts of your very own county you never new exsited(including your own back yard)

I would strongly suggest getting the winch
It's a 700lb bike and a bitch to get unstuck
I have the manual for the magnum,it's faster,but it drains ya and
when you spend 8hr plowing you dont want to go have fun after your done
And if you hit a curb or manhole cover that handle hurts like hell
when it clubs your left knee

Also I would suggest the deluxe plow kit,that way you dont lose the ground clearance and you dont have thatplate on the bottem of the quad all year

 

Thanks for all the input regarding plowing. I was a little worried about how well it would really work and you folks have been very encouraging. I'm sure it will be a lot more FUN than using my broken down Jeep.

 

I convinced my wife that getting a 4 wheeler would save us money because I could plow out our 500 foot driveway.

My 2000 sp500 RSE with the sportsman deluxe plow kit warn winch and the polaris V-plow rocks! I love the sportsman kit, you just drive over it and hock it on with two pins. The winch lifts it with ease. Get the rubber spring spacers for the front. I doubled them up, 2 on each side, that V-balde plow is a heavy sun of a gun. Polaris got this set up right the first time!

I haven't needed different tires or chains. They may not be a bad idea in realy deep stuff or on ice. I have the polaris skid plates and a-arm guards so I've notived I skip right over the drifts.

I spent a lot of time on this thing last winter. I just bought a used Polaris Indy XLT 600 special. I told my wife it was a precaution in case I burned up a belt on my quad plowing and needed to run to town for a new one...

 

TMBK2



<< I convinced my wife that getting a 4 wheeler would save us money I spent a lot of time on this thing last winter. I just bought a used Polaris Indy XLT 600 special. I told my wife it was a precaution in case I burned up a belt on my quad plowing and needed to run to town for a new one... >>



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