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My ATV Plow Can Handle It: Snow, No Problem:

Off Grid Living with the Bennetts

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Testing the limits of my ATV snow plowing setup against the heavy drifts piling up on our off-grid homestead.

ATV snow plowing in Northern Canada is rarely as straightforward as it looks on paper. When the snow turns heavy and deep, the physics of traction and machine weight become the primary obstacles. I am pushing my current setup to see exactly where the line is between efficient property maintenance and getting stuck in a drift.

This process is about more than just clearing a path to the shop; it is about evaluating the gear I rely on daily. I am putting the plow attachment under real stress to determine if it can handle the resistance of high-accumulation zones. For anyone living off-grid, understanding the mechanical limits of your equipment is vital for keeping your access routes open through the harshest months, which is a necessary step for successful snow removal.

Subscribe for weekly off-grid living updates, and let me know in the comments: what is the most difficult snow removal challenge you are tackling on your property this winter?

0:00 Mastering Snow Removal with an ATV
1:24 The Challenge of Deep Snow Accumulation
3:44 Putting the ATV to the Test
8:10 Reviewing the ATV Plow Setup
11:14 Reflecting on Past Snow Removal Business

13 Comments

@offgridlivingwiththebennetts Creator 10 days ago

What do you use to clear your off grid driveway?

@MalinoisHomestead 1 month ago

Looking forward to using the atv to plow this year. We got caught out in the last season and it was a nightmare. I know people say they struggle but my atv is a 6x6 so hoping it helps 🤣

@garybrown9062 8 months ago

I have a Grizzly 700 SE XLT with a 60 inch Click and Go 2 plow. I’ve been able to plow all types of snow for 3 years now no matter how wet it is. This is my third year plowing. I do have a Honda 13-32 track drive snow blower also. The first winter plowing I would use my blower to move the snowbanks before they froze. Now with experience I know how to angle the snowbanks so I can drive right up them and dump the snow over them by simply raising my plow as I approach the snowbanks. Never run out of room. I haven’t had to use the snowblower this year at all. Though I will keep the blower I doubt at this rate I will ever wear it out. Though it’s a comfort to have around as backup as it’s a freaking weapon for annihilating snow. It will throw any snow but that deep light fluffy stuff goes 50 feet in the air and just disappears in the wind. When you can climb those snowbanks and push snow over them, you will have it down to a science and not run out of room. I really enjoy plowing with my ATV. It’s so maneuverable and just plain fun.

@gregdcross 1 year ago

Light, dry powder slow can easily be plowed by an ATV. But wet, heavy snow is a no go. ATVs don't have enough ground pressure to get the traction to push heavy snow or push back snow banks that have froze.

@offgridlivingwiththebennetts Creator 8 months ago

I really enjoy plowing with my Honda. How do you clear your off grid property? I bought an Alpine sled for when I am not plowing snow, I can go back in my bush and gather wood. Check out my video of my 1987 Alpine sled at: https://youtu.be/xP22s_fHnpw

@taternogginsdave 9 months ago

Been plowing snow with a Honda rancher 400 since 2004. I have the same plow. You need to push the banks back as far as you can at the beginning of the season. Then you aren’t fighting the banks as much. Big storms seem to take forever to clean up. Push holes in those banks before they get hard. When snow is heavy sometimes you just have to keep nibbling away at it. Enjoyed the video.

@AdventuresofAllyandRichard 6 months ago

That is such a nice Honda! 427 kms wow that’s brand new! The 300 I have has almost 13,000 on it lol.

I like to plow but sometimes I’ll use the snow blower if there’s a lot to move or if I run out of spots to put the snow. I do think the snow blower is faster but plowing with the Honda is way more fun!

@nancypicchi9224 7 months ago

We are in Sierra Nevada Mountains at 3,000 ft. Our snow is called “SIERRA CEMENT”. Will Which ATV with Attachment gear included would be BEST!

@bonesbyfield3959 1 year ago

Nice video. I would be using electric shift and start pushing the snow banks back. Start low with the blade and slowly raise it as you are going into the stack and you can push it back and also stack it much much higher. especially when it freezes and you have a base. I have 3 Honda 400 AT units here in Colorado and can stack snow from driveways like yours really easy. Try putting your machine sideways in your driveway and using manual shift and plow your banks back as you have a frozen base to keep traction on. Enjoy<😎>