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Snowsport HD snowplow review

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by NewGuyJosh, Feb 21, 2015.

  1. Feb 21, 2015 at 8:42 AM
    #1
    NewGuyJosh

    NewGuyJosh [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I recently purchased a snowsport HD snowplow 84" plow for my 2014 Tacoma and wanted to share my thoughts. (http://www.agricover.com/snowsport/hd/). I wouldn't buy from them directly as there are better deals to be found but that gives a good overview of the plow and has lots of videos showing how it works.

    As mentioned below I added a winch to my set up and everything was just bolt on. If anyone wants instructions let me know.

    Why I chose the snowsport
    -Light weight: The push frame and blade combined weight about 180 pounds so this minimize the stress on my truck. In 6 inches of heavy snow I monitored the transmission temp and it never got above 118 degrees.

    -Excellent reviews: I saw a ton of execellent reviews (including several people with Tacomas) on various retailers websites

    -Rubber cutting edge: This allows you to push the snow further into the yard without tearing up the turf. Also easier on my smooth finish concrete drive

    -Easy to store: small and light weight make it easy to keep in garage when not in use

    -Cost: I had a new customer discount code and was able to purchase it for ~$1400 including the front hitch (curt)

    Modifications

    -
    Winch: While the disengagement feature in reverse works well and I used it like that for the first few snows I thought a winch would add significant convenience. I was able to add a winch with wireless remote and mount it to the snowsport frame/plow for ~$80 with no modifications required to the plow/frame. Everything just bolts on and could be taken off in less than 5 minutes tops

    -I initially put the box ends on the plow but decided I didn't like them. Just a personal preference but I like to angle the plow and get it off the drive as quick as possible versus allowing it to build up in front of the plow. Having them removed doesn't affect the structural stability and it actually makes it weigh a little less as well.

    What I like
    To be honest, the plow has exceeded my expectations. We have had snows from 1inch to 6 inches and I have not had any trouble with wet heavy or dry fluffy snow. I have also moved the heavy packed in 12 inch drifts that the county piled on the edge of my driveway. I have no doubt it could handle much deeper snow and there are several videos online of it doing so. My drive is about 3500 square feet and I used to do it with a large 2 stage snowblower. It would take me an hour or more most times out in the cold to complete it. Now I can get it done in 5-10 minutes at most and I am in the warm truck...and to be honest it's fun!

    What I don't like.
    There is not much to not like so I am really being nit-picky here.
    -It doesn't provide a perfectly clean surface. It leaves areas of less than 1/8 inch of snow in places. Not a big deal and this is worth the trade off of having the rubber cutting edge. Though in a perfect world it would result in 100% bare concrete.

    -I have to manually angle the blade. Again not really a big deal, it takes about 5 secondsplus getting in/out of the truck. To get a plow with mechanical angling you are going to spend several thousand dollars more and have a much heavier plow.

    -Has a hard time getting packed on ice up but I think all plows do...Also, they make a downpressure strap that can be added to assist with this if one so desired.


    Summary:
    If you are looking for a low cost plow for your tacoma that won't put any notable strain on the suspension this is the way to go. It does an excellent job on my large residential driveway. I would feel comfortable doing mine and a few neighbors each storm but this is not an commercial unit and I wouldn't try to go out and make money using it. Like all plows, I recommend plowing with the storm, especially in our trucks. When possible go ahead and plow every 4 inches or so instead of waiting for it to pile up at the end of the storm. I know it can handle more than that at once without any hiccups but why risk putting extra stress on your truck?


    AAD65300-C108-44AB-B84B-114C8A1139D9_zps_5edd285fa3a6060ffe241fdba11fc4603e824370.jpg

    B2BBFA85-FEFE-4F3E-8CF4-9C082AF2450F_zps_e573e09bac2a24c871709f586ff948a8578d32d3.jpg
     
    Last edited: Feb 21, 2015
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  2. Feb 21, 2015 at 10:56 AM
    #2
    B737

    B737 Throbbing Member

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    ummm, yeah... about that
     
  3. Feb 21, 2015 at 11:12 AM
    #3
    NewGuyJosh

    NewGuyJosh [OP] Well-Known Member

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    You think 175 pounds on the front end is enough to wear out the suspension? Especially when you considered 80% of the time the blade is on the ground so then you are only support the ~50-60 pounds the push frame weighs. Also, that's why I said use it on your own driveway. If you drive around and plow drives all day everytime it snows you are going to cause unnecessary wear on your truck.

    Other than that go slow (I keep it around 5mph or less), plow with the storm when possible, and don't go ramming into frozen piles like an idiot and you'll be good.
     
    Last edited: Feb 21, 2015
  4. Feb 21, 2015 at 11:15 AM
    #4
    B737

    B737 Throbbing Member

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    you think the forces acting on the frame of your truck are only that of the physical weight of the snowplow??? keep on plowing! :)
     
  5. Feb 21, 2015 at 11:18 AM
    #5
    Boone

    Boone Vaginas are rad.

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    What's a yiu?
     
  6. Feb 21, 2015 at 11:28 AM
    #6
    NewGuyJosh

    NewGuyJosh [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Well your original quote was referring to the suspension comment not the frame...

    But as far as the frame goes, yes the weight of the snow you are plowing does out stress on the frame but if your smart about it the stress is minimal. If you try to plow several drives or you wait and plow 8+ inches everytime you'll put excessive forces on the frame. Likewise if you try to plow too fast or ram into frozen piles you'll cause excessive stress.

    I have pushed 6inches plus of snow with my 450cc atv at my former house with a larger drive for 5 years with never the slightest sign of a problem. If our tacomas can't handle what a small atv will then we shouldn't be buying them.

    With that said it is obvious you do not want a plow on your tacoma. However, there are several people who are interested in the possibility and I wrote this review for them...
     
    Last edited: Feb 21, 2015
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  7. Feb 21, 2015 at 11:55 AM
    #7
    NewGuyJosh

    NewGuyJosh [OP] Well-Known Member

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    The hitch is a class III with a 3500# rating.

    As far as obstructions, the blade is actually free to float up the push frame so it goes over the top of any hard obstruction. This is one of the reasons it doesn't do a great job of scraping ice off the surface, it ends up floating up on the ice at times. Check out this YouTube video. These guys are crazy but it shows how the plow reacts to obstructions.

    http://youtu.be/s3OIbDOYzWU
     
    Last edited: Feb 21, 2015
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  8. Feb 21, 2015 at 12:31 PM
    #8
    CO Ryan

    CO Ryan Well-Known Member

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    stuff

    EXTREME OFFROAD PLOWING. Those dudes are onto something!!:D
     
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  9. Feb 21, 2015 at 12:50 PM
    #9
    NewGuyJosh

    NewGuyJosh [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Here are a few pics of the finished drive after today in case anyone wants to see. As you can tell from the pics, enough snow is removed that you can see the concrete but there is a very thin layer left. If you are looking for a perfectly bare drive this isn't for you. However, the amount of snow left is soo small it melts the next day there is any sunshine (even if below freezing)

    60155E66-CBE9-48A5-A62B-F5AF1FE97E06_zps_9aefd6bc9a479a0c286e1a2ec445340287d22714.jpg

    1731D274-62BE-4B56-AE46-89BF36C6E3D2_zps_1db341e3326981aded8c10879b897014ac19d790.jpg
     
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  10. Feb 21, 2015 at 1:22 PM
    #10
    judgeman6970

    judgeman6970 Well-Known Member

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    Looks good. If a Tacoma cant handle residential plowing with that set-up, I think I bought the wrong truck!!
     
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  11. Feb 21, 2015 at 4:17 PM
    #11
    85GT 79FJ40

    85GT 79FJ40 Well-Known Member

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    Good review. I think these are fine if you don't have snowbanks to deal with or much snow. If I had a relatively simple long driveway and didn't get a lot of snow I would consider one of these. Dead-simple, nothing really to go wrong. But that's not the type of plowing I have to do. I'm constantly angling the blade, back-dragging, and pushing back snowbanks. As much as I think about how nice it would be to only have one truck I just don't think I could put my Tacoma through the abuse I put my old 89 Toyota plow truck through. It keeps on going though. I've been plowing with it for 10 years now.
     
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  12. Feb 21, 2015 at 4:36 PM
    #12
    JohnnyRA29

    JohnnyRA29 Well-Known Member

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    You know, I've seen these things and I'm glad you did a review. I was curious about their performance. However, to beat the price and ...ergonomics of that type of plow, you could pick up an old 200 or 300 series John Deere garden tractor in "snow removal" condition (a little rough around the edges/you wouldn't mind leaving it outside) for about $1000 with weights/chains/snow blade or snowblower.

    10339670_10152956369774203_2965765748854_adfa39abdceb4b81b0c38fd0b4929e485ddcec36.jpg

    11383_10152956369814203_6529744831490474_f1ab3fd296135e528d4242547aeb539afd132c58.jpg

    Mine is a little nicer than most you find these days. It's a 1980 314 and has some upgrades and a rebuilt Kohler, but you get the idea. I use mine for everything, tilling, snow, grass cutting.
     
  13. Feb 21, 2015 at 4:51 PM
    #13
    NewGuyJosh

    NewGuyJosh [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Nice tractor. Part of the reason I bought the plow was I didn't want to be out in the cold
     
  14. Feb 25, 2015 at 5:06 AM
    #14
    ejl923

    ejl923 Well-Known Member

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    Thanks for the review. This may be the perfect lower cost, less stressful option for my driveway. I have a steeper drive that requires my attention in the smallest amounts of snow. For small nuisance snow it would be nice to have something that quickly scrapes the drive, up to 3-4". for deeper stuff i might still stick with my blower. I did say lower, not low cost though
     
  15. Feb 25, 2015 at 5:26 AM
    #15
    Icepuck72

    Icepuck72 Well-Known Member

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    Huh? What's your husband do for a living??:p
     
  16. Feb 25, 2015 at 5:37 AM
    #16
    rcsb jon

    rcsb jon Well-Known Member

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    Good review and feedback
     
  17. Feb 25, 2015 at 5:49 AM
    #17
    SargeBSA

    SargeBSA With self-discipline most anything is possible.

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    Sell you my 71 cadet original with snow plow and mowing deck for 900$
     
  18. Feb 25, 2015 at 5:52 AM
    #18
    B737

    B737 Throbbing Member

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    i dont meant to keep pissing in cheerios here but for conversations sake...
    isnt there something regarding the warranty about using the vehicle as a 'snow plow'? (and insurance but im not even going there...)

    i just feel like there are more elegant and efficient solutions than this. but glad it works for OP. i guess that can be said about a lot of mods....

    +1 to the Kubota or a blower...
     
    Last edited: Feb 25, 2015
  19. Feb 25, 2015 at 5:54 AM
    #19
    rcsb jon

    rcsb jon Well-Known Member

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    research that yourself and get back to us....
     
  20. Feb 25, 2015 at 5:55 AM
    #20
    B737

    B737 Throbbing Member

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    no thanks
    i already have snow removal equipment. and its not much truck
     

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