Thankyou for the video. I have a lifted jeep and am doing walk routes, but have been looking into something like this that could tackle a small driveway and save time.
It’s one of the best purchases I ever made. It’s way faster than a snow-blower for sure! One piece of advice regarding using your Jeep: do be mindful of how “lifted” it is- how high would the forward-facing trailer hitch receiver tube be? The plow mount is configurable & has some range but if it’s too high the plow blade may not have good range of up/down motion as it contours to the ground. I’m glad you found the video helpful & thanks for reaching out!
Got this for my super steep driveway. After 2 years of struggling to shovel I’m hoping it works out. My method thus far has been to stand at the top with 2 shovels and slide down until the snow stopped me, but it’s too steep to stand on or walk up when it’s slippery so it’s always been a struggle clearing after that first down pass
Hi Fabio, congrats on your purchase! My guess is that the vehicle you'll be using is lighter/smaller than a commercial plow truck (mine is). Particularly because your driveway is steep, it might be very difficult for your vehicle to move snow off your driveway... without CHAINS. I've been planning a sequel video to touch on how essential they are to use with the snowsport-- night-and-day difference-- all four tires! Good luck and thank you for watching!
@@yah-monmultimedia1528 just an update, it worked quite well although I did have one hiccup in that my truck hitch was too high off the ground so the plow barely touches the floor whenever there is a slight bump in the road. The lowest I could get the mount point was 18” with the receiver flipped upside down. Looking for an adapter to lower the receiver but for now it works well enough though! Saved me a few hours of shoveling and snow blowing this morning.
@@fabioarias4846I’m glad to hear that it worked for you (even if just partially)! Ideally, the handles of the plow blade should be aligned roughly at the center of the push-bars. There isn't a strict "right-side-up" or "upside-down" on the connector itself. Between the orientation of the connector and the different bolt-hole options for attaching the push-bars, you should be able to achieve a good range of adjustment. That said, if your frame is particularly high, that could certainly be a challenge. It’s definitely a tricky situation, but don’t hesitate to think outside the box. For example, you could visit a metal shop and see if they can create a steel plate with higher holes to drop the blade lower. Whatever solution you come up with, just ensure it's strong and durable enough for the job. After all, the snow doesn't care what the setup looks like, as long as it works. I appreciate the update & I AM interested in knowing how you're able to optimize!
@ we just had another snow storm last night, about 7 inches of powder. I ended up getting a 6 inch receiver adapter to lower the receiving end, however that has lead to a different issue. The adapter adds about 6 inches of length to the truck which ends up causing it to scrape along the driveway when I get to the bottom as the incline levels out. My driveway’s slope is 16 degrees. I think what I will need is a receiver plate (like the stock one that came with the plow) that is angled about 15-30 degrees down. When summer comes around I will equip the front mounting I got and see if it makes a difference. Regardless though it still makes the job 10x easier. I just have to do the crest of the hill by hand where it can’t reach
I’m considering purchasing a similar setup to yours (Tacoma + Snowsport). How deep of a snowfall can your rig handle before it’s just too much? Or maybe the better question is what’s the deepest snow you’ve successfully plowed with your rig? Thanks for the great video!
Im glad you liked the video & hope it helps people! This winter I do another vid covering your exact question, but I’ll give you a spoiler: Max depth depends on 1) How much traction your tires have, and 2) Water content in the snow. On my Tacoma I’ve got BF Goodrich All-Terrains and put “Auto-Trac” Chains over all four tires. Makes a HUGE difference, I can push a ton of snow, feels pathetic without them. Regardless of overall storm duration I consider plowing every 4-6 inches of snowfall (depending on weight of snow). I’ve unwisely waited & cleared a foot at once before but, even though it was light/powdery I had to take really small bights and the job took forever, literally several hours, but I still got the job done. Key is to keep up with the snow depth DURING storms & don’t hesitate to clear swaths substantially wider than your roadway because you may need the room for more storms later. Stay tuned for the next vid, thnx for viewing & reaching out and good luck with your rig!
This is exactly what I needed to know and I haven't been able to find this info anywhere else online. Thank you for the info and for making your videos. I appreciate it!
@@robertdobkowski7852 Many congrats on your new purchase! Very empowering to do it yourself, feels good to NOT pay another guy to do it (mine paid for itself in three weeks) Best of all, unless you use tie-down straps or the ground is soft, SnowSport doesn’t chew up your grass, pops over rocks, stumps, ice-blocks, etc. & adheres to contour of the ground- handy when pushing banks back off your roadway, etc. As for the special effect: 1)I recorded all passes in one shot 3) Used Adobe After Effects (could’ve used Final Cut though) to cut all passes & stack each one offset in time, but used still-frame with NO truck on bottom layer. 4) animated masks around the truck in every layer so that you can see the layers beneath (other instances of the truck) with the truckless background behind “them all.” I could’ve done it better but that one 10-second shot was taking longer than it took to edit the entire rest of the video so I “settled” for “good enough, they’ll get the point. Let me know how your first plow experience goes.
Hi pstreetgarage7304, I appreciate the kudos! RE "mounting:," I'm not sure if you mean "installation of the forward-facing hitch," "configuring the push-bars so that the blade is at the proper height," or "just putting on the push-bars & blade when setting out to plow. Unless you are a highly-skilled and well-equipped mechanic I'd recommend having the hitch installed at a pro garage, as it is a permanent install. As far as putting on the bars & blade for a plow session, I feel like that video has been done already by others, including AgriCover. For configuration & other useful stuff ('I've) needed to get the job done, that will be in a video I have planned for this upcoming season. THIS video covers only that Snowsport is not the same as conventional plows and three "pointers" I've found effective in getting the job done with Snowsport. Thanks for reaching out!
@@pstreetgarage7304 Ha! Okay: you're asking for a spoiler from my next video, but I don't mind at all. Installation of the forward-facing tow hitch assembly, as I think would be the case for most people is well above my skill set (and tool set), and it's important that it be "done right." On my original truck, a 2002 Tacoma, the front hitch was done at my local Toyota Dealer. When I bought my new Tacoma last year & needed a front-facing hitch (uncommon) Toyota "would not do it." I tried VIP, and even U-Haul (the #1 largest hitch installer in the USA) said, "We don't do that." I found a Custom Auto place but they quoted a redonkulous amount. Handyman Rental, however, didn't batt an eye, & installed one in only a couple of hours for a reasonable price. I hope that helps. (And thank you for subscribing!!!)
Just bought one of there for my 2020 Tacoma. Have you noticed any issues using the plow with a single point hitch? I’m only using it for home use in front of house.
I might be misunderstanding: 1) "Hitch" being the Post & Ball apparatus you physically hook a trailer onto, 2) "Receiver" being the apparatus you bolt onto the frame of your truck and insert & secure the Hitch into, and 3) "1 or multi-point Hitch" being a post-like apparatus that has more than one Ball size on it & selected by which Ball you have facing up: The SnowSport Plow "push-frame" is inserted into the "Receiver" where a Hitch would normally go, so, no I've not had issues with a "single-point hitch" because no hitch is installed when plowing. The only "issue" I've found is that, despite the stem of the push-frame (the part that is inserted into the trailer receiver) being made of heavy steel, the forces involved with plowing, such as full mass of the truck being used to repeatedly push/ram snow banks back, does get that stem to eventually BEND. So, every few years I partially disassemble the push frame and simply flip that stem over; problem solved! After many, MANYyears this plow is only starting to exhibit signs of wear, it still works great, and has saved me literally tens of thousands of dollars over not having to pay a commercial plow guy to do what is pretty fun to do myself. Best purchase I ever made, I mean it!
Hello! I definitely have a follow up video to this one in planning stage & will gladly incorporate your suggestion. For clarity, when you say, “installed” do you mean, “putting the mounting/push-bars & blade on for a routine session,” or are you talking about installation of the INFRASTRUCTURE needed to BE ABLE TO put put the bars & blade on?” (I.e: the SnowSport stuff or the front-facing hitch needed in order to USE the SnowSport stuff?” Thanks for your question.
Any issues mounting the front tow hitch receiver on the 1st Gen Tacoma? I bought a Curt front receiver for my 2004 Tacoma and my garage said the receiver didn't line up with frame and it wasn't possible to drill new holes in the frame or receiver.
Installing the front-facing tow package is definitely the trickiest thing. (finding a garage that would install for me was Hard, the Toyota Dealer- even U-Haul wouldn't do it .) You obviously should only use a brand that is compatible with the anatomy of your truck. You may be thinking, "Well I'm only pushing snow around, it's not like I'm hauling a trailer, etc," but the weight of that snow can be no joke. Compacting/managing snow banks involves repeated ramming and those banks can be icy, resembling concrete. I'd bet the impact & overall stresses imposed on the receiver apparatus through a SnowSport push-frame substantially SURPASS ES those as with a trailer. If the Curt isn't going to fit WELL--- and I'm a little surprised because Curt is the brand that I have on my 2013 Tacoma--- I'd strongly recommend you choose another. I had my front-facing assembly installed at a "Handyman Rental" service location- THEY chose the brand that worked & has worked flawlessly.
@@yah-monmultimedia1528 Thanks! From I what could find, Curt is the only brand that makes a front receiver for a 2004 Tacoma. Also, from what I read it depends on if it was an early or late 2004 Tacoma that you may run into any issues mounting the receiver. I will be trying out my Snowsport Plow for the first time this Monday with it in the rear receiver. Probably will get an old Tahoe, Explorer, 4Runner, or even Honda Pilot SUV in the future. Seems like those SUVs don't have any issues with mounting a front tow receiver. Thanks again for the quick response!
Until last year (season #17) I’ve plowed exclusively on gravel drives- a neighbor who has a little paved drive asked me to add theirs to the list. No matter what kind of plow you use on unpaved roadway, gravel getting taken and rolled up in the furrows in your first run of the season and in the last sputtering storms in spring is unavoidable. But the SnowSport plow is way lighter than conventional plows- I had to do far more power-brooding in spring before I started doing my own drive with the SnowSport. Some people kindof complain about that, but I really like how friendly it is when pushing banks onto my lawn & I can add tie-down straps for slushy conditions if I want.
Yes, correct: One little plow job, lasting for 2 to 3 hours, one to three times per storm, occurring 2 to four times a month in the snow season for nearly 19 YEARS & still going, without having to put a single cent of money into maintenance since its original purchase and zero wear & tear damage in my trunk’s front suspension & doesn’t tear the hell out of my landscaping. Yes, this plow does a shitty job mimicking the typical plow-owner experience.
I think it’s unavoidable regardless of plow type. My 1,000ft driveway branches from a 1/2mi private road. BOTH are gravel. I do mine with SnowSport, a pro plow guy with a schmancy, twin-articulating steel blade does the rest. In the spring we BOTH have to do power-brooming to sweep gravel back onto the roadway. I get the hesitance but I’ve done mine on for over 15 seasons & LOVE that SnowSport does NOT chew up landscaping like regular plows do & pops over rocks & stumps if you happen to hit any when pushing banks back.
I appreciate your concern. Thankfully, my kids know (and I do too) that snow caves cave in when the ceiling becomes too thin (3-4" or so) and that, since they were taller than 12" they could just stand up. (There'd be a lot fewer Eskimos if that wasn't true.) Also, since there is no one else who plows my driveway & I only do when the family is inside I don't have to worry about city plows obliterating the banks with family members in there. It may benefit you to look at the stats of kids becoming injured or killed simply playing in snow caves (no plow trucks involved) and compare that to sledding, skiing, bicycling, being passengers in cars, climbing a tree, swimming, going down stairs, taking a bath, falling out of bed, school sports, playing "Tag" with friends, etc., etc. "Danger" is relative- I think it is more harmful to deprive your kids of formative play & learning, for example, that suffocation can be avoided simply by lifting one's face out of the snow. It's a good discussion to have, thank you, but off-topic for this video.
Very informative video! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for watching!
Thankyou for the video. I have a lifted jeep and am doing walk routes, but have been looking into something like this that could tackle a small driveway and save time.
It’s one of the best purchases I ever made. It’s way faster than a snow-blower for sure! One piece of advice regarding using your Jeep: do be mindful of how “lifted” it is- how high would the forward-facing trailer hitch receiver tube be? The plow mount is configurable & has some range but if it’s too high the plow blade may not have good range of up/down motion as it contours to the ground. I’m glad you found the video helpful & thanks for reaching out!
As others have stated great video thanks this helped me make a decision on to buy or not.
Awesome! Thanks! 👍😊👍
Just put one on my Tacoma.
Works great. Thx!
Got this for my super steep driveway. After 2 years of struggling to shovel I’m hoping it works out. My method thus far has been to stand at the top with 2 shovels and slide down until the snow stopped me, but it’s too steep to stand on or walk up when it’s slippery so it’s always been a struggle clearing after that first down pass
Hi Fabio, congrats on your purchase! My guess is that the vehicle you'll be using is lighter/smaller than a commercial plow truck (mine is). Particularly because your driveway is steep, it might be very difficult for your vehicle to move snow off your driveway... without CHAINS. I've been planning a sequel video to touch on how essential they are to use with the snowsport-- night-and-day difference-- all four tires! Good luck and thank you for watching!
@ I’ve got a Silverado. We shall see how it does! The hope is I can clear a wide enough path to make it back up easily in a single pass.
@@yah-monmultimedia1528 just an update, it worked quite well although I did have one hiccup in that my truck hitch was too high off the ground so the plow barely touches the floor whenever there is a slight bump in the road. The lowest I could get the mount point was 18” with the receiver flipped upside down. Looking for an adapter to lower the receiver but for now it works well enough though! Saved me a few hours of shoveling and snow blowing this morning.
@@fabioarias4846I’m glad to hear that it worked for you (even if just partially)! Ideally, the handles of the plow blade should be aligned roughly at the center of the push-bars. There isn't a strict "right-side-up" or "upside-down" on the connector itself. Between the orientation of the connector and the different bolt-hole options for attaching the push-bars, you should be able to achieve a good range of adjustment. That said, if your frame is particularly high, that could certainly be a challenge.
It’s definitely a tricky situation, but don’t hesitate to think outside the box. For example, you could visit a metal shop and see if they can create a steel plate with higher holes to drop the blade lower. Whatever solution you come up with, just ensure it's strong and durable enough for the job. After all, the snow doesn't care what the setup looks like, as long as it works. I appreciate the update & I AM interested in knowing how you're able to optimize!
@ we just had another snow storm last night, about 7 inches of powder. I ended up getting a 6 inch receiver adapter to lower the receiving end, however that has lead to a different issue. The adapter adds about 6 inches of length to the truck which ends up causing it to scrape along the driveway when I get to the bottom as the incline levels out. My driveway’s slope is 16 degrees. I think what I will need is a receiver plate (like the stock one that came with the plow) that is angled about 15-30 degrees down. When summer comes around I will equip the front mounting I got and see if it makes a difference. Regardless though it still makes the job 10x easier. I just have to do the crest of the hill by hand where it can’t reach
I’m considering purchasing a similar setup to yours (Tacoma + Snowsport). How deep of a snowfall can your rig handle before it’s just too much? Or maybe the better question is what’s the deepest snow you’ve successfully plowed with your rig? Thanks for the great video!
Im glad you liked the video & hope it helps people! This winter I do another vid covering your exact question, but I’ll give you a spoiler: Max depth depends on 1) How much traction your tires have, and 2) Water content in the snow. On my Tacoma I’ve got BF Goodrich All-Terrains and put “Auto-Trac” Chains over all four tires. Makes a HUGE difference, I can push a ton of snow, feels pathetic without them. Regardless of overall storm duration I consider plowing every 4-6 inches of snowfall (depending on weight of snow). I’ve unwisely waited & cleared a foot at once before but, even though it was light/powdery I had to take really small bights and the job took forever, literally several hours, but I still got the job done. Key is to keep up with the snow depth DURING storms & don’t hesitate to clear swaths substantially wider than your roadway because you may need the room for more storms later. Stay tuned for the next vid, thnx for viewing & reaching out and good luck with your rig!
This is exactly what I needed to know and I haven't been able to find this info anywhere else online. Thank you for the info and for making your videos. I appreciate it!
I just purchased the HD model myself
How did you manipulate the video to multiply your truck?
@@robertdobkowski7852 Many congrats on your new purchase! Very empowering to do it yourself, feels good to NOT pay another guy to do it (mine paid for itself in three weeks) Best of all, unless you use tie-down straps or the ground is soft, SnowSport doesn’t chew up your grass, pops over rocks, stumps, ice-blocks, etc. & adheres to contour of the ground- handy when pushing banks back off your roadway, etc.
As for the special effect:
1)I recorded all passes in one shot
3) Used Adobe After Effects (could’ve used Final Cut though) to cut all passes & stack each one offset in time, but used still-frame with NO truck on bottom layer.
4) animated masks around the truck in every layer so that you can see the layers beneath (other instances of the truck) with the truckless background behind “them all.”
I could’ve done it better but that one 10-second shot was taking longer than it took to edit the entire rest of the video so I “settled” for “good enough, they’ll get the point.
Let me know how your first plow experience goes.
Great vid. Do you show how this thing mounts on a Tacoma
Hi pstreetgarage7304, I appreciate the kudos! RE "mounting:," I'm not sure if you mean "installation of the forward-facing hitch," "configuring the push-bars so that the blade is at the proper height," or "just putting on the push-bars & blade when setting out to plow. Unless you are a highly-skilled and well-equipped mechanic I'd recommend having the hitch installed at a pro garage, as it is a permanent install. As far as putting on the bars & blade for a plow session, I feel like that video has been done already by others, including AgriCover. For configuration & other useful stuff ('I've) needed to get the job done, that will be in a video I have planned for this upcoming season. THIS video covers only that Snowsport is not the same as conventional plows and three "pointers" I've found effective in getting the job done with Snowsport. Thanks for reaching out!
@@yah-monmultimedia1528 Hi. I meant do you show how the 2 in receiver mounts to the Tacoma frame ? Bolt ? World ? Much fabbing ?
@@yah-monmultimedia1528 weld
@@pstreetgarage7304 Ha! Okay: you're asking for a spoiler from my next video, but I don't mind at all. Installation of the forward-facing tow hitch assembly, as I think would be the case for most people is well above my skill set (and tool set), and it's important that it be "done right." On my original truck, a 2002 Tacoma, the front hitch was done at my local Toyota Dealer. When I bought my new Tacoma last year & needed a front-facing hitch (uncommon) Toyota "would not do it." I tried VIP, and even U-Haul (the #1 largest hitch installer in the USA) said, "We don't do that." I found a Custom Auto place but they quoted a redonkulous amount. Handyman Rental, however, didn't batt an eye, & installed one in only a couple of hours for a reasonable price. I hope that helps. (And thank you for subscribing!!!)
@@yah-monmultimedia1528 Yes NP !!!
Just bought one of there for my 2020 Tacoma. Have you noticed any issues using the plow with a single point hitch? I’m only using it for home use in front of house.
I might be misunderstanding: 1) "Hitch" being the Post & Ball apparatus you physically hook a trailer onto, 2) "Receiver" being the apparatus you bolt onto the frame of your truck and insert & secure the Hitch into, and 3) "1 or multi-point Hitch" being a post-like apparatus that has more than one Ball size on it & selected by which Ball you have facing up: The SnowSport Plow "push-frame" is inserted into the "Receiver" where a Hitch would normally go, so, no I've not had issues with a "single-point hitch" because no hitch is installed when plowing.
The only "issue" I've found is that, despite the stem of the push-frame (the part that is inserted into the trailer receiver) being made of heavy steel, the forces involved with plowing, such as full mass of the truck being used to repeatedly push/ram snow banks back, does get that stem to eventually BEND. So, every few years I partially disassemble the push frame and simply flip that stem over; problem solved! After many, MANYyears this plow is only starting to exhibit signs of wear, it still works great, and has saved me literally tens of thousands of dollars over not having to pay a commercial plow guy to do what is pretty fun to do myself. Best purchase I ever made, I mean it!
Please show how plow is installed and most importantly how you raise it when not plowing or driving to another property. Thx
Hello! I definitely have a follow up video to this one in planning stage & will gladly incorporate your suggestion. For clarity, when you say, “installed” do you mean, “putting the mounting/push-bars & blade on for a routine session,” or are you talking about installation of the INFRASTRUCTURE needed to BE ABLE TO put put the bars & blade on?” (I.e: the SnowSport stuff or the front-facing hitch needed in order to USE the SnowSport stuff?” Thanks for your question.
Any issues mounting the front tow hitch receiver on the 1st Gen Tacoma? I bought a Curt front receiver for my 2004 Tacoma and my garage said the receiver didn't line up with frame and it wasn't possible to drill new holes in the frame or receiver.
Installing the front-facing tow package is definitely the trickiest thing. (finding a garage that would install for me was Hard, the Toyota Dealer- even U-Haul wouldn't do it .) You obviously should only use a brand that is compatible with the anatomy of your truck. You may be thinking, "Well I'm only pushing snow around, it's not like I'm hauling a trailer, etc," but the weight of that snow can be no joke. Compacting/managing snow banks involves repeated ramming and those banks can be icy, resembling concrete. I'd bet the impact & overall stresses imposed on the receiver apparatus through a SnowSport push-frame substantially SURPASS ES those as with a trailer. If the Curt isn't going to fit WELL--- and I'm a little surprised because Curt is the brand that I have on my 2013 Tacoma--- I'd strongly recommend you choose another. I had my front-facing assembly installed at a "Handyman Rental" service location- THEY chose the brand that worked & has worked flawlessly.
@@yah-monmultimedia1528 Thanks! From I what could find, Curt is the only brand that makes a front receiver for a 2004 Tacoma. Also, from what I read it depends on if it was an early or late 2004 Tacoma that you may run into any issues mounting the receiver. I will be trying out my Snowsport Plow for the first time this Monday with it in the rear receiver. Probably will get an old Tahoe, Explorer, 4Runner, or even Honda Pilot SUV in the future. Seems like those SUVs don't have any issues with mounting a front tow receiver. Thanks again for the quick response!
How does it work on gravel drive?
Until last year (season #17) I’ve plowed exclusively on gravel drives- a neighbor who has a little paved drive asked me to add theirs to the list. No matter what kind of plow you use on unpaved roadway, gravel getting taken and rolled up in the furrows in your first run of the season and in the last sputtering storms in spring is unavoidable. But the SnowSport plow is way lighter than conventional plows- I had to do far more power-brooding in spring before I started doing my own drive with the SnowSport. Some people kindof complain about that, but I really like how friendly it is when pushing banks onto my lawn & I can add tie-down straps for slushy conditions if I want.
Oh boy look at that cute little plow that should last about one plow job
Yes, correct: One little plow job, lasting for 2 to 3 hours, one to three times per storm, occurring 2 to four times a month in the snow season for nearly 19 YEARS & still going, without having to put a single cent of money into maintenance since its original purchase and zero wear & tear damage in my trunk’s front suspension & doesn’t tear the hell out of my landscaping. Yes, this plow does a shitty job mimicking the typical plow-owner experience.
These plows will not work with gravel driveways. They can’t be adjusted up. I don’t want all my gravel scraped off.
I think it’s unavoidable regardless of plow type. My 1,000ft driveway branches from a 1/2mi private road. BOTH are gravel. I do mine with SnowSport, a pro plow guy with a schmancy, twin-articulating steel blade does the rest. In the spring we BOTH have to do power-brooming to sweep gravel back onto the roadway. I get the hesitance but I’ve done mine on for over 15 seasons & LOVE that SnowSport does NOT chew up landscaping like regular plows do & pops over rocks & stumps if you happen to hit any when pushing banks back.
I wonder if some old plow discs could become skates. One at each end
I use it on gravel. You need to have a base of packed snow down. That would be the same for a traditional plow. It works great.
I wouldn’t let my kids go under that snow cave. So dangerous.
I appreciate your concern. Thankfully, my kids know (and I do too) that snow caves cave in when the ceiling becomes too thin (3-4" or so) and that, since they were taller than 12" they could just stand up. (There'd be a lot fewer Eskimos if that wasn't true.) Also, since there is no one else who plows my driveway & I only do when the family is inside I don't have to worry about city plows obliterating the banks with family members in there. It may benefit you to look at the stats of kids becoming injured or killed simply playing in snow caves (no plow trucks involved) and compare that to sledding, skiing, bicycling, being passengers in cars, climbing a tree, swimming, going down stairs, taking a bath, falling out of bed, school sports, playing "Tag" with friends, etc., etc. "Danger" is relative- I think it is more harmful to deprive your kids of formative play & learning, for example, that suffocation can be avoided simply by lifting one's face out of the snow. It's a good discussion to have, thank you, but off-topic for this video.