The North American ATV (all-terrain vehicle) and UTV (utility terrain vehicle) market is booming; Mordor Intelligence estimates its size to be at $9.18 billion in 2024. It also forecasts the market to grow significantly and reach $13.37 billion by 2029.
A chief reason for the increasing popularity of ATVs and UTVs is the rise in adventure sports and recreational activities. Many farming professionals also rely on UTVs for chores like food distribution and supply transport.
Then, there are the UTV snow plows, which even average homeowners can enjoy and benefit from.
To that end, our team at HitchDoc Outdoors put together this guide on the many benefits of UTV snow plows. Read on to discover how these homeowner snow removal solutions can transform how you clear all that powder and ice on your driveway.
Quick and Easy Snow Removal Equipment
According to AccuWeather, all it takes for 15 to 30 inches of snow to form piles on the ground is one to two inches of water. So, imagine just how much more snow can form when there’s more water involved! Either way, flakes can pile up fast, and unless you clear them out every one to two hours, you’ll likely deal with knee-deep (or deeper) stacks that are heavier and more difficult to remove.
If you want to stop worrying about the back-breaking task of snow removal, efficient snow plow models and accessories designed for UTVs or ATVs have your back. With one at home, you can transform this winter morning chore into something that takes minutes to finish.
A UTV snow plow system costs more than manual winter snow-clearing tools like handheld shovels. However, if you live in an area that experiences heavy snowfall, investing in a UTV snow plow is well worth all the time you can save.
Safer Than Manual Shoveling
UTV snow plows can be safer than shovels. Shoveling snow, especially wet and heavy piles, can be back-breaking and dangerous.
According to Nationwide Children’s Hospital, snow shoveling can even be deadly and causes approximately 11,500 injuries yearly. It can result in incidents warranting emergency department treatment, including:
- Injuries from slipping and falling on ice
- Overexertion injuries
- Lower back, hand, and head injuries
- Broken bones
- Chest pain and heart-related symptoms in adults 55 and older
A properly installed, well-maintained UTV snow plow can help you avoid such risks associated with snow shoveling.
For one, you no longer have to shovel snow because your UTV and the plow attachment will do the heavy work for you. Since you won’t do the hard labor yourself, you can avoid straining your back, muscles, and joints.
A UTV snow plow can also help you avoid walking on slippery paths and invisible icy patches. Because you’ll stay in the safety of your UTV, you can reduce your risks of dangerous slip, trip, and fall injuries.
All those safety-related benefits should be enough to show you how investing in UTV or ATV snow plows is worth the dime and time.
Minimize Use of Potentially Dangerous Deicers
Many deicers are chemicals that effectively melt snow and ice. A perfect example is sodium chloride (NaCl), more popularly known as table or rock salt. It’s cheap, widely available, and is in most homes.
However, using rock salt to deal with snow has many disadvantages. According to the U.S. EPA, some of the consequences of deicing with salt include:
- Potential contamination of drinking water
- Infiltration of water bodies in high levels
- Toxicity to some species of amphibians, bugs, and fish
- Increased soil erosion
- Wildlife endangerment
- Corrosion of roads, bridges, and vehicle components
- Harmful to roadside plants and wildlife that eat the salt
- Increases the probability of road accidents when vehicles crash into animals that lick the road salt (e.g., deer and moose)
Rock salt may also cause skin irritations, burns, and rashes when it comes into contact with bare human skin. Children are more susceptible to these hazards, especially kids who love playing in the snow.
So, to avoid those risks and contribute to the decreased reliance on salt as a deicer, consider investing in a UTV snow plow. Instead of salting (or shoveling), it lets you drive along in your vehicle and push snow out of the driveway or sidewalk in one clean, quick sweep.
More Practical and Affordable in the Long Run
All the time you can save with a UTV snow plow already makes it the most convenient and practical option for snow removal. It’s more expensive upfront than shovels and salt, but it’s a safer option. And, if you factor in the potential safety-related costs of shoveling or salting (e.g., requiring emergency treatment for snow shoveling injuries), you’ll see that the price tag of a UTV snow plow is more affordable.
A UTV snow plow is also more affordable than hiring someone to remove all that snow on your driveway and sidewalks. If you do a quick Google search, you’ll see that online sources estimate snow removal services to cost between $30 and $70 per hour per visit. As for the total cost per season, it can range from $200 to $600.
The snowier your area, the higher the price you can expect for snow removal services.
On the other hand, if you own a UTV, you can buy high-quality country or standard & straight snow blades for only a few hundred dollars. Depending on how often and how much snow you use them for, they can last you for a few good years.
Because your snow plow is for personal use, you can use it anytime the flakes come piling. If you relied on snow removal services, you’d have to wait for them while more snow piles on your driveway and pathways.
UTV Snow Plows for the Win
UTV snow plows are a worthy investment because they can help you save time and provide a safer, more practical way to remove snow. So, why not consider purchasing yours now before the winter season arrives?
HitchDoc Outdoors is your go-to for high-quality ATV and UTV snow plows, parts, and accessories. We’re the family-owned manufacturer of Eagle Plows, our brand of USA-made snow plows featuring premium American steel.
Shop our products now and be ready to make snow removal quick and easy this coming winter!