DIY snow plough?

Ian Hunt · 08-12-2010, 20:45

Given that councils don't seem to be bothered about gritting or clearing side roads anymore I've been contemplating the possibility of a cheap, simple DIY snow plough.
I'm thinking along the lines of something that can be attached to the tow hitch & dragged behind (assuming the snow isn't too deep) or perhaps used in reverse...

I'm sure there must be a few others that have thought along these lines?
Lets have your ideas!

Cheaper & easier the better as that will increase the likelihood of making it!

I live on a steep exposed road in the Peak District & an attachment like this could be sooo useful, both to me & the other residents. If I do get round to cobbling something together I'll leave it out & available to any 4x4 owning neighbours.

Some ideas I found on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n65G9...eature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kn5I...eature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKASp...eature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUtcLjmooMc&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30kY3...eature=related

larson · 08-12-2010, 22:07

i was thinking about this at work. when it snows theres only 3 0f us can drive to work as the rest have crap cars

i pondered making or trying to make something and decided against it as i couldnt decide how to make it. i thought about a small jockey wheel to keep the plough above grates/manhole covers etc and also think it would be no good too rigid. it might need to move up/down with the contours of the road.

my problem is i have never seen one close up so im pissing in the wind so to speak..

Fez_uk · 08-12-2010, 22:12

At the bottom you could have some sort of hard rubber. So if it was to catch on anything there would be some give. But rigid enough to push snow.

MontysMaverick · 08-12-2010, 22:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by larson

i was thinking about this at work. when it snows theres only 3 0f us can drive to work as the rest have crap cars

i pondered making or trying to make something and decided against it as i couldnt decide how to make it. i thought about a small jockey wheel to keep the plough above grates/manhole covers etc and also think it would be no good too rigid. it might need to move up/down with the contours of the road.

my problem is i have never seen one close up so im pissing in the wind so to speak..

I know this sounds daft but previously at work we had a 4 x 4 pallet with a snow plough shaped front on the front made of wood that we just had a heavy weight on and pushed it around with a fork lift, it worked extremely well, so I guess something on them lines would work, maybe a heavy plate with 4, 4 inch casters on,to aviod the grids and a snow scoop on and a tailored fitting to 2 of this sites front towbar fittings would work.,

well dont laugh you did ask....

Fez_uk · 08-12-2010, 22:27

Looks like proper ones use a bit of rubber:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Land-Rover-sno...item43a3b4a753

Thought I seen it somewhere.

solarman216 · 08-12-2010, 22:37

Great ideas, but I would not mind betting the first time you used it, you would have the council or some other idiot on your back for causing damage to the road surface or even "are you trained to use that sir", I know I could submit a good reply to that but it would not go down well, but any way if you are going to design something along those lines, it has to be on the front of the motor, so a couple of good hanging brackets from the chassis in permanent position is what you need and as you do not have a good solid fix point where the rad is it would have to be self supporting on the road (pair of jockey wheels looks good) and it needs to be small enough to go in the motor when done maybe, spose that depends on how far you want to travel with it, interesting anyway, Rick

zippy656 · 08-12-2010, 22:40

you can get them for the T2 here

www.tbruk.com

The Patrolman · 08-12-2010, 22:41

This chap was ready

solarman216 · 08-12-2010, 22:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fez_uk

Looks like proper ones use a bit of rubber:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Land-Rover-sno...item43a3b4a753

Thought I seen it somewhere.

yea right, buy a lot of grit will £770 and it still has 4 days to go, I will stick to me bulldog No 2, Rick

spiderpig37 · 08-12-2010, 23:02

how about using a winch to control the up and down movement as rick says hanging it off the chassis rails,rolled bit of 6mm plate 2inch box section frame behind knock up a couple of quick release hitches that could double up as recovery points when plow is not on there you go job done

briggie · 08-12-2010, 23:40

why not just wait till the council come round , it might have thawed by then lol

Ian Hunt · 09-12-2010, 04:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by MontysMaverick

I know this sounds daft but previously at work we had a 4 x 4 pallet with a snow plough shaped front on the front made of wood that we just had a heavy weight on and pushed it around with a fork lift, it worked extremely well, so I guess something on them lines would work, maybe a heavy plate with 4, 4 inch casters on,to aviod the grids and a snow scoop on and a tailored fitting to 2 of this sites front towbar fittings would work.,

well dont laugh you did ask....

Not laughing. The cheap or free 'Heath Robinson' type approach works for me

I wasn't planning to play superhero & go off on missions to set free the general populace that can't get their cars out. More something to drag or push a couple of hundred yards along the street in the vicinity of our house.
A pallet or something with a plough/blade cutout of heavy plywood might do the trick. Free as well

! Or an old trailer frame.......

MontysMaverick · 09-12-2010, 09:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian Hunt

Not laughing. The cheap or free 'Heath Robinson' type approach works for me

I wasn't planning to play superhero & go off on missions to set free the general populace that can't get their cars out. More something to drag or push a couple of hundred yards along the street in the vicinity of our house.
A pallet or something with a plough/blade cutout of heavy plywood might do the trick. Free as well

! Or an old trailer frame.......

If you think about it, when the snow really comes doen its easily moveable until it is compressed,so thats got to be a factor included in your plans,and if as you say you live on a steep hill this can be used to your advantage ie start at the top and just let the handbrake off

. have a look at the front tow bar attacment on the downloads on here, you can make 2 one for either side (like I have done) and just extend the push in section and instead of the angle going up have it going down, couple of bolts with "r " clips on and then the "plough" bit on the front.

Right, there you have it, Im off now to fire the mig up and scrounge a pallet or 3 for my "snow plough"

Muckypup · 09-12-2010, 10:59

Would it not be easier to get the neighbours off their arses and a shovel in their hand...

There are also snow ploughs available for 3 point hitches on tractors, i'm sure with a welder you could make something that bolts on where a bull bar would...
Bit late for it now as they will be fetching good money, but wont come the summer ready for next winter

Muckypup · 09-12-2010, 11:02

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SNOW-PLOUGH-RI...item2a0c776630

Could be easilly turned into this...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Land-Rover-sno...item43a3b4a753

08-12-2010, 20:45	#1
Ian Hunt Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Peak District Vehicle: '99 Terrano II SE Touring Posts: 125	DIY snow plough? Given that councils don't seem to be bothered about gritting or clearing side roads anymore I've been contemplating the possibility of a cheap, simple DIY snow plough. I'm thinking along the lines of something that can be attached to the tow hitch & dragged behind (assuming the snow isn't too deep) or perhaps used in reverse... I'm sure there must be a few others that have thought along these lines? Lets have your ideas! Cheaper & easier the better as that will increase the likelihood of making it! I live on a steep exposed road in the Peak District & an attachment like this could be sooo useful, both to me & the other residents. If I do get round to cobbling something together I'll leave it out & available to any 4x4 owning neighbours. Some ideas I found on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n65G9...eature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kn5I...eature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKASp...eature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUtcLjmooMc&NR=1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30kY3...eature=related

08-12-2010, 22:07	#2
larson Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: moomin vally Posts: 1,138	i was thinking about this at work. when it snows theres only 3 0f us can drive to work as the rest have crap cars i pondered making or trying to make something and decided against it as i couldnt decide how to make it. i thought about a small jockey wheel to keep the plough above grates/manhole covers etc and also think it would be no good too rigid. it might need to move up/down with the contours of the road. my problem is i have never seen one close up so im pissing in the wind so to speak..

08-12-2010, 22:12	#3
Fez_uk Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Mid-Wales Vehicle: Maverick 2.7 - Patrol 4.2 Posts: 5,645	At the bottom you could have some sort of hard rubber. So if it was to catch on anything there would be some give. But rigid enough to push snow.

08-12-2010, 22:27	#5
Fez_uk Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Mid-Wales Vehicle: Maverick 2.7 - Patrol 4.2 Posts: 5,645	Looks like proper ones use a bit of rubber: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Land-Rover-sno...item43a3b4a753 Thought I seen it somewhere.

08-12-2010, 22:37	#6
solarman216 Off road maniac Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Bexhill on Sea Vehicle: Y60 Patrol Me, 3 ltr Mrs Posts: 17,428	Great ideas, but I would not mind betting the first time you used it, you would have the council or some other idiot on your back for causing damage to the road surface or even "are you trained to use that sir", I know I could submit a good reply to that but it would not go down well, but any way if you are going to design something along those lines, it has to be on the front of the motor, so a couple of good hanging brackets from the chassis in permanent position is what you need and as you do not have a good solid fix point where the rad is it would have to be self supporting on the road (pair of jockey wheels looks good) and it needs to be small enough to go in the motor when done maybe, spose that depends on how far you want to travel with it, interesting anyway, Rick

08-12-2010, 22:40	#7
zippy656 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Devizes Wiltshire Vehicle: Nissan Note Ntec 1.5 Posts: 14,137	you can get them for the T2 here www.tbruk.com

08-12-2010, 23:02	#10
spiderpig37 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: doncaster south yorkshire Vehicle: nissan terrano t2+ Posts: 729	how about using a winch to control the up and down movement as rick says hanging it off the chassis rails,rolled bit of 6mm plate 2inch box section frame behind knock up a couple of quick release hitches that could double up as recovery points when plow is not on there you go job done

08-12-2010, 23:40	#11
briggie Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: peoples democratic republic of west yorkshire Vehicle: " alice " Posts: 10,473	why not just wait till the council come round , it might have thawed by then lol

09-12-2010, 10:59	#14
Muckypup Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Lancs Vehicle: Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0 Posts: 485	Would it not be easier to get the neighbours off their arses and a shovel in their hand... There are also snow ploughs available for 3 point hitches on tractors, i'm sure with a welder you could make something that bolts on where a bull bar would... Bit late for it now as they will be fetching good money, but wont come the summer ready for next winter

09-12-2010, 11:02	#15
Muckypup Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Lancs Vehicle: Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0 Posts: 485	http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SNOW-PLOUGH-RI...item2a0c776630 Could be easilly turned into this... http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Land-Rover-sno...item43a3b4a753