DIY snow plow

[naladude911]

so your saying add another eye hook to each end and have two more chains?

[Chaotic_Warlord]

The QX4 is not meant to be used as a work truck, it's sole purpose is to cart you and your family from the house to mall with an upgraded level of luxury not find in it's Pathfinder sibling. It's not designed to go off road (it's 4x4 system is rudimentary at best), it's not meant to be a work horse, and it sure as s*** isn't designed for the stresses of plowing. The chassis and the power-train weren't designed with the thought that someone would use it plow snow or undergo severely heavy labor.

Snow is heavy, very heavy, and the concept of moving it from one location to another is an incredibly demanding job (hence the reason doctors say to take it easy when shoveling). The reason that most plows are made out of lexan and/or plate steel is because they are 2 of the most durable and strongest materials that can be used. Wood does not have the strength to push, pull, cut, or chop it's way through lbs, or tons of snow and ice.

Having said that, plows designed and built for light duty trucks (1/2 to or below) are made with lexan with steel reinforcement bars, and all plows utilize hydraulics so that you can push the snow off in a variety of directions. You simply can't just plow snow straight unless you utilize a reversed V style plow, this way the snow is split in half and pushed off to both sides. if you try to plow even 6+ inches of snow straight the weight of it will bog you down and create a wall that will essentially grind you to a halt.

I think the standard unit of measure for snowfall is 1:3 (meaning 1 inch of rain = 3 inches of snow) now that alone might not meaning anything but take a measurement of 1 square foot, and put an inch of water in that square and weigh it, now multiply that by the entire space that you want to plow. There's a reason why most of the vehicles you see out plowing are 3/4 ton and above, and most if not all have H.O. V8's or diesel engines and all of them have extremely rugged 4x4 systems. Not saying you can't use a light duty truck or SUV to plow, but they generally are using purpose built plows designed and made for those specific vehicles.

/RANT

Seriously though, I understand you want to make your own plow, go for it, just do a s***-ton of research before you go out and waste money. I'm willing to guess that you have roughly $75-125 worth of materials that you've used there, as 2 2x6's are roughly $12-20 a plank, the chain is about $3-5 a foot and the angle iron and metal supports you have there aren't cheap either, throw in all the hardware you have holding it all together + sales tax and you sir have wasted a decent chunk of someone's paycheck. Way to go, you are a dumbass.
Modified by Chaotic_Warlord at 11:36 AM 2/20/2010

[Bubba1]

Yes, but you don't have a massive 4wd truck with snow tires...

So now, to plow an area you have to first be able to drive through it... In which case you could have just driven through it in the first place.

Did you happen to notice how massive the attachment is to that truck?? If you're using an ordinary tow hitch to mount it, and attempt to pull more than an an inch or two of snow?... wait, nevermind, go ahead and do it. We're in for some major laughs when you damage your SUV....

[naladude911]

Im only plowing my driveway, and we get 3 inches max usually. If we get more then I will plow in between the storm.

[naladude911]

Did you happen to notice how massive the attachment is to that truck?? If you're using an ordinary tow hitch to mount it, and attempt to pull more than an an inch or two of snow?... wait, nevermind, go ahead and do it. We're in for some major laughs.

Why cant I use the trailer hitch

[Chaotic_Warlord]

here I'll make it easy for you

http://www.lmgtfy.com/?q=snow+plow+design

Edit: study this...

[Bubba1]

Why cant I use the trailer hitch

You can but it's not designed for that kind of abuse. The towing capacity is set low on a QX4 which means the frame cannot withstand much stress. Keep in mind, a 3-5000 lb towing capacity assumes pullng something sitting on wheels, You're dragging a blade that fills with accumulating snow/ice (potentially very heavy). You'll exceed the maximum capacity very quickly if you pull too much/too far. Plus it just takes a small obstruction like a stubborn patch of ice while dragging that thing, to risk bending your vehicle's frame. that is, if your contraption doesn't give out at a safe preset point below that capacity.

[Veriest1]

. that is, if your contraption doesn't give out at a safe preset point below that capacity.

It wouldn't be a "preset" or predetermined point but, given what I've seen so far, it will probably give out before the chassis. Well before the chassis.

Edit: And this.




Modified by Veriest1 at 12:25 PM 2/20/2010

[Bubba1]

It wouldn't be a "preset" or predetermined point but, given what I've seen so far, it will probably give out before the chassis. Well before the chassis.

Modified by Veriest1 at 12:25 PM 2/20/2010

We'll soon find out.

[sbird1]

1,000,000,000,000 times cooler than any snow plow you ever build:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1w1CO6MYt8k

[Veriest1]

We'll soon find out.

I guess so....

[naladude911]

Yes were getting a lot of snow this week. I bought two more 2x6's (they're $5 each believe it or not) to brace the V. My dad is helping me now. Finishing it up tomorrow.

[Razi]

At least you're trying.Good luck with it Nala.

[naladude911]

thank you. Hey, its a lot better than the first one lol

[Xdisaster240sX]

[naladude911]

Here are the final pictures.

[ZOMG.SR20]

you could have just bought this

[naladude911]

give me $3000?

[ZOMG.SR20]

with the truck its 5k

[naladude911]

It will work similar to but better thanhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30kY3dmR3ms

[Ajax]

So, how big is this driveway? I'm wondering how you're actually going to clear the snow once you create a single plowed stipe down the driveway (assuming the eyebolts don't rip out of the lumber).I'm imagining that if successful, you will have created two long piles on either side of the plow. Then you will have to drive just shy of center so that your plow does not push snow right back over where you just plowed (because of 90*angle in center of plow). That's assuming your vehicle can handle pushing twice the snow on one side of the plow with one side treading driveway, the other snow on driveway, with hopeful ground clearance over the long pile of snow.This is probably a statement mentioned before, but I don't think you thought this through.

[PoorManQ45]

It will work similar to but better thanhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30kY3dmR3ms

The snow in that video is the fluffy kind. I hope you don't get any wet heavy snow

[ThatGuyRoger]

wouldnt this be easier?

[naladude911]

So I tried the plow today. I pulled it around and everything seemed fine. The design held up but it doesnt like slush. It didnt do much to the slush. We are supposed to get a lot of snow Thursday so I will try again.

[Razi]

Change your taillights!

[big_rig]

So I tried the plow today. I pulled it around and everything seemed fine. The design held up but it doesnt like slush. It didnt do much to the slush. We are supposed to get a lot of snow Thursday so I will try again.

question...

when the snow builds up and you need to use the snow plow get your vehicle out of the driveway, how is pulling the snow plow going to help? i thought the whole function of a snow plow was to clear a path. this looks more like a failed street sweeper to me haha

[Ajax]

So the slush gets left behind. Honestly that's the worst part about shoveling because its the heaviest. And now you've packed some of it down. I recommend shoveling that stuff before it solidifies overnight.

[sbird1]

Nala, those tails are awful. Please give those back to eBay and exchange them for some stock ones again. Please.

[krash]

dude please change those tails......

[Tyler]

you should pull the plow from lower, it looks like the eye hooks that the chain attached too are on top. because your hitch will always be higher than the plow, the chain will be pulling at an upward angle probably trying to lift the front and allowing some snow/slush under the nose of your plow defeating the whole purpose.