How to Make a Home-Made Wooden Snow Plow for Your ATV

A snow plow for an ATV can be an expensive addition. To save money, build your own snow plow. You might be able to save more money by using some material you already have in your garage. Even if you have to visit the hardware store, you should end up spending far less than the cost of a commercial snow plow. Not only is it less expensive to build your own snow plow, but it can also be a fun experience to customize the design and paint the plow to your liking.

Things you will need:

(5) 8-foot two-by-fours
(1) ¾-inch sheet of plywood
1 box of 3-inch wood screws
(1) 5 ¼-inch Reece drop hitch
(1) 7-inch long 5/16-inch bolt
3 eye bolts
(10) ¾-inch washers
Flatbar at least 6 feet long
Bungee chord(s)
Tie-down strap(s)
Cordless drill screwdriver
Saw

Step 1

Stack 2 of the two-by-four boards on top of each other and screw them together with the 3-inch wood screws. With those boards secure and lying with the 4-inch side flat, attach the other two two-by-four boards with 3-inch wood screws on either side vertically, standing 4 inches tall on either side. This will be the "arm" of your snow plow. It should be 8 feet long (the entire length of the two-by-fours), 8 inches wide and 4 inches tall. Use your cordless drill screwdriver to secure all the boards with the 3-inch screws.

Step 2

Drill a 5/16-inch hole with your cordless drill into the end of the arm you just built. Make your hole about an inch from the end of the board. For clarity, write on the arm "end" and "front" so you know which end is which. The "end" will be attached to the back of your ATV and the "front" will attach to the plow in the front of your ATV. Attach the Reece drop hitch to the "end" of the arm with the 7-inch long 5/16-inch bolt with a washer. Be sure it is secure but not too tight.

Step 3

Build the blade by screwing together a frame that is 6 feet wide and a foot and a half tall. Cut the sides of the frame to at least a 15 degree angle from the front to the back of the side board. Cut and attach the piece of plywood to the frame. You can have the flatbar cut at the hardware store to the length desired, 6 feet in this case. Attach the flatbar to the bottom edge of the blade with ¾-inch washers and 3-inch wood screws.

Step 4

Construct a triangular brace on the back of the blade when attaching it to the arm. This brace will be used to support the blade against the arm. The "front" of the arm attaches to the base of the blade. Secure 2 two-by-four boards, about 8 inches long, to the base of the blade, one on both sides of the arm with your 3-inch wood screws. Add an additional bracing board from the center of the top of the blade, also about 8-10 inches long, and attach it to the center of the arm and secure it with 3-inch wood screws. This creates a triangular brace to hold the blade to the "front" of the arm. The arm now has 2 "arms" extending on either side that attach to the bottom of the blade or 1 arm that attaches at an angle, from the top of the blade - creating a triangle of support off the arm.

Step 5

Attach an eye bolt to the arm at the point where it will line up with the wench hook. This should be close to where the arm and the brace boards are attached. Also attach an eye bolt to either end of the top of the blade. Eye bolts are screwed in by hand until they are secure.

Step 6

Attach the finished product to the ATV by sliding the arm underneath the ATV with the "end" that has the hitch going toward the back. Attach the "end" of the arm with the Reece drop hitch to the standard hitch receiver on your ATV. Attach the wench hook to the eye bolt located near the "front" of the arm, behind the blade. Run a long bungee cord though the top of the bull bar on the front of the ATV and attach each end to each of the eye bolts on either end of the blade. Attach two non-stretchy tie downs to the eye bolts and to the center of the bull bar for additional stability.

Step 7

Use the winch to lift the blade up and lower it down. Lower the blade and drive forward to plow the snow. Raise the blade with the winch before driving in reverse.

This snow plow can be expanded upon by adding a bolt through the front of the arm, attaching the blade and the winch hook to the blade itself instead of the arm. The blade is the only thing that moves up and down. You can even attach a metal blade to a wooden arm this way. In the design described in the steps above the whole arm AND blade moves up and down as one unit giving you less range of motion. This is a good starting point though and this design will work to clear your driveway. Check out YouTube for videos of different designs. Have fun!