Should I get a snow plow?

[CapnStereo]

Weird storm in Maine Monday. Snowblower would not move through it. Thinking of a plow for the gladiator.

Good idea, bad idea? I know they are hard on the gear, but it would only be for a small driveway.

Interested in thoughts and opinions, pros/cons and experiences (no experience with plow here).

Thanks,

Cap

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[Gvsukids]

Weird storm in Maine Monday. Snowblower would not move through it. Thinking of a plow for the gladiator.

Good idea, bad idea? I know they are hard on the gear, but it would only be for a small driveway.

Interested in thoughts and opinions, pros/cons and experiences (no experience with plow here).

Thanks,

Cap

You're not the first with this idea.

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/plowing-with-your-jt.33881/

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/snow-plow-for-jt.36227/

https://www.plowsite.com/threads/2022-gladiator-overland-western-defender-plow.184302/

 

[Komato]

I went with this plow from Meyer. I'm just doing our driveway and the in-law's drive about a block away. I had to go this route because no one would install one on a diesel Gladiator. The plow is full hydraulic up/down/right/left and attaches to a front receiver hitch in about a minute. We haven't had any snow yet to tell you how it does but I suspect it will be as good as a frame mounted plow.

 

[CapnStereo]

Thanks Komato, that looks like a slick set up and what I was thinking of. Easy on easy off?

 

[AHenry014]

Thanks Komato, that looks like a slick set up and what I was thinking of. Easy on easy off?

Ive not seen that type of setup, but it just slides into a front receiver and plugs in. Like sliding and pinning a hitch at the back bumper. Neat concept.
https://www.thehomeplow.com/

 

[CapnStereo]

Thanks AHenry, looks like I can get that from Meyer directly and get my local mechanic to set it up. Think if the wife says yes, I'll do it.

 

[Komato]

Thanks Komato, that looks like a slick set up and what I was thinking of. Easy on easy off?

You‘re welcome. It’s crazy easy to take on and off. Took me about a hour to mount the front receiver hitch and literally 15-20 minutes to run the wiring into the cab. Super easy to do. Hope the wife gives you the go ahead….I’m still waiting on some snow but I’m not complaining

 

[Komato]

Thanks AHenry, looks like I can get that from Meyer directly and get my local mechanic to set it up. Think if the wife says yes, I'll do it.

I forgot to mention that this system does not come with shoes so I had to order them separately and install them. Highly recommend, especially if your plowing a gravel drive

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Most of the wiring below is for my aux switches, only the fuse, one ground and one hot are for the plow. Solenoid is for winch ->

I looked into a receiver mounted plow but after talking for days with a member who plows with Jeeps, I opted for the above. Lots of side loading with wet snow, enough to shove the front of the truck sideways. And a plow sticking out feet in front of the truck, that means it's got a lot of sideways push against it, a lot of leverage.
That's how I chose.

 

[CapnStereo]

Wow! Sounds easier than I thought. Shoes would be a must, it's a gravel driveway! Thanks for the information and the detail Komato and Shadows. One last question, would this mess up the warranty? I did buy the extended (sort of regret that, but when they mentioned electronics...well). Do you know of issues with that in general?

Thanks again. The wife probably likes watching me shovel and curse. Can't talk her into Florida or Texas.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Wow! Sounds easier than I thought. Shoes would be a must, it's a gravel driveway! Thanks for the information and the detail Komato and Shadows. One last question, would this mess up the warranty? I did buy the extended (sort of regret that, but when they mentioned electronics...well). Do you know of issues with that in general?

Thanks again. The wife probably likes watching me shovel and curse. Can't talk her into Florida or Texas.

No problem with warranty. Mine has been in for electrical issues and they know I have a snow plow (and winch and front receiver and all the wiring that goes with it).

We had about 2" of REALLY REALLY wet snow last night. The type that will break your back if you shovel it because it started as rain and sleet then gradually turned to snow. The pavement was still about 32-33 degrees when it snowed. HEAVY stuff.
I inched out of my garage, dropped the plow, far right tilt, and drove out. As I got about half-way up the snow was so heavy I had to keep the steering wheel turned to the right a bit because the weight of the snow was shoving the truck to the left. Not sure my receiver could have handled that since the plow sticks way out front and has a ton of leverage over that bar.
The snow was so heavy and sticky when I got across the road (I plow up the drive and across the road and shove it into the ditch on the other side of the road) - I couldn't raise the plow as the hydraulics couldn't handle it because the snow stuck to the blade making it weigh probably over 1,000 pounds.
I had to move farther ahead where the shoulder dropped off (watching I didn't drop my front wheels over the edge) and move the blade side to side a tad to get the snow to drop and the blade to come up.

Anyway, my plow lights tie into the truck's lights in multiple places, and there's several relays, an isolation box, and it's tied into the battery, and the hand-held control ties into acc power.
They know that, they've seen it, and there's been no mention of warranty problems. They resolved the CANbus errors, the misfires, etc. with no problem.
But - some shops might be different.
They can't miss that heavy bar and fat brackets bolted to the frame when they do oil changes or rotate the tires, and when they open the hood they are greeted by all of my electrical stuff plus the plow's isolation box right next to the master cylinder. Plus, the plow control was laying in the cup holder when I took it in this week. They know.

 

[Komato]

Wow! Sounds easier than I thought. Shoes would be a must, it's a gravel driveway! Thanks for the information and the detail Komato and Shadows. One last question, would this mess up the warranty? I did buy the extended (sort of regret that, but when they mentioned electronics...well). Do you know of issues with that in general?

Thanks again. The wife probably likes watching me shovel and curse. Can't talk her into Florida or Texas.

I can’t speak to warranty. I would think you would be safe if you have a gas truck because they make a plow for them. Diesel in the other hand they probably wouldn’t like that too much. Good luck

 

[CapnStereo]

Wow Shadows!

Very weird here in Maine too. The precip last Monday/Tuesday, in my county (it was different everywhere) was just like beach sand. I mean, walking or driving on it was exactly like the beach. Snowblower would not move...sit and spin chains and all. Took me 6 shoveling sessions to keep up with it and get it done. That's when two things kept popping in my head..."Florida" and "Plow".
Momma Stereo has given the thumbs up, so based on what I have seen here it looks like a go.

Thanks again all, I appreciate the sage and detailed advice!

John

 

[JeepNNJ]

I also bought the Defender 7'2". I was worried about the front end drop when the plow was raised, but the front end only drops about 1.5 inches with the OEM front coils.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I also bought the Defender 7'2". I was worried about the front end drop when the plow was raised, but the front end only drops about 1.5 inches with the OEM front coils.

Yours looks to be a Sport?

I have Overland. Cushy ride so likely softer springs?

When I added the steel bumper, and 80 pound winch and front receiver, it dropped the front over 1/2", about 3/4" from stock height.
I put 1" Synergy front coils under it and it brought it back up to stock height. I was supposed to actually lift the truck, but didn't.
They say a 1" spring will lift the front of a fully loaded JLU Rubicon that has steel bumper, skid plate and winch 1" so I figured it would lift a Gladiator with the steel bumper, winch and receiver 1" above stock. It did not, it just put it back to stock and took out the droop that the weight caused.

When I raise the plow, mine also drops about 1.5" now.
I'll likely go with the 2" Synergy front coils as on pavement dips and driveways with a slope to them I can hit the corner of the plow on the pavement.
I REALLY wish I had gone LED plow lights because the halogens are really weak on high beam. I leave them on low beam most of the time because it lights up the road a lot better - but really yellow. But I couldn't see the crazy extra price for their LEDs.

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