Snow Plow

[JeepNNJ]

Wow, thanks for the great picture.

Multiple questions -
May I assume the brackets/mounting go on the outboard sides of the frame, and not the sides of the frame facing the engine? I have a receiver/hitch that bolts to the faces of the frame that face the engine and not the tires. There's no room to mount anything at all as the receiver and winch plate take more than every hole and every bit of real estate in that area. There's no way to put anything else on the frame there.

Blade/plow width - debating 6'8" vs 7'2" plow............ want to make sure when angled it plows the width of the truck and then a bit, but also want it to be able to fit into my garage and not be over-kill for my use and needs.

What is the purpose of removing the bumper and enlarging the holes in the front end of the frame? Just curious as I don't see where those are used for anything. .And, especially since I have solid steel spacer plates on the front to move the bumper forward 3/16" for clearance with winch. The yellow zinc color in this pic is the spacer plate I gave a nice plating in yellow zinc to prevent rust)
Bumper removal won't be fun with all the stuff I have up there LOL.

Using their measurement to determine mounting bracket needed, I come up with 21.25"
But I have stock diameter tires (a bit wider, but stock diameter) and the weight I have up front keeps the front sitting a bit low even with the Synergy springs.

I have an Overland - BUT - it's more like a Rubicon on the front now.
I have the Rubicon style steel bumper, the Rubicon skid plate that attaches to the bumper, and a Bulldog winch plate, Apex 1200 winch, etc. up front. And - I have a Curt 2" receiver up there so I can't bolt anything at all to the inward faces of the frame! There's no space, no holes left. In fact, I had to cut the lower/rear skid plate brackets to clear the receiver so those brackets are attached to the frame using only 1 bolt each.

Yes, the mount does go on the outside of the frame, and yes, you will need the 7'2" plow. That's where Meyers messed up. Meyers was set to go with the 6'8" plow, but realized that would underplow the width of the tires. Then Meyers was not able to make a 7'2" plow that would pass a crash test, per my Meyers dealer. The 7'2" plow is wide and long, i cannot close my garage door when the plow is attached.

Sponsored

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Yes, the mount does go on the outside of the frame, and yes, you will need the 7'2" plow. That's where Meyers messed up. Meyers was set to go with the 6'8" plow, but realized that would underplow the width of the tires. Then Meyers was not able to make a 7'2" plow that would pass a crash test, per my Meyers dealer. The 7'2" plow is wide and long, i cannot close my garage door when the plow is attached.

The plow brackets bolt on the outer parts of the frame takes care of one of my concerns about mounting one with the stuff I already have on the front (especially the receiver)
I hope the receiver doesn't cause a clearance problem otherwise.
It hangs proud of the bottom of the steel bumper.

I measured and decided that the 6'8" wouldn't work well for any JT, especially anything with wider tires, or, the Rubicon, Mojave or Max tow with the extra 1.5" width. Yeah, that one must have been an "oops" on their part.

Even with the blade straight, not angled, I'd not have a width issue with my garage. I would have to be more watchful, but I should be anyway........
The door on the side where I park my truck is wider than where my wife parks hers in our garage (2 doors, not one wide door).
Depth isn't an issue, but I will have trouble getting the lawn tractor out past the truck with a snow blade on. I park my truck back far enough I can carefully run the lawn tractor out between vehicles and around in front of my truck and then out. I could run my truck back farther, closer to the front of my SX4 since I won't be working on it in the winter. The garage is 27' deep not counting the addition on the back. In the summer I'd need to find a spot to park the blade but that shouldn't be an issue either - I'll level a spot and get a load of gravel down for it to rest on.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Then I switched things around and lined the trailer up in front of my shop, drove a stake in the ground and strapped the pallet under the blade to the stake and pulled the trailer back. It's a tilt bed so it tilted and the blade/pallet slid right off.
I moved the other pallet/crate back and did the same.
Man, I love the front receiver!

 

[Pat42]

Most certainly do your homework. I’m confident @ShadowsPapa is very thorough in any decision he makes with his experience as you all are. Make an informed choice based on application and needs. I personally went with a plow that provides me the most minimal impact to my vehicle and inexpensive. If my truck is in the shop I can put it on the back of any car with a receiver and get it done in reverse. Like backing up a trailer.

Hey John (and all here),
New to the forum! This Saturday we are going to get a 2023 Mojave Gladiator. I have been researching getting a snow plow and am interested in what you found? I also want something that is inexpensive with minimal impact on the Mojave. I am a little concerned with the brake reservoir under the front bumper though (EDIT-meant front shock reservoir).
We also have a driveway made with pavers, which is why I’d like to get a plow with wheels on the bottom like this one from Real Truck (it also has a wireless remote which is nice)..
https://realtruck.com/p/k2-avalanche-snow-plow/v/jeep/gladiator/2023/
Any recommendations by you or anyone else here?
We are really excited to join the Gladiator community!

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I am a little concerned with the brake reservoir under the front bumper though.

Those are for the front shocks, not brakes. They can be relocated......... others here have relocated them for other or similar reasons.

That plow should have minimal impact on the truck You will need to install a front receiver which means taking off the front skid plate and cutting it to fit around the receiver.
You'll not want to drive with the plow - hook it up, use it, unhook it.
They are heavy but with that sort of setup where you take it off when done you should be fine.

My plow is full hydraulic and mounts to a mounting bar attached to the truck. Weighs about 300 pounds and drops the truck about 1" with stock springs but that plow should be lighter.

 

[Pat42]

Those are for the front shocks, not brakes. They can be relocated......... others here have relocated them for other or similar reasons.

That plow should have minimal impact on the truck You will need to install a front receiver which means taking off the front skid plate and cutting it to fit around the receiver.
You'll not want to drive with the plow - hook it up, use it, unhook it.
They are heavy but with that sort of setup where you take it off when done you should be fine.

My plow is full hydraulic and mounts to a mounting bar attached to the truck. Weighs about 300 pounds and drops the truck about 1" with stock springs but that plow should be lighter.

Thanks for the reply.. Sorry, I do not know why I said brake reservoir, I meant/know it’s for the front shocks.. (main reason why we chose it over the Rubicon)..
Yes, definitely was planning on only having it attached when I need to plow. Hopefully not too heavy as you mentioned, I need to call as I couldn’t see the weight spec on the webpage.. Doesn’t look too heavy though.
Any good recommendations for a front receiver?
Thanks again!

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Thanks for the reply.. Sorry, I do not know why I said brake reservoir, I meant/know it’s for the front shocks.. (main reason why we chose it over the Rubicon)..
Yes, definitely was planning on only having it attached when I need to plow. Hopefully not too heavy as you mentioned, I need to call as I couldn’t see the weight spec on the webpage.. Doesn’t look too heavy though.
Any good recommendations for a front receiver?
Thanks again!

Curt or DrawTite.

I have a DrawTite sitting around in a box.......... Reason I changed to Curt was that it wouldn't clear the winch plate I was using. I had the DrawTite on my 2020 for a while until I installed a winch and found it wouldn't clear the winch plate so took off the DrawTite and installed a Curt.

 

[Pat42]

Curt or DrawTite.

I have a DrawTite sitting around in a box.......... Reason I changed to Curt was that it wouldn't clear the winch plate I was using. I had the DrawTite on my 2020 for a while until I installed a winch and found it wouldn't clear the winch plate so took off the DrawTite and installed a Curt.

Great, thanks! We will likely get the Curt, I like the idea of having a winch in the future..

 

[Summitsearcher]

Hey John (and all here),
New to the forum! This Saturday we are going to get a 2023 Mojave Gladiator. I have been researching getting a snow plow and am interested in what you found? I also want something that is inexpensive with minimal impact on the Mojave. I am a little concerned with the brake reservoir under the front bumper though (EDIT-meant front shock reservoir).
We also have a driveway made with pavers, which is why I’d like to get a plow with wheels on the bottom like this one from Real Truck (it also has a wireless remote which is nice)..
https://realtruck.com/p/k2-avalanche-snow-plow/v/jeep/gladiator/2023/
Any recommendations by you or anyone else here?
We are really excited to join the Gladiator community!

@ShadowsPapa is correct in his info. I have the receiver type and do not travel with it but short distance. You can always use the rear receiver as well. Mirrors and camera make it easy using it on the back. Mine is called a SnowSport weighs in at about 110# and $1800.

 

[Pat42]

@ShadowsPapa is correct in his info. I have the receiver type and do not travel with it but short distance. You can always use the rear receiver as well. Mirrors and camera make it easy using it on the back. Mine is called a SnowSport weighs in at about 110# and $1800.

Thank you for the response! 110# is less than half the weight of the one I was looking at.. I see it has a rubber cutting edge so it won’t scratch our pavers too (so I won’t need the wheels on the bottom of the blade). This one looks like a no brainer for my situation.. Thanks again!

 

[Blindjustice1787]

@ShadowsPapa is correct in his info. I have the receiver type and do not travel with it but short distance. You can always use the rear receiver as well. Mirrors and camera make it easy using it on the back. Mine is called a SnowSport weighs in at about 110# and $1800.

Just received mine! Looking at installing it this weekend or next, but was wondering if you found a skid plate replacement? I still have the standard front skid plate on my Rubi, and it doesn’t seem like I can install it over the front hitch. I like the piece of mind of the front skid plate, so curious if you have or have seen a remedy?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I have pictures....but you need to use angle grinder, Dremel, saw, files, or whatever and cut out the skid plate to fit around receiver.
It's tricky because you need to compensate for the slope or angle the skid plate sits at in relation to the receiver

 

[Pat42]

Just received mine! Looking at installing it this weekend or next, but was wondering if you found a skid plate replacement? I still have the standard front skid plate on my Rubi, and it doesn’t seem like I can install it over the front hitch. I like the piece of mind of the front skid plate, so curious if you have or have seen a remedy?

I had a custom 4x4 fabricator install my front receiver hitch on my Mojave. I was going to do it but with the shock reservoirs mounted right on the backside of the skid plate, I didn’t want to screw anything up. He was able to not only cut the hole perfectly, but he modified/reinforced the Curt receiver mounts so they were stronger than stock and modified it in a way that he didn’t have to relocate the reservoirs. Well worth the $400 I paid him! Only problem is the Mojave sits too high and I had to use a drop down receiver adapter.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Sponsored