Finding the right atv snow plow mount is usually the hardest part of getting your rig ready for the first big blizzard of the season. Once you've got the mount sorted, everything else—the blade, the push tube, the winch—kind of just falls into place. But if you pick the wrong mount or mess up the installation, you're going to be fighting with your plow every time the snow starts falling, and nobody wants to be doing that when it's ten degrees outside.
I've spent a lot of time hovering over a cold garage floor trying to line up bolt holes, so I've learned a few things about what makes a mount worth the money. It's not just about what fits your specific ATV; it's about how you plan to use it and how much effort you want to put into taking it on and off.
Front Mount vs. Mid Mount: Which is Better?
When you start looking for an atv snow plow mount, you're basically going to run into two main styles: front-mounted and mid-mounted. Both have their fans, and honestly, both work fine, but they definitely change the way your ATV handles and how you interact with the plow.
The Case for the Front Mount
A front-mounted setup is arguably the most popular choice these days, especially for people who don't want to crawl under their machine every time they see a snowflake. These mounts attach to the front frame of your ATV, usually right around where the winch is located.
The biggest perk here is convenience. You can drive right up to the plow, click it into place, and you're done. You don't have to get on your hands and knees or reach into the dark, muddy underbelly of the quad. Another plus is lift height. Because the pivot point is higher up and further forward, you can usually lift the blade much higher off the ground. This is a lifesaver if you have to load your ATV onto a trailer or if you're trying to stack snow into high banks.
Why Some People Prefer Mid Mounts
The mid-mount atv snow plow mount attaches to the center of the frame, right under the belly of the machine. It's a bit of an "old school" design, but it's still around for a very good reason: strength.
When the mount is in the middle of the frame, the force of hitting a snowdrift is distributed across the strongest part of the ATV. It keeps the front suspension from diving too much, which gives you better traction. The downside? You lose some ground clearance when the plow isn't attached because that mounting plate stays under there all winter. And yeah, you'll be reaching under the machine to pin it in place, which is never fun when the frame is dripping with slush.
Making Sure It Actually Fits Your ATV
It's tempting to grab a "universal" atv snow plow mount because it's usually cheaper, but I'd suggest being careful with those. Most ATVs have unique frame shapes, oil drain plug locations, and bumper designs. A universal mount often requires a lot of "persuasion" (meaning a hammer and a drill) to get it to fit right.
I always recommend going with a vehicle-specific mount if you can find one. These are laser-cut to match the bolt holes already in your frame. It makes the installation a thirty-minute job instead of a four-hour headache. Plus, a specific mount won't block your oil filter or your winch access, which saves you from having to take the whole thing apart just to do basic maintenance.
The Installation Process
Putting on an atv snow plow mount isn't rocket science, but there are a few ways to make it easier on yourself. First, don't do it outside in the snow. If you can, get the quad into a garage or at least a flat, dry spot.
Most mounts use U-bolts that wrap around the frame tubes. Here's a pro tip: don't tighten the bolts all the way until every single one is started. If you crank down the first two, you'll almost certainly find that the last two are a fraction of an inch off. Leave everything loose, get all the nuts threaded, and then go around and tighten them up.
Also, keep an eye on your brake lines and wiring harnesses. It's easy to accidentally pinch a wire between the mount and the frame. If you do that, you might solve your snow problem but create a whole new electrical nightmare that'll leave you stranded in the driveway.
Materials and Build Quality
You really want to look for an atv snow plow mount made from heavy-gauge steel. It's going to take a lot of abuse. Think about the physics of it—you're driving a 700-pound machine into a pile of heavy, wet snow. All that energy is transferred directly through that mounting plate.
Make sure it has a good powder-coated finish, too. Since this part is going to be constantly exposed to moisture, salt, and road grime, cheap paint will flake off in a week, and then the rust sets in. A rusted mount can become brittle or, even worse, the bolts can seize up, making it nearly impossible to remove when spring finally rolls around.
Maintenance and Mid-Season Checks
Once the atv snow plow mount is on, most people just forget about it. That's a mistake. After the first couple of times you plow, you really should go back under there and check the torque on those bolts. The vibrations from the engine and the impact of the plow can cause things to wiggle loose.
If a mount gets loose, it can start to oval out the holes in your frame or even bend the mounting plate. I usually keep a wrench handy and just give the bolts a quick tug every few weeks. It takes two minutes and saves a lot of trouble down the road.
Removing the Mount for Off-Roading
When the snow melts and you want to head back out on the trails, you've got to decide if you're leaving the mount on or taking it off. If you have a front mount, it usually doesn't get in the way of your ground clearance, so you can often leave it on all year.
However, if you have a mid-mount plate, you really should take it off before you go trail riding. That plate is basically a giant hook waiting to catch on a rock or a stump. Getting hung up on your plow mount in the middle of a mud hole is an embarrassing way to spend a Saturday afternoon.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, your atv snow plow mount is the foundation of your entire winter setup. If you go with a cheap, poorly fitting mount, you're going to spend more time turning wrenches than actually clearing your driveway.
Spend the extra few bucks to get a mount that matches your machine and fits your lifestyle. Whether you go with the easy-access front mount or the heavy-duty mid-mount, just make sure you get it installed correctly before the first storm hits. There's a certain kind of satisfaction that comes from sitting on your quad, dropping the blade, and pushing a foot of snow out of the way while your neighbors are still struggling with their shovels. It makes all that time spent in the garage totally worth it.