Using G16 for snow plow

[Lazy cruiser]

I’m setting my G16 to plow snow. I have everything in place to mount the plow and winch. I was just curious if there is anything else I need to think of or keep an eye on. I don’t want just throw a plow on and tear up my cart if there is something mechanically that needs to be done also.

Thanks

[cgtech]

I think you are risking frame damage.

[Lazy cruiser]

Why do you think that? I don’t plan on pushing truck load piles of snow and I used the original bumper mount area for mounting my bracket with heavy duty C channel steel.

[Lazy cruiser]

It’s been a while since I have been on. Apparently photobucket doesn’t work for sharing photos anymore. What’s the best way to share photos?

[09MPT1200guy]

I plowed a lot of snow with my old EZ-GO MPT1200. I never damaged the frame, but did blow out a hub, and had to adjust the shifter from so much forward-reverse-forward operation. The hubs are a known weak area anyway, so no surprise there. I was impressed with how much snow it would move, and fairly effortlessly. Main tip would be use momentum as much as possible. Starting into a big pile from a dead stop would lose traction pretty easily. Also, the original plow cutting edge lasted only a couple hours. I replaced it with a 5/8in thick bar from the scrap pile.

[slonomo]

Three questions:
1. What size area?
2. How deep does the snow get?
3. How often does it snow?

I plowed with my Yamaha G1 for years. It did fine until the snow got heavy and wet. Traction was the big issue. Tires are not the problem, its weight in the rear. Chains make it better, but you need a good 200-300 lbs above the rear axle to make it get decent traction.

Plow size matters. The plow needs to be 6" wider on each side when fully angled. This will keep the tires out of the windows of snow.

[Lazy cruiser]

Good info thanks.

I will be plowing a 4 car driveway that turns and runs about 40 yards to the street. Probably will only have enough snow to plow 10 times a year and on average it’s about 4”. Too much to shovel and takes too long to snow blow. The plow is coming off my craftsman mower so I’m sure the golf cart will be even better than the mower. Plus I’m hoping my young daughter will get a kick out of riding with me. And honestly the handle deal with the mower to lift and lower is wrenching my body lol.

[slonomo]

Originally Posted by Lazy cruiser

Good info thanks.

I will be plowing a 4 car driveway that turns and runs about 40 yards to the street. Probably will only have enough snow to plow 10 times a year and on average it’s about 4”. Too much to shovel and takes too long to snow blow. The plow is coming off my craftsman mower so I’m sure the golf cart will be even better than the mower. Plus I’m hoping my young daughter will get a kick out of riding with me. And honestly the handle deal with the mower to lift and lower is wrenching my body lol.

The golf cart will handle that just fine. You won't damage the frame, unless you just ram a giant pile of wet snow But if you take it easy you'll be fine. Plus you've been doing it with the lawn tractor so.... With mine I've plowed up to 10" deep. I have a similar length driveway, 80% gravel. 10 times a year is not that bad.

With mine, I built a little subframe that bolted to the frame of the cart with some U bolts. The subframe was just a 1/4" steel plate with some shock mount tabs welded on. I attached the plow to the subframe with some stainless bolts, washers, and nylon lock nuts so that it would pivot on the shock tabs. The subframe was located directly below the seats, so the frame on the plow was extended a few feet, I just used 2" angle. Worked perfectly, never bent or broke. Used a small winch mounted up front, worked great. I doubled up the cable with a pulley so it moved twice as fast.

Here's a video of the "maiden voyage" back in 2012. I improved the plow a bit along the way, but essentially it worked as you see in this video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2_4EyO5NsI

[Lazy cruiser]

Originally Posted by slonomo

The golf cart will handle that just fine. You won't damage the frame, unless you just ram a giant pile of wet snow But if you take it easy you'll be fine. Plus you've been doing it with the lawn tractor so.... With mine I've plowed up to 10" deep. I have a similar length driveway, 80% gravel. 10 times a year is not that bad.

With mine, I built a little subframe that bolted to the frame of the cart with some U bolts. The subframe was just a 1/4" steel plate with some shock mount tabs welded on. I attached the plow to the subframe with some stainless bolts, washers, and nylon lock nuts so that it would pivot on the shock tabs. The subframe was located directly below the seats, so the frame on the plow was extended a few feet, I just used 2" angle. Worked perfectly, never bent or broke. Used a small winch mounted up front, worked great. I doubled up the cable with a pulley so it moved twice as fast.

Here's a video of the "maiden voyage" back in 2012. I improved the plow a bit along the way, but essentially it worked as you see in this video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2_4EyO5NsI

Looks like it works perfectly. I imagine I’m going to have to add a subframe too. I’m working the front mount plate right now. I will see how sturdy she is and then go from there. I also bought a small winch but I will have to get out and turn the blade by hand because I can’t see an easy way to control that from the seat lol.

[slonomo]

Originally Posted by Lazy cruiser

Looks like it works perfectly. I imagine I’m going to have to add a subframe too. I’m working the front mount plate right now. I will see how sturdy she is and then go from there. I also bought a small winch but I will have to get out and turn the blade by hand because I can’t see an easy way to control that from the seat lol.

Yeah the angle adjustment was manual on mine. I just kept it in one position most of the time and planned my plowing accordingly.

The other thing I wish I would have done was fabricate some wings on the plow. The wings really help with "trail off" when pushing long runs. I plowed commercially for years and years and we always ran wings. Now they make plows that have hydraulic rams that adjust the plow in the center and the ends, crazy money for those too! But wings can be made very easily and they add width to plow more snow, and also act as a bit of a "scoop".

Here's a pic of some wings on an atv plow (random pic not mine)