The SnowSport plow comes complete...
The SnowSport plow comes complete with a bolt-on 2-inch receiver, plow frame, aluminum blade, all hardware and complete installation instructions.
You're reading Four Wheeler, so chances are you have a four-wheel-drive vehicle in your driveway. That's a good thing. If you live in a part of the world that gets snow, and you're shoveling your driveway by hand, or worse yet, paying someone else to plow it, that's a bad thing. Fortunately, we have good news. The folks at Agri-Cover have introduced an affordable, easy-to-install personal utility plow that allows you to put your 4x4 to work to save you time, energy and money. It's called the SnowSport, and one of its most appealing features is its $1,195 suggested retail price, which is less than half the cost of most other snowplows. The SnowSport underwent four years of extensive testing by Agri-Cover engineers before it was released to ensure durability and simple installation. As we found during hands-on testing, the SnowSport offers a variety of benefits to those of us who want to use our trucks to effectively move snow, but avoid the installation of a plethora of permanent items to do it, or worse, have parts of the assembly hinder our off-highway travel.
1. The installation of the...
1. The installation of the 2-inch receiver plate will vary depending on your application and what options you have on your vehicle, like a winch. The receiver plate for our '97 Jeep TJ Sport slipped right over the stock front bumper once we removed the six stock bumper-mounting bolts. When the plow and frame are off the vehicle, this is the only part of the plow remaining, and in our application it didn't adversely affect our TJ's approach angle. If you already have a front receiver, you can simply mount the plow frame as long as the bottom of the frame is between 9 and 15 inches from the ground.
The SnowSport personal utility plow consists of three major components: The 7-foot-wide by 18-inch-high by 3-inch-thick anodized 6063-T6 aluminum extruded blade, the steel push-frame and a bolt-on 2-inch receiver hitch. There are no electrical or hydraulic connections and no controls to clutter the interior of your truck because the plow is manually raised and lowered by the operator.
The heart of this system is the plow's ability to lay back and slide on the heavy rubber box ends when the vehicle is reversed, then automatically re-engage to its upright position for plowing when the vehicle is driven forward. The plow accomplishes this action via the use of an ingenious slide hinge, which not only allows the blade to lie back, but also allows it travel up and down on the push frame to compensate for uneven terrain. When transportation of the plow is required, the operator simply lifts the blade; one end at a time, onto the top retainers of the push frame, then installs the snap pins to hold it in place for safe on-road travel. The low-profile design of the SnowSport allows for the unobstructed use of your vehicle's stock headlights, whether the blade is in the transport or plowing position. The entire assembly weighs approximately 215 pounds (a fraction of the weight of a standard hydraulic plow) and the blade features a heavy-duty 1-inch rubber cutting edge that moves snow effectively while flexing over stationary objects (unlike most plows, which use a steel cutting edge). In addition to acting as a slide when reversing, the heavy rubber box ends also give the plow a larger capacity so you can move lots of snow quickly and easily.
We were anxious to test the SnowSport's capabilities, so we installed and tested the personal utility plow at our Midwest Bureau, where we get lots of snow. We were impressed by the quality of the components, and installation of the plow on our '97 Jeep TJ was a breeze, taking less than an hour from start to finish. Over the course of several snowfalls we used the SnowSport to push a variety of snow types and depths-from heavy, wet snow to dry, drifted snow, ranging in depth from just a few inches to drifts over 3 feet in height.
2. With the plate in place...
2. With the plate in place over the stock bumper, we simply reinstalled the six mounting bolts to hold it secure.
We followed basic snowplowing Do's and Don'ts, including plowing at slow speed using 4-low and keeping current with the snowfall (it's always easier to plow fresh snow). The SnowSport performed superbly, the rubber cutting edge leaving a clean swipe on surfaces including gravel, cement and rutted, frozen dirt. The rubber cutting edge also absorbed surface irregularities, thus there was much less shock transferred through the vehicle's frame to the driver than one would experience with a steel cutting edge. The rubber box ends helped create added capacity that helped the plow push an amazing amount of snow. We'd recommend the optional blade end markers for those who plow in tight quarters, because the low-profile design of the blade makes it a bit hard to see from the cab, especially when trying to see the passenger-side edge of the blade. We did encounter one snowfall that dropped heavy, wet, wind-driven snow and this was the first (and only) time the blade didn't completely clean the surface on the first pass. This was due to the inherent light weight of the aluminum blade, and it was to be expected. We simply made another pass over the same area and the job was done. Another major benefit to the SnowSport is the fact that the blade and plow frame completely remove in less than a minute, leaving only the 2-inch receiver hitch on the front of the vehicle. This is a huge benefit to those who don't want a massive plow frame protruding from the front of their 4x4, annihilating its front approach angle.
Overall, the SnowSport personal utility plow did more than meet our expectations; it exceeded them. The SnowSport is an easy, effective and affordable tool for those who have snowplowing needs.
 3. Slide the interceptor into...  3. Slide the interceptor into the receiver and fasten in place using the hitch pin. |  4. With the vehicle on a level...  4. With the vehicle on a level grade, use the push frame to choose a four-bolt pattern that sets the push frame 8-10 inches above grade. For our 2-inch lifted vehicle, we chose the lowest mounting position and turned the interceptor upside-down. This rubber cushion mounts in between the push frame and the interceptor. |  5. Mount the push frame to...  5. Mount the push frame to the interceptor using the four supplied bolts and snug tight. Use a level to ensure that the frame is plumb horizontally as you snug the bolts. |
 6. Use a level to plumb the...  6. Use a level to plumb the push frame vertically. Tightening the four push-frame mounting bolts controls the plumb of the push frame and its alignment to the vehicle by compressing the rubber pad between the push frame and the interceptor. |  7. Install the rubber box...  7. Install the rubber box ends and metal end-cap to the blade. Tighten until the rubber begins to compress, but stop before the metal plate indents. |  8. Mount the blade to the...  8. Mount the blade to the plow frame by lifting one end at a time onto the plow-frame hook. |
 9. This is how the SnowSport...  9. This is how the SnowSport blade rides on the plow frame for transport. The security pins hold the blade in place on bumpy roads. |  10. This is how the slide...  10. This is how the slide hinge looks as it rides on the plow frame when the blade is lowered for plowing. |  11. When reversing, the SnowSport...  11. When reversing, the SnowSport blade pivots on its slide hinges, thus allowing it to slide on the rubber box ends. This lifts the rubber cutting edge off the ground and allows for unobstructed backing so you can line up for your next pass. |
 12. While the blade cannot...  12. While the blade cannot be angled, its design offers an impressive snow-pushing capacity that offsets the inability to direct the snow. |  13. With the SnowSport in...  13. With the SnowSport in the transport position, the low-profile design ensures that you can still use your factory headlights. This eliminates the need to mount and wire extra lighting just for the plow. |  14. The rubber cutting edge...  14. The rubber cutting edge on the bottom of the blade makes a nice, clean sweep over concrete, gravel and even rutted frozen dirt. It absorbs shock, too, so you don't get your fillings knocked out by surface imperfections. |