Good video, thanks I truly appreciate it! I've been waiting 2 years for enough snow here in Maryland to get back to using my Craftsman tractor plow set up which I had converted over from manual hand lift to a Harbor Freight Badlands ZXR 2500 winch but wasn't out there a half hour last week before I snapped the wire rope cable so I had to pull it back into the garage and re-install the hand lever locking linkage so I could get all my plowing done. Since then I watched a lot of videos about using either synthetic ropes or tow straps and came across your video, I was just about to order a strap online today then remembered that I've had a brand new Harbor Freight 20 foot Haul-Master tow strap similar to the one that you used in the bottom of a tool box in the garage so I dug it out, cut it in half, and tested how much I could install on the winch comfortably before it started binding around the spool frame area or the built in cable tensioner plate on the backside of the spool, and settled on 5 foot which is more than enough, afterwards I tested it a couple of times and it looks like it's definitively going to be the way to go. 👍
I used a heavier 1" strap ran through the eye on the hook then doubled it back on its self . You can use small bolts or rivets to tie it together . Works great !!
I did the same on my atv a month ago,also tested with tape but it will slip on the aluminium spool. I drilled and tapped 4 m5 screws into the aluminium spool.....not slipping anymore. We have 65 cm of snow here in Dalarna,Sweden,started snowing 21/12 and continues..... Happy New Year!!
Good to know, I'm hoping it won't slip, but as I said, time will tell. If it does I'll certainly drill it out and screw it down. Here in Ontario Canada we haven't had any significant snowfall yet, let's hope some of your snow migrates over this way. The snowmobile and ice fishing guys are losing their minds here because it's been so warm and absolutely no ice.
Thankyou. My synthetic rope broke and upon inspection was looped under other strands and cinched down tight and the works were frozen in place. Let me tell you, getting it off the winch at -10F was a real pleasure. I don’t have a heated garage-I put a torch to the spool and melted the synthetic. I’m doing your fix tomorrow-hoping for smooth sailing next winter
I appreciate this video a lot. I'm really curios to know how well this holds up over time. Hopefully you've finally had the chance in Canada to test this out. I'm also wondering if snow and ice build up on the strap and bind and cause problems on the spool. Thanks for this idea. Keep up the good work
Thanks! I have been out plowing about 6 times now since I've installed it and so far no complaints. Was hoping to get some more snow by now but unfortunately it's been a mild winter. Haven't had any issues with ice build up on the strap.
Ive been looking for longer arms but can't find any, I was thinking of getting some steel profile and fabricating a new plate to attach to for next season.
@@BackyardATV there is a video on UA-cam kolpin Switchblade Plow: Part 2 The Fix by Figs Outside u can go as far as 38” log with your push tubes and the back bracket will still fit but u might still have to drill 4 holes in the new push tubes
I had to change out the switchgear so I wired the 7" bar to be high beam, the small work light below it to the park light and the two 4" pods below the rack to the main beam, so I can switch each individually. Took a bit of head scratching to figure it all out but it works great. Im not sure how the Grizzly wiring is, but patience and a multimeter is key to figuring it out.
I am setting up my plow for the first time this week. new plow, new winch. I am going to try this setup from the start as I wont use a winch except for this. How many feet of tow strap did you use about, or how much do you think it will fit on the winch before its too much?
It's a relatively easy process changing out the strap for rope when you don't need it for plowing anymore. The strap I used was 20ft which I just cut in half. 10ft fits on the spool just fine and to be honest you wouldn't need longer. I also wouldn't go shorter, ive seen some guys complain that it slips doing it this way with the tape, but I'm sure it's because they aren't using a longer strap.
It's holding up perfect. Just swapped out the winch rope for the strap yesterday in preparation for this season. Strap had absolutely no wear on it. Last season I used the roller, this season I'll use the hawse fairlead, should make no difference.
Only suggestion is to replace your roller style fairlead with an aluminum style slide fairlead. The rollers will eat away at the synthetic ropes and straps especially if you originally had a steel cable.
Im going to swap over to the hawse fairlead soon. I found that the roller fairlead actually worked better with the the synthetic line for plowing purposes, but ive noticed that's not the case with the strap.
Agreed. A pulley will decrease the drain from the winch by half and be double the strength to lift the plow but will also decrease the speed at which it lifts and drops by half. Seeing that my winch does a decent job at lifting my rather light weight plow I don't see the need and would rather save the expensive synthetic rope.
I didnt care for my pulley system. One time the rope had a little too much slack and came off the pulley and snapped. Straps are the way to go with fairlead
Good video, thanks I truly appreciate it! I've been waiting 2 years for enough snow here in Maryland to get back to using my Craftsman tractor plow set up which I had converted over from manual hand lift to a Harbor Freight Badlands ZXR 2500 winch but wasn't out there a half hour last week before I snapped the wire rope cable so I had to pull it back into the garage and re-install the hand lever locking linkage so I could get all my plowing done. Since then I watched a lot of videos about using either synthetic ropes or tow straps and came across your video, I was just about to order a strap online today then remembered that I've had a brand new Harbor Freight 20 foot Haul-Master tow strap similar to the one that you used in the bottom of a tool box in the garage so I dug it out, cut it in half, and tested how much I could install on the winch comfortably before it started binding around the spool frame area or the built in cable tensioner plate on the backside of the spool, and settled on 5 foot which is more than enough, afterwards I tested it a couple of times and it looks like it's definitively going to be the way to go. 👍
It's a pleasure! I've been out with mine a few times now and haven't had any issues with the strap. Time will tell though.
I can't wait to try this!
makes life much easier without breaking your synthetic lines that's for sure.
I have done the same thing but l used a 1 inch lifting strap , everything works great ! The seatbelt idea sounds like it would also work.
Yeah, 1 inch strap would also work. I just didn't want it to bind up easily, that's why I got a 2 inch
Hey man love the videos! Can we get a tutorial on how you mounted that hook onto the plow? Looking to do the same with mine. Thank you!
Thanks! Ill get working on a vid to show hook.
I used a heavier 1" strap ran through the eye on the hook then doubled it back on its self . You can use small bolts or rivets to tie it together . Works great !!
I did the same on my atv a month ago,also tested with tape but it will slip on the aluminium spool.
I drilled and tapped 4 m5 screws into the aluminium spool.....not slipping anymore.
We have 65 cm of snow here in Dalarna,Sweden,started snowing 21/12 and continues.....
Happy New Year!!
Good to know, I'm hoping it won't slip, but as I said, time will tell. If it does I'll certainly drill it out and screw it down. Here in Ontario Canada we haven't had any significant snowfall yet, let's hope some of your snow migrates over this way. The snowmobile and ice fishing guys are losing their minds here because it's been so warm and absolutely no ice.
Thankyou. My synthetic rope broke and upon inspection was looped under other strands and cinched down tight and the works were frozen in place. Let me tell you, getting it off the winch at -10F was a real pleasure. I don’t have a heated garage-I put a torch to the spool and melted the synthetic. I’m doing your fix tomorrow-hoping for smooth sailing next winter
Happy it helped! Just make sure that you get that spool and duct tape warmed up too when you apply it.
Around here we use seat belt straps they are lots of long and also have a metal eyelet on the end to hook your plow to
Oh yeah, if I had a spare seat belt strap lying around I would most definitely use it for this.
I appreciate this video a lot. I'm really curios to know how well this holds up over time. Hopefully you've finally had the chance in Canada to test this out. I'm also wondering if snow and ice build up on the strap and bind and cause problems on the spool. Thanks for this idea. Keep up the good work
Thanks! I have been out plowing about 6 times now since I've installed it and so far no complaints. Was hoping to get some more snow by now but unfortunately it's been a mild winter. Haven't had any issues with ice build up on the strap.
@@BackyardATV thanks for the update. I'm going to give this a go 👍
I bought Longer arms for my koplin Atv snow plow which brought the proper mounting hook out far enough so the winch was pulling straight up
Ive been looking for longer arms but can't find any, I was thinking of getting some steel profile and fabricating a new plate to attach to for next season.
I went to a metal fab shop and bought 1.5” 10 guage square stock and cut mine 38” seems to work out fine original push tubes are only 31 1/4”
I was thinking about this, did you have to make any modifications to the mounting plate?@@charliebeck1448
@@BackyardATV there is a video on UA-cam kolpin Switchblade Plow: Part 2 The Fix by Figs Outside u can go as far as 38” log with your push tubes and the back bracket will still fit but u might still have to drill 4 holes in the new push tubes
How did you wire in the pod lights on your handlebars? I want to do it with my grizzly.. any tips would be awesome.
I had to change out the switchgear so I wired the 7" bar to be high beam, the small work light below it to the park light and the two 4" pods below the rack to the main beam, so I can switch each individually. Took a bit of head scratching to figure it all out but it works great. Im not sure how the Grizzly wiring is, but patience and a multimeter is key to figuring it out.
I am setting up my plow for the first time this week. new plow, new winch. I am going to try this setup from the start as I wont use a winch except for this. How many feet of tow strap did you use about, or how much do you think it will fit on the winch before its too much?
It's a relatively easy process changing out the strap for rope when you don't need it for plowing anymore. The strap I used was 20ft which I just cut in half. 10ft fits on the spool just fine and to be honest you wouldn't need longer. I also wouldn't go shorter, ive seen some guys complain that it slips doing it this way with the tape, but I'm sure it's because they aren't using a longer strap.
How is it holding up? Does it matter to use the rolling fairlead or one without rollers
It's holding up perfect. Just swapped out the winch rope for the strap yesterday in preparation for this season. Strap had absolutely no wear on it. Last season I used the roller, this season I'll use the hawse fairlead, should make no difference.
Only suggestion is to replace your roller style fairlead with an aluminum style slide fairlead. The rollers will eat away at the synthetic ropes and straps especially if you originally had a steel cable.
Im going to swap over to the hawse fairlead soon. I found that the roller fairlead actually worked better with the the synthetic line for plowing purposes, but ive noticed that's not the case with the strap.
With that eye bolt there for your hook will the blade still pivot left to right ????
Yes it pivots easily, just dont tighten the nut at the bottom too much and you're good.
I'm going to try this today, my synthetic cable broke for the last time I hope. I'm in Ontario Canada.
I have been out plowing about 6 times now since I've installed it and so far no complaints.
What brand is that atv?
Its a Powermax Desert Storm 250cc, with some aftermarket cosmetic changes...
Best thing you can do is add a pully... but you can't do that with a strap!
Agreed. A pulley will decrease the drain from the winch by half and be double the strength to lift the plow but will also decrease the speed at which it lifts and drops by half. Seeing that my winch does a decent job at lifting my rather light weight plow I don't see the need and would rather save the expensive synthetic rope.
I didnt care for my pulley system. One time the rope had a little too much slack and came off the pulley and snapped. Straps are the way to go with fairlead