Plow for a Jeep Cherokee?

[MotoSook]

Anyone have one on a Cherokee? Recommendation?

[SeanPizzle]

unibody no bueno for plows. It would take a lot of fabrication to build even a light duty plow rig out of an XJ.

[VINMAN]

I had on on an old CJ never seen one on a cherokee. Not much to bolt one to with the unibody.

Used to be a guy around here that had a 6ft plw on one of those Suzuki Samauris or Sidekicks. I couldnt picture that set up moving more than an inch of snow.

[kaisen]

Originally Posted by SeanPizzle

unibody no bueno for plows. It would take a lot of fabrication to build even a light duty plow rig out of an XJ.

There are dozens of Cherokee XJs with plows running around Minne-snow-ta....how many plow trucks of any kind in Sacremento, California?

If you're plowing commercial lots, that's one thing
But for driveways and sidewalks the XJ is a perfect fit. Small, narrow, and maneuverable. Several manufacturers make suitable plows.

If it's just for your hobby farm, I'd consider a Sno-Way ST22. It's lightweight (300 lbs) and has hydraulic downpressure. They make them with 6'8" or 7'6" clear polycarbonate blades.

If your needs are more robust, Western and Meyer both make small (~6.5') steel plows that you see hung on XJs.

Today, the consensus seems to be the Blizzard 680/720 series

A quick Google turned up several discussions. Here's one:

snow plow for Xj's - Jeep Cherokee Forum

[SeanPizzle]

Originally Posted by kaisen

There are dozens of Cherokee XJs with plows running around Minne-snow-ta....how many plow trucks of any kind in Sacremento, California?

I have welded up several XJ unibody rails where the steering box tears the metal. Same for the panhard "frame" mounts. At minimum, I would plate the whole drivers side frame horn and tie it to the pass side with a brace from the panhard mount to the pass frame horn. I would also beef up the lower rad support.

Everybody is a SME on something. Building XJ's falls into my wheelhouse with 15 years of experience.

[VINMAN]

Just because you could, doesn't mean you should....

[kaisen]

Originally Posted by SeanPizzle

I have welded up several XJ unibody rails where the steering box tears the metal. Same for the panhard "frame" mounts. At minimum, I would plate the whole drivers side frame horn and tie it to the pass side with a brace from the panhard mount to the pass frame horn. I would also beef up the lower rad support.

Everybody is a SME on something. Building XJ's falls into my wheelhouse with 15 years of experience.

So you've seen this damage to XJs from plowing snow?

Or have you seen damage from the stresses of off-roading and rock crawling?

Having plowed snow for over 20 years I can tell you that if you're damaging the truck like that you're doing it wrong

Residential plowing isn't that tough on the rig if you know what you're doing

[MotoSook]

Thanks for the info! Yep, it will be for my farm. I was using my ATV to plow and it worked well enough. I was plowing about 500 ft of asphalt and a couple parking area, but now I have added about 150 feet of gravel surface to plow. It use to take 2-3 hours sometimes. I can't spend that much time out there. Would rather be doing it from a warm cabin.

I am also looking for a beater 4x4 truck with a plow...just to plow and haul crap on the farm. So that may be my solution. I just don't need another vehicle to maintain.

Quote de SeanPizzle

unibody no bueno for plows. It would take a lot of fabrication to build even a light duty plow rig out of an XJ.

There are dozens of Cherokee XJs with plows running around Minne-snow-ta....how many plow trucks of any kind in Sacremento, California?



If you're plowing commercial lots, that's one thing

But for driveways and sidewalks the XJ is a perfect fit. Small, narrow, and maneuverable. Several manufacturers make suitable plows.



If it's just for your hobby farm, I'd consider a Sno-Way ST22. It's lightweight (300 lbs) and has hydraulic downpressure. They make them with 6'8" or 7'6" clear polycarbonate blades.



If your needs are more robust, Western and Meyer both make small (~6.5') steel plows that you see hung on XJs.



Today, the consensus seems to be the Blizzard 680/720 series



A quick Google turned up several discussions. Here's one:



snow plow for Xj's - Jeep Cherokee Forum

[kaisen]

Same advice as on another recent thread:

The best plow trucks are 3/4 or one ton pickups with a solid front axle supported by leaf springs

So a 1992-1996 Ford F350 (not 250)
Or a 1999-2003 Ford Super Duty F250/F350
Or a 1993-up Dodge 2500 or 3500
Or a 1987-1991 GM K2500 or K3500 (really old now!)

Don't buy a diesel unless you have a very specific non-plowing need for one in the Summer

[sailchef]

FWIW- Back in the day, just south of Killington Vermont, I had a plow hanging off the front of a 68 VW bug with big a$$ tires and chains. Just for the driveway. The front was so light it would constantly ride up on top of the snow. It was my parts car with coat hangers holding on the rear fenders and a rubber band for the throttle spring and no front lid to fit the A- frame and hydraulics.

It did a great job. I also used it as my ski vehichle to get up the mountain road. I took some flexible metal tubing I got from JC Whitney and connected one end to the heater outlets under the rear seat and stuck the other ends inside my ski boots. They got toasty real quick. For me, insanity began early in life.

It was a purpose built Ve-hickle : )

[EarlyPorsche]

Originally Posted by kaisen

Same advice as on another recent thread:

The best plow trucks are 3/4 or one ton pickups with a solid front axle supported by leaf springs

So a 1992-1996 Ford F350 (not 250)
Or a 1999-2003 Ford Super Duty F250/F350
Or a 1993-up Dodge 2500 or 3500
Or a 1987-1991 GM K2500 or K3500 (really old now!)

Don't buy a diesel unless you have a very specific non-plowing need for one in the Summer

1993 and DOWN would be the proper range for a leaf sprung Dodge truck. 1994 and up will have a 5 link coil sprung front.

Agreed that the leafs are nice to have for plowing but there are tons of dedicated small job plowing XJ's around. You're not going to plow an interstate but it will work out for a small application.

[kaisen]

Originally Posted by EarlyPorsche

1993 and DOWN would be the proper range for a leaf sprung Dodge truck. 1994 and up will have a 5 link coil sprung front.

Agreed that the leafs are nice to have for plowing but there are tons of dedicated small job plowing XJ's around. You're not going to plow an interstate but it will work out for a small application.

Yep, you're right on all counts.

The newer Dodges still have a solid front axle, but use coils and lateral locating bars

[redstrosekNic]

I'd go with a CJ5. Mine is strictly for plowing, and it does a good job.

[RWebb]

use a meat plow

[not sharp]

I have a plow that fits onto the rear tow bar of my 4runner. works great. don't remember manufacturer. try look it up today.

[notfarnow]

My neighbor bought an xj brand-spanking new in 1987, with the 3.0 six. He bought a plow for it right away.

He's been plowing his driveway (200 feet) and his mother's about a mile away (120 feet) every snowstorm for 15 years. When he drives down to his mother's, he'll often stop and plow out neighbors who are out shovelling.

I tried to buy his truck and plow last year for 5k. He just laughed.

[asudds]

XJ cherokees are great plow rigs for driveways and residential.

I use one for my driveway, got the 99 Jeep for $800, an old unimount western set-up for $500 and used it for 2 seasons until the light duty sheetmetal plow blade went south.

Found a 7.5' poly blade for $200 and fit it up, changed the front springs to V8 Grand Cherokee springs and plows like a champ still.

Just have to be careful, but I grew up plowing commercially for my dad in a 75 J20 with a 8' blade, so slow and easy is the best advice while plowing. I almost never touch the brake pedal.