If you live in an area that sees harsh winter conditions, then you know what a hassle it can be to dig out your driveway after a heavy dump of snow. Even if you have a snow blower, it still takes a considerable amount of time to clear a good-sized parking lot or drive – not to mention the exhaust fumes and the terrible racket that go along with it. It’s no surprise that many people pay a contractor to clear out their driveway on a regular basis during the winter months, instead of having to dig themselves out.
What if there were an easier way to handle all of that snowfall? A method of snow clearing where you would only have to make one initial investment? I’m talking about a snow plow of course. Now I know what you are thinking; snow plows mean installing an ugly, expensive attachment onto the front of your Tundra. Most people don’t like the idea of ruining the looks of their vehicle just so they can plow the driveway. However, there is a plow on the market that addresses this concern, and provides practicality while preserving your truck’s beauty.
Here’s a Tacoma with the simple Snowsport snow plow. It’s a simple mechanical plow that doesn’t require an ugly mounting bracket or any sophisticated hydraulics – it just uses a simple mechanical system with decent results.
The SnowSport HD Utility Plow is an interesting little piece of equipment that mounts just underneath your front or rear bumper. Instead of the standard T-bar mount that we are all familiar with, a small mounting point is installed that protrudes a few inches from the lower part of the bumper. An H-frame slides in and out of this mounting point much like a hidden trailer hitch. Once the H-frame is on, it clips into the small snow plow and is held there with a pin.
There are no hydraulics necessary to operate the SnowSport. The plow’s blade, which is made of aluminum with a rubber leading edge and box sides, floats up and down on the H-frame in order to rise and fall with the mounting snow pile or with the terrain it encounters underneath the powder. This floating action also helps keep the blade from dragging while backing up. The box sides give the plow a decent capacity, and since it has a low profile, it doesn’t interfere with headlights, meaning you won’t need to add any extra lighting to the front of your truck. The plow has two positions: plowing and transport, with the latter raising it up off of the road, but still keeping it low enough to stay under your Tundra’s headlights.
It’s a little cheesy, but check out this video for an explanation of exactly how the plow works. It’s a simple mechanical, albeit lightweight, system.
Since the SnowSport plow is made of lightweight aluminum, mounting is really not that difficult. The company claims that the plow can be mounted to a rear trailer hitch, although the aggravation of having to plow while driving backwards doesn’t sound like something many people would be interested in. This plow might also not be a good solution for those who have lifted their Tundras, given that the mounting point might be too high. However, for those who want to clear their driveways in a jiffy, or tackle a snowed in parking lot from time to time, the SnowSport is a good compromise between investing in a full plow system and having to use a shovel. The SnowSport Snow Plow retails for about $1500.
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