UTV Plow Maintenance Tips for Winter Longevity

A UTV snow plow is one of the best winter tools you can own in New Jersey.

It saves your back, clears your driveway fast, and keeps your property usable when the snow piles up.

But snow, salt, and cold are brutal on metal and moving parts. Without good UTV plow maintenance, you’ll see bent frames, rusted blades, weak hydraulics, and snapped winch cables much sooner than you expect.

This guide walks through simple, practical UTV plow maintenance tips to keep your setup working strong all winter and for many seasons to come.

1. Pre‑Season Inspection: Get Ready Before the First Storm

Don’t wait for the first big snowfall to find out something’s wrong.
Do a full check before winter hits.

Inspect the Plow Blade & Frame

• Blade surface
  • Look for cracks, bends, and heavy rust
  • Light rust: sand and repaint
  • Deep cracks or twisting: get it repaired or evaluated by a shop
• Cutting edge / wear bar
  • Check for uneven wear or thin spots
  • If worn close to the bolt heads, flip it (if reversible) or replace
• Side plates and ribs
  • Make sure reinforcement ribs and side plates aren’t cracked or loose

Check Mounts & Hardware

• Inspect:
  • UTV front mount / push frame
  • All bolts, pins, and clips
• Tighten or replace:
  • Any loose or stretched hardware
  • Missing cotter pins or retaining clips

Use a torque wrench where the manufacturer lists torque specs. Loose mounts are a leading cause of damage.

Test Trip Springs & Pivot Points

• Trip springs (on trip‑edge or full‑trip plows)
  • Make sure they aren’t broken or badly rusted
  • Adjust tension if the blade trips too easily or not at all
• Pivot points
  • Check for slop or binding
  • Grease zerk fittings if present

2. Power System Check: Winch or Hydraulics

Most UTV plows lift using either a winch or a hydraulic system. Each needs its own care.

If You Use a Winch

• Cable / rope condition
  • Steel: look for kinks, flattened spots, broken strands
  • Synthetic: look for fraying, cuts, melted or fuzzy sections
• Fairlead & drum
  • Ensure smooth operation and clean spooling
• Connections
  • Check winch mounting bolts
  • Inspect electrical connections for corrosion

If the cable looks questionable, replace it before winter. A snapped winch line in freezing weather is no fun.

If You Use Hydraulics

• Hydraulic hoses
  • Look for cracks, bulges, and leaks at fittings
• Cylinders
  • Check rods for pitting or rust (these will damage seals)
  • Wipe rods clean and consider a light protective spray
• Fluid level
  • Top off with the recommended fluid
  • Bleed air from the system if the plow moves jerky or slow

Electrical connectors for hydraulic pumps should be tight and corrosion‑free.

3. Quick Checks Before Each Storm

A short pre‑storm routine helps you avoid breakdowns when you need the plow most.

5-Minute Pre‑Storm Checklist

Before you start plowing:

• Walk around the UTV and plow
• Check:
  • All pins and clips are in place
  • Blade angle pins latch securely
  • Cutting edge hasn’t worn dangerously thin
  • Electrical plugs are firmly connected
• For winch plows:
  • Raise and lower once, watching for smooth movement
• For hydraulic plows:
  • Cycle up/down and left/right to ensure full motion

Top off fuel in the UTV and confirm your lights are working—visibility is critical in snow.

4. Clean After Every Use (Especially in New Jersey Salt)

New Jersey roads are often treated with salt and brine. That mix will chew through your plow if you leave it on.

Post‑Plow Cleaning Routine

After each plow session:

• Rinse the plow
  • Use low to medium water pressure to wash off:
    • Salt
    • Sand
    • Slush and mud
• Pay attention to hidden spots
  • Behind the blade
  • Around pivot points
  • Under mounts and brackets
• Dry where you can
  • Wipe down cylinders, pins, and exposed hardware
  • Let the blade air‑dry in a garage or covered area if possible

Add Rust Protection

Once dry:

• Spray a light coating of oil or silicone on:
  • Cutting edge
  • Springs
  • Pins and pivot points
• Touch up chipped paint:
  • Wire‑brush loose rust
  • Apply primer and plow‑safe touch‑up paint

This is especially important in high‑salt areas like New Jersey.

5. Lubricate Moving Parts Regularly

Proper lubrication keeps the plow quiet, smooth, and long‑lasting.

Key Spots to Grease

Check your plow manual, but common points are:

• Blade pivot/angle points
• Kingpins or pivot bolts
• Lift pivot and hinge points
• Any zerk fittings on the frame

Use a quality multi‑purpose or marine grease, especially if the plow sees a lot of wet and salt.

Winch & Cable Care

For winch systems:

• Keep the cable or rope clean and properly spooled
• Occasionally pull most of the line out:
  • Inspect for damage
  • Re‑spool under light tension

Never run a winch with the line bunched in one spot—it can crush and weaken strands.

6. Skid Shoes & Cutting Edge: Adjust for Your Surface

Your skid shoes and cutting edge determine how your plow rides on the ground.

Checking and Adjusting Skid Shoes

• Inspect skid shoes for:
  • Uneven wear
  • Very thin metal near mounting areas
• Adjust height:
  • For gravel or uneven driveways: lower skid shoes so the cutting edge rides slightly above the ground
  • For paved driveways: raise shoes so the cutting edge scrapes closer to the surface (without digging into the pavement)

Cutting Edge Care

• Flip a reversible cutting edge once one side wears down
• Replace when:
  • It’s worn close to mounting bolts
  • It’s uneven enough to cause ridges or missed spots

Running a blade with a badly worn edge can damage the main plow moldboard.

7. Smart Plowing Habits That Extend Plow Life

How you plow matters as much as how you maintain the plow.

Good Habits

• Plow at moderate speeds
  • Too fast = more impact when you hit hidden curbs, drains, or ice chunks
• Use the plow’s “float” setting if available
  • Let the blade follow the ground instead of forcing it down hard
• Lift the blade slightly when crossing obstacles
  • Driveways lips
  • Speed bumps
  • Transitions from pavement to gravel
• Don’t “ram” snow piles
  • Push into piles with steady pressure
  • Back up and push again if needed

What to Avoid

• Slamming the blade into banks or frozen piles
• Plowing with the blade raised too high (stresses mounts and UTV front end)
• Ignoring new noises (clunks, grinding, or jerky motion)

Listen to your plow. New sounds usually mean something has come loose or started to fail.

8. End‑of‑Season Storage: Protect Your Investment

When winter ends, don’t just leave the plow sitting outside. Proper storage is key for long-term UTV plow longevity.

Step-by-Step Storage Checklist

• Final deep cleaning
  • Wash off all salt, mud, and debris
  • Let it dry completely
• Inspect for off‑season repairs
  • Look for cracks, bent pieces, worn cutting edges
  • Make a list of parts to replace before next season
• Grease and protect
  • Grease all zerk fittings and pivot points
  • Spray light oil or protectant on:
    • Cutting edge
    • Springs
    • Exposed hardware
• Relieve tension
  • Lower the plow fully to take pressure off winch or hydraulics
  • If possible, unplug or disconnect the lift system
• Store off the ground
  • Use blocks or stands to keep the blade’s edge off bare concrete or dirt
  • Cover the plow with a breathable cover (not plastic that traps moisture)
• Protect electronics
  • Disconnect power plugs
  • Store handheld controllers in a dry place inside

This routine can easily add years to your plow’s life.

9. When to Repair vs Replace Plow Parts

Some wear is normal. Other damage is a sign it’s time for serious work.

Common Repairable Issues

• Worn cutting edges
• Bent skid shoes
• Leaking hoses or fittings
• Loose pins or wallowed pin holes (can often be repaired or bushed)

Signs You May Need Major Work or Replacement

• Plow frame or A‑frame is twisted or cracked in key structural areas
• Mounting system has repeated failures or cracking
• Cylinders or pump repeatedly fail even after repair
• Excessive rust has weakened the blade

If you’re unsure, bring your plow to a shop like Jersey Powersports. A quick inspection can tell you if it’s worth fixing or if your money is better spent on a replacement or upgraded system.

How Jersey Powersports Helps UTV Plow Owners in New Jersey

Winter in New Jersey is tough on equipment. At Jersey Powersports, we help you:

• Choose the right UTV plow for your machine and driveway
• Install mounts, wiring, and controls correctly
• Perform pre‑season and mid‑season safety checks
• Replace cutting edges, skid shoes, hoses, and hardware
• Service winches and hydraulic systems

If you’re not sure why your plow isn’t lifting right, angling smoothly, or cleaning the pavement like it used to, our team can diagnose the issue and get you back to pushing snow safely.

Conclusion: A Little Maintenance Goes a Long Way

Your UTV plow works hard every winter.
A few simple habits will keep it reliable for the long haul:

• Inspect and tighten before the season
• Clean and rinse after each use
• Grease and protect moving parts
• Adjust skid shoes and cutting edge for your surface
• Store it properly once the snow is gone

If you’d like help getting your UTV snow plow ready for New Jersey winter—or need repairs mid‑season—contact Jersey Powersports or stop by our shop. We’ll keep your plow, and your UTV, working when you need them most.

UTV Plow Maintenance FAQs

How often should I grease my UTV plow?

You should grease your UTV plow’s pivot points at least every few uses, and always after a deep cleaning or heavy, muddy plowing. If you plow frequently in harsh, salty conditions, greasing weekly during the season is a good rule of thumb.

Do I really need to wash my plow after every storm?

Yes, especially in New Jersey where salt and brine are common. Salt left on your plow will speed up rust and eat into hardware. A quick rinse with water after each plow session is one of the easiest ways to extend your plow’s life.

How do I know when to replace my cutting edge?

Replace the cutting edge when:

• It’s worn close to the mounting bolts
• It’s visibly uneven and leaving ridges or missed strips
• One side of a reversible edge is fully worn and the other is already used up

Running a severely worn edge can damage the blade itself.

Is a winch or hydraulic lift better for long-term reliability?

Both can be reliable if maintained:

• Winch systems:
  • Simpler and often cheaper
  • Need regular cable/rope inspection and careful spooling
• Hydraulic systems:
  • Smoother and faster
  • Need hose, fluid, and seal checks

The best choice depends on how often you plow and your budget. A dealer like Jersey Powersports can help you pick the right setup for your UTV.

How should I store my UTV plow in the off-season?

For best longevity:

• Wash and dry it thoroughly
• Grease all fittings and spray a light protectant on exposed metal
• Lower the plow to release tension on the lift system
• Store it off the bare ground, preferably covered, in a dry area
• Disconnect electrical plugs and store any handheld controllers indoors

If you have more questions about UTV plow maintenance tips for winter longevity, or want a professional pre‑season check, reach out to Jersey Powersports. We’re here to help you get the most from your UTV and plow, year after year.