Can A Jeep Gladiator Plow Snow? [What You Need To Know!]

As winter weather fast approaches, thoughts of snow management weigh heavy on a lot of minds. Truck owners may have an advantage over others because their vehicles may be able to be used for plowing snow. If you own a Jeep Gladiator, you might be wondering if it can plow snow. We have done the research to bring you the answer to this question in this post.

Jeep Gladiators have everything you need to be the perfect snow plowing vehicle: a body made for mounting a plow, a V6 engine that is strong enough to perform in snowy conditions, and a four-wheel-drive to provide traction in the snow. Select model years and trims even offer add-ons to enhance the Gladiator's plowing performance.

We will discuss each of the features and packages offered for the Jeep Gladiator to increase your confidence in this vehicle for snow plowing. We will then discuss how to plow snow in a Jeep Gladiator so you can be sure that you are doing it correctly to lessen damage to your vehicle. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about the Gladiator's snow plowing abilities.

Best Features For Snow Plowing

The Jeep Gladiator may as well have been made for plowing snow. It offers all the best features you need to look for in a great snow plowing vehicle.

Snow Plow-Compatible Body

According to Popular Mechanics, you should not even consider snowplowing with a vehicle in a weight class lower than 3/4-ton. This means that the truck should have a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 8,500 to 10,000 pounds and have a payload of at least 1,500 pounds.

The Jeep Gladiator only comes in at 5,8000 pounds, but it has a payload of 1,700 pounds. So, you are getting a lighter vehicle with a payload well above its weight class.

The front of a Jeep Gladiator is ideal for mounting a snowplow. It can handle the plow's weight, and the front-end design makes it easy to install the plow.

Engine

You need at least a V6 engine to be strong enough to plow snow. Experts recommended a minimum of 250 horsepower and 250 pounds of torque. The Gladiator goes beyond this at 285 horsepower and 260 pounds of torque.

Alternator

The alternator delivers electricity to your vehicle, something that you need more of to plow snow. The minimum recommended alternator for plowing snow is 160-amps. The Jeep Gladiator answers this with a standard 180-amp alternator and an available alternator option with 240-amps.

Automatic Transmission

An automatic transmission is recommended for a snow plowing truck because it makes shifting gears easier, putting less strain on your drivetrain. While the Jeep Gladiator comes standard with a manual transmission, it does offer an automatic transmission as an available option.

How To Plow Snow In A Jeep Gladiator

There is more to plowing snow than jumping in your vehicle, lowering the plow, and driving. It is important to know how to plow properly to minimize damage to the property and your vehicle and to maximize efficiency. Here are some tips you want to consider.

Preparations

The more you can do ahead of time, the better. You can't prepare for every scenario and situation, but any preparation you can make will be helpful.

Know The Area

Ideally, you will know the area that you will be plowing ahead of time. If you do, scope out the area and make a plan for where you will push the snow and what technique will work best for that area.

Of course, if you offer plowing services to others, you may not know every client you will have before the first snowfall. In this case, ask questions before taking the job. Ask new clients about the area you will be plowing, such as the size of the space and where they want you to put the snow.

Make An Emergency Kit

Even the toughest vehicles—and drivers—have their downfalls. The last thing you want is to be stuck because your vehicle had an issue. However, it does happen. Make sure you have everything you need to handle any issues ahead of time, from supplies you'll need for quick repairs such as changing a tire to heat packs and blankets for staying warm in case you need to wait for a tow.

Technique

Not all areas are created equal, and you need to know which technique works best in certain areas. For example, you cannot plow a large parking lot the same way you would plow a small driveway at someone's home. SnowEx offers some technique tips for each area.

Parking Lot

SnowEx suggests that if you can, plow little by little instead of all at once. Plowing a large parking lot at the end of a big storm can prove to be daunting, if not impossible. Here are the steps you should follow:

Attach winged extenders to your snowplow. The wings allow you to hold more snow in one pass and prevent the snow from falling off the plow. See an example from Amazon below.
Make a pass with the plow blade angled and one wing leading.
Raise the plow blade while easing off of the accelerator and braking.
Deposit the snow in the designated area, ensuring that you have enough room for all of the snow.

Click here to see an example of these extenders on Amazon.

Driveways

You have less room to work with when plowing driveways. This means less snow to plow, but it also means that you have to make tighter movements and be more careful not to damage any property. Here are the steps you should follow:

Raise the blade while driving toward the home or building. Unlike with parking lot plowing, you will be pushing more snow than lifting and moving it. This is because you cannot leave snow piled against a home, whereas, in a parking lot, you likely won't have to plow near a building.
Lower the blade while backing up to push the snow. Do this in short distances to avoid damage to your vehicle. SnowEx recommends no longer than 2-3 car lengths per pass.
Back into a clear area and push the snow to the end of the driveway.
Push the snow to the sides of the driveway to clear the driveway entrance.

Types of Plow Blades

SnowEx recommends that you purchase a plow that matches your skill level and workload. Straight plows are suitable for beginners. They get the job done, and they are easy to operate. Winged plows are more difficult to learn how to manage, but they are able to move the most snow.

Take a look at this video for more information on snow plowing in a truck:

How Do You Install A Snow Plow On A Jeep?

Snowplow retailer Snow Plows Direct informs that some snowplows come with a hitch installed that can be attached to the front of the Jeep. Other snowplows come with a bracket that can be installed onto the plow so it can be attached to the Jeep. Take a look at the video below for more detailed instructions:

Which Jeep Is Best For Plowing Snow?

Jeep owners and enthusiasts agree that the Jeep Rubicon is the best Jeep for plowing snow. JK Forum user Bonedoc believes that the Rubicon would be best in both traction and power to push the snow.

Does A Snowplow Void Warranty?

According to Jeep's website, you can install a snowplow and not worry about a voided warranty. However, the warranty does not cover the snowplow. For example, if your transmission isn't working correctly, having a snowplow won't exclude you from being able to get that fixed.

However, if your snow plow has become damaged, your warranty will not fix that snowplow. In addition, if the snowplow is too heavy and pulls out your bumper, the warranty will not fix the bumper because the snowplow caused the damage.

Does Plowing Damage Your Truck?

Plowing snow is hard work, and yes, your truck can be damaged in the process. Truck experts identify that the transmission is the most often damaged part as a result of plowing snow. This is because driving in heavy snow already exhausts the transmission and burns transmission fluid, and when plowing snow, the transmission has more work to do.

If you use your truck carefully and properly while plowing, you can reduce the potential damage.

Summary

Choosing a vehicle for plowing snow is not a decision to take lightly. You need to make sure that the truck you are choosing is up the job. The truck needs to be strong enough to hold and maneuver the snowplow and powerful enough to move through difficult terrain and manage the added weight of the snow. The Jeep Gladiator checks all of these boxes with a payload that exceeds its class and a powerful enough engine and alternator to power the job.

When choosing the best plow for your needs, choose one that is able to handle the jobs you will be doing but is easy enough for you to manage for your skill level. We still have some time before the snow is upon us, but it will be coming up quickly. Make sure you are using this time wisely to plan and prepare for the plowing season ahead!

Take a look at the articles below to help you get ready for winter:

Does Traction Control Help In Snow And Rain?

What Are The Best Wiper Blades For Winter?

How to Winterize Your Car in 5 Easy Steps