subject: Skid Steer Attachments For Winter Weather [print this page] Compiling a list of every single skid steer attachment that would be useful in winter would make for a long list.However,that list can be condensed into four must haves for clearing ice and snow and making a less hazardous environment for clients and neighbors,they are the snow pusher,the snow plow,the snow blower and a special tool,the split plow. Winter months shouldn't be the end of your skid steer activities,it should be an opportunity to make the most of cold and snow with high quality skid steer attachments to help you stay productive.
SNOW PLOW
When it comes to serving customers, the first priority is to simply move snow out of the way. To do that work, the most obvious skid steer attachment to use is the plow. A heavy duty skid steer snow plow comes in 7-, 8-, 9-, and 10-foot widths and offers a wide array of unique and useful features. The overall construction of a good plow needs to be first-rate. Scratches and wear on regular steel mold boards lead to rust and weaken the plow, but the mold boards on a heavy duty skid steer attachment will be made from heavy, rust-proof stainless steel. The cutting edge on a heavy duty skid steer attachment should be a two-in-one, reversible, bolt-on design. Eight inches of 3/4-inch hardened steel across the entire width of the plow will give it strength and rigidity.
THE SNOW PUSHER
The snow pusher skid steer attachment is the one that is needed if a skid steer operator wants to move a lot of snow in a short time. Widths of 96-, 120-, and 144 inches means the Snow Pusher is similar to a plow, but is really a fully-enclosed, double-bladed scraper. Instead of being pushed to the sides as with the snow plow, a much larger volume of snow is trapped in the giant box, to be shoved off the end of the parking lot or driveway.
THE SNOW BLOWER
Snow plows offer a lot of snow-moving power in wide-open spaces, but a good quality snowblower is a skid steer attachment that will provide more versatility in smaller, tighter spaces. Because it can throw the snow in any direction that the operator chooses, a snow blower operates with more precision. Anticipating the clearing of small walkways, or removing snow that has drifted close to a building, a snowblower skid steer attachment is the tool to choose. The snowblower is also perfect for situations where it is important to avoid obstacles and things that are easily broken, such as cars and windows.
It is generally thought that a smaller machine, with a lower hydraulic flow-rate and fewer options would be less effective in heavy weather conditions, but even the normal-flow machines have the potential to overcome even the heaviest weather, ejecting the snow up to 45 feet. The smallest among them is a 48-inch wide unit, and it will cycle between 8 and 13 gallons of hydraulic fluid per minute to tackle a formidable amount of snow. To cut a wider path with each pass, consider normal-flow snowblowers in every width: 48-, 60-, 72-, 78-, and 84 inches.
THE SPLIT PLOW
The Split Plow skid steer attachment is one of the most versatile tools available for snow work. This skid steer attachment was originally built to do many of the same jobs as a traditional plows, but with a center-reticulated design, it can do more. On each side, the Split Plow's blade is electro-hydro controlled, meaning that the skid steer operator can move each blade half independently, and the controls are all maintained inside the cab of the skid steer loader. It can be used as a straight-plow, scoop, or divided-plow for quick clearing, and is made in six widths: 60", 72", 84", 96", 108" and 120."
