Skid Steer Snow Removal Attachments: Types, Uses, and How They Work

With heavy snow during winter, a skid steer could be a useful piece of machinery in snow removal, if the proper attachment is used. There are different types of snow removal attachments available, which are appropriate to different situations. Some attachments are developed to remove heavy snow, whereas other attachments would be effective in removing snow from paved surfaces.

By knowing the difference between the attachments used in snow removal using a skid steer, one will be able to select a suitable attachment. Types of snow removal attachments that are commonly found in the market include snow pusher, snow blade/plow, snow blower, snow bucket, and angle broom.

Common Types of Skid Steer Snow Removal Attachments

1. Snow Pusher

The snow pusher is a box-type attachment meant to remove large amounts of snow in the forward direction. With its enclosed design, the snow pusher is effective in containing snow while pushing, making it ideal for large open spaces.

How it works:
Skid steer will push the attachment forward, while the snow collection box pushes the snow forward.

Some models have floating or trip-edge design, which enables the attachment to adjust to uneven terrain and also minimize any impact by obstacles.

Best applications:

• Parking lots

• Large driveways

• Commercial facilities

• Paved roads and open pavements

• Moving the snow towards specified piles

Snow pushers are relatively simple attachments with minimal moving parts. But the normal pushers are not as effective at moving snow sideways as an angled blade. They also need good traction from the machine to work with deep and wet snow.

2. Snow Blade / Plow

The snow blade, or angle blade, utilizes a curved or angled moldboard that pushes snow to the side of the machine. Thus, it can be used for situations where snow must be pushed away from roads, driveways, lanes, or access paths.

Hydraulic machines have adjustable blade angles from within the cab of the machine.

How it works:
While moving forward, the blade pushes snow to the side, rather than just ahead of the machine.

Best applications:

• Roads

• Driveways

• Farm Lanes

• Parking Lots

• Long Access Lanes

The directional control is one of the key strengths of the angle blade. The machine allows operators to form windrows and remove snow away from travel paths.

The major drawback of the blade is its lower efficiency in retaining and pushing snow compared to the snow pusher.

3. Snow Blower

Snow blower is a machine for removing snow by collecting and discharging it through the discharge chute. In contrast to the simple pushing action of snow removal machines, this mechanism allows moving snow much farther away from the area of operation.

How it works:
The auger scoops the snow up and delivers it to an impeller or a fan, which blows it through the chute. This chute can be often adjusted to control the discharge direction of the snow.

Best applications:

• Heavy snow

• Narrow paths

• Long driveways

• Pathways and sidewalks

• Locations where it is impossible to just push snow into a pile

This machine is especially effective in case of restricted space for building snow banks and dealing with heavy accumulations that are hard to move using just a blade.

The drawback of snow blowers is that they require more hydraulic power than a simple attachment for pushing snow.

4. Snow Bucket

Snow buckets are like regular skid steer buckets, but they have been designed specifically for snow removal. Because they are bigger than usual, snow buckets allow the operator to scoop, move and redistribute snow.

How it works:
The snow bucket is put in the snow pile, loaded, raised, and moved to another location. The operator can unload the snow anywhere he wants.

Best applications:

• Moving snow piles

• Loading snow into trucks

• Disposing of accumulated snow

• Areas which require the movement of snow

• All-round winter operation

Snow buckets are versatile because they can both gather and move the snow. However, snow buckets may not be as effective as the snow pushers when clearing a large area.

Size and weight of the bucket must also be considered. If it is too big for the skid steer, it will compromise the stability and lifting ability of the operator.

5. Angle Broom

Angle broom consists of a rotating brush which sweeps snow, slush, dirt, and any other material on the surface being cleaned. This machine is best used for cleaning up after most of the snow has already been cleared away.

How it works:
The hydraulic motor causes rotation of the broom as it is placed at an angle on the surface. The rotation of bristles helps in pushing the debris towards one side of the broom.

Best applications:

• Light snow

• Sidewalks

• Parking lots

• Roads

• Paving

• Cleanup after plowing snow

• Cleaning up slush and debris

Angle brooms are not usually used as the first choice for clearing deep snow but are more effective as a cleaning tool after most of the work has been done. They may be used all-year round since they are also helpful in cleaning debris such as dirt and gravel outside the winter season.

How Hydraulic Requirements Affect Attachment Selection

All types of attachments used for skid steer snow removal do not need the same hydraulic capacity.

Attachments such as simple snow pushers and buckets may not need any auxiliary hydraulic capacity. Manual angle blades may need very small hydraulic capacity whereas hydraulic angle blades would require auxiliary hydraulics to operate the cylinders.

Attachments such as snow blowers and brooms with hydraulic controls would have more hydraulic needs because of their hydraulic motors.

In order to make the right selection, one must take into account:

• GPM – Auxiliary hydraulic capacity

• PSI – Hydraulic pressure

• ROQ – Rated operating capacity

• Weight of the attachment

• Quick attach capability

• Control system (electrical or hydraulic)

For example, one can see from the published attachment data sheets that the hydraulic needs of a snow attachment may vary a lot, and one must match the hydraulic needs of an attachment with that of the skid steer loader.

Advantages and Limitations of Different Attachments

The choice of attachment will depend more on the use than the capacity of the attachment itself. For instance, the snow blower may be ideal for dealing with heavy snow, but unnecessary for smaller areas where there is only moderate snow.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Snow Attachment

Before making your decision among various types of snow attachments for skid steers, take into account the aspects below.

Snow type and condition

Loose snow can be efficiently removed using a blade or broom. Wet or dense snow might require a pusher or a blower attachment.

Type of surface

Roads and parking lots are usually appropriate for blades, pushers, and brooms. With regard to gravel, you should consider that sharp edges can disturb loose surface particles.

Availability of space

If there is enough space for piling up snow, then the attachment such as blade or pusher will do. In the case when there is no space for snow, you can use a snow blower.

Capacity of the machine

The attachment should be appropriate for the rated operating capacity of the machine.

Hydraulic capacity

It is important to make sure that you use the flow and pressure levels recommended by the manufacturer of the attachment in question, as an attachment requiring higher flow than the machine can produce may not work effectively, and excess flow might damage its hydraulic components.

Job size

A large commercial property may need a higher-capacity pusher or blower, whereas a residential driveway or small area may need a smaller attachment.

Choosing the Suitable Skid Steer Snow Removal Attachments

There is no perfect attachment for all winter purposes.

The snow pusher can be considered a good attachment for rapidly moving huge amounts of snow. If the operation is to move snow over open spaces, a snow blade or plow will offer greater control when working on roads, driveways, and lanes. A snow blower will work perfectly when the purpose is to throw snow off the area being worked on rather than to push it around. A snow bucket will be more efficient when you want to scoop up, transport, and pile snow while an angle broom works well with light snow and surface cleaning.

At times, using two or more attachments will result in the most efficient operation of the task at hand. For instance, in the event where you have used the pusher or blade, an angle broom will be suitable for removing the leftover snow and slush.

Therefore, the most appropriate skid steer snow removal attachments are the ones which match with the hydraulic and operational capacity of the machine, surfaces, snow, and the type of work being done.