Winter weather can create dangerous conditions on roads and other surfaces, which is why snow removal is such an important industry. Heavy equipment plays a critical role in this process, and the use of hydraulic wing plows is becoming increasingly popular. Here are a few reasons why hydraulic wing plows and heavy equipment are the future of the snow industry.
Firstly, hydraulic wing plows are highly effective at removing snow and ice from roads and other surfaces. These plows are designed to attach to heavy equipment like front-end loaders and tractors, and they can clear large swaths of snow in a single pass. With their ability to adjust to different angles and positions, hydraulic wing plows are highly versatile and can handle a wide range of snow removal tasks.
In addition to their effectiveness, hydraulic wing plows are also more efficient than traditional snow plows. They can cover larger areas in less time, reducing labor costs and increasing productivity. This is especially important for contractors and other organizations responsible for clearing large amounts of snow and ice from roads, parking lots, and other surfaces.
Another advantage of hydraulic wing plows is their durability. These plows are built to withstand the heavy use and harsh conditions of winter weather, which means they require less maintenance and have a longer lifespan compared to other types of plows. This can save money in the long run, as there is less need to replace equipment or perform expensive repairs.
Perhaps most importantly, hydraulic wing plows and heavy equipment are the future of the snow industry because they can improve safety. By clearing roads and other surfaces quickly and efficiently, they can reduce the risk of accidents caused by snow and ice buildup. This is especially important in areas with heavy snowfall or where driving conditions can become hazardous.
In conclusion, the snow industry is constantly evolving, and the use of hydraulic wing plows and heavy equipment is becoming increasingly important. These tools are highly effective, efficient, durable, and safe, making them the clear choice for snow removal professionals. As technology continues to advance, you can expect to see even more innovative solutions for snow removal that will further improve safety and efficiency from Storm Equipment.
]]>Here's an example of what you will find.
If you ordered a plow from Storm (formerly the Metal Pless division of Voigt Smith Innovation) in past years and would like to add these stickers to your plow please reach out to us and we will send them to you. Even if you bought your plow from another dealer or factory direct, don’t hesitate to reach out via phone or email with a list of plow models you have and we can send stickers for you to make future parts ordering more simple and accurate!
If you know the exact model of your plow, you can find the parts page for it on our Metal Pless Parts Page.
At Storm Equipment we are all about making your plow purchasing and ownership experience as easy and productive as possible. Check out our website for more great information, tips, and the largest selection of Metal Pless plows and parts in the USA!
While the hydraulic wing plow is very efficient and versatile, it can take a few storms for a less experienced operator to master the proper scrape angle, setup, and most efficient use of the wings for maximum productivity. Often what we will see with a less experienced operator on a hydraulic wing plow is they will run them with the wings straight ahead, like a conventional push box until they get more comfortable running the plow.
The LiveBoxx is very straightforward. Just like any other box plow, you set it on the ground in the right position and go. The LiveBoxx with the LiveEdge technology is still going to give you all of the benefits with reducing salt usage, carbide edges for long wear life, and shoes which bear the weight of the plow and can be easily replaced when worn out.
On a LiveBoxx, without the moving wings, there isn’t much that could go wrong with the plow during a storm. While the Metal Pless hydraulic wing plow design is the most bullet proof on the market, some owners and operators can grow concerned about failures of hydraulic lines or other moving parts. The LiveBoxx can be a good alternative to alleviate those concerns.
So while you don’t have the same versatility and efficiency of the wing plow, the ease of operation is a reason to consider a LiveBoxx as an option for your next plow.
Since the LiveBoxx is such a simple plow it is also a lot cheaper to purchase than a wing plow. The LiveBoxx doesn’t have any hydraulics, electrical, or as many replaceable parts as a wing plow which means you save money on initial cost of the plow as well as long term maintenance costs. With the patented carbide LiveEdge edges you are going to get years of life out of your edges before they need to be replaced. The nice thing about the LiveBoxx is outside of edges and shoes, which are your wear parts, there isn’t much else to worry about with these plows
Once you have a plow with the proper set of hooks for the equipment that you run ,you are able to swap a LiveBoxx between machines very easily. Again when you don’t have the hydraulics and electrical needs for the plow they can swap instantly. This makes it a perfect plow for someone that might be leasing/renting the machine short term.
This ease of transition between machines makes it ideal in some situations. Use the following link to see what hooks are available to get your LiveBoxx ready for use. https://stormeq.com/collections/plow-mounting-hooks
Depending on how your sites are set up as well as other equipment on the sites with you, the LiveBoxx might be your best option while again still getting the LiveEdge scrape that is so desired. If you plan to have other machines cutting out curb lines, back dragging and windrowing snow for you and you just need something to push and stack up piles, a LiveBoxx may be the most cost effective option.
If you have a site with other hydraulic wing plows on it and just need a back and forth work pile stacking workhorse, check out a LiveBoxx.
Keep it simple, the box pusher will always have a role in the snow industry depending on site layout and setup, so if it's the right fit for your situation, get the box with the best and longest lasting scrape in the industry.
So while the LiveBoxx isn’t going to give you the same versatility and increased efficiency of the wing plow, there is still a long list of ways it can be beneficial to your fleet. The box does not have any of the learning curve to get the operator up to speed. The Live Edge edges with the carbide inserts are going to give you years of use before replacing keeping your cost down as well as give you the ability to cut your salt use in half. The lack of hydraulics and electrical make it great for swapping machines or if you are leasing/renting machines you can put them on any machine easily. The LiveBoxx might also just make more sense for your situation depending on your sites and setup. Give us a call today or check out the link https://stormeq.com/pages/liveboxx-options to learn more about how the LiveBoxx might be the best plow for you to Push Through the Storm.
Phone: 507.740.1746
Email: Sales@StormEQ.com
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First off, you can use our plow model matcher for general guidelines, the link for that can be found by clicking here.
Metal Pless plows can be broken down into 4 distinct categories indicated by moldboard height as broken down below. There are many factors that go into selecting the right size plow for your machine including climate type (will you be plowing 2” of snow at a time or 6”+?), snow tires vs. standard (this makes a HUGE difference), skill level of operator, average length of pushes, and more. The great news is that at Storm Equipment, we are experienced and are here to help! Below are some general guidelines and explanations to the different plow sizes that Metal Pless offers:
27” PlowMaxx and AgriMaxx Lite- These plows are considered to be in the “lite” category. In addition to the shorter moldboards these plows have lighter gauge steel where possible to keep weight to a minimum without sacrificing durability. Whether a PlowMaxx or an AgriMaxx these lite edition plows are going to be best suited to skid steers up to 10,000 lbs or compact tractors up to 7000 lbs. This moldboard height also works well on the Bobcat Toolcat series as well. Another benefit to this size plow on a skid steer is that the visibility will be better due to the shorter moldboard.
30” PlowMaxx and AgriMaxx Series- Metal Pless plows with 30” moldboards are our highest volume sellers in the Metal Pless lineup. This is due to their great versatility to run on a machine as small as an 8000 lb skid steer or tractor and machines as large as 14,000 lb compact wheel loaders or ag tractors.
These are more heavily built than the 27” models and thus weigh substantially more. Heavier A-frames, heavier trip springs and wing shoes, and larger cylinders are what add to the overall weight.
One of the secrets with the 30” series of Live Edge plows is that they are actually very comparable in height to the 36” series and have the same build quality. This has made the 0830-13 LE our most popular seller for the past 4 seasons as it offers a great balance of performance and value. The 0830-13 LE pairs well with loaders such as the Cat 906, Case 221, John Deere 304 and tractors such as the Kubota M5 series and John Deere 5R series.
36” PlowMaxx and Agrimaxx Series- The 36” line of PlowMaxx and AgriMaxx plows cover a wide range of machine sizes from 12,000 lb compact loaders and tractors up to 20,000 lb machines. The “build” (thickness of steel, cylinders, springs etc..) of the 36” series is comparable to the 30” series, they simply add more height to the moldboard and more moldboard and wing length configurations.
The most popular size in this lineup is the 1036-16 for both the PlowMaxx and AgriMaxx series. These work very well on popular compact loaders such as Cat 908, Case 321, John Deere 324 and popular tractors such as the Kubota M6 series and John Deere 6R series.
The 36” PlowMaxx series is typically going to be equipped with a skid steer plate but JRB and other hook options are available as an upgrade.
42” PlowMaxx and AgriMaxx Series- The 42” line of PlowMaxx and AgriMaxx plows step up another level in “build” from the 36” series which is easily reflected by the fact that comparable size 42” weighs 30% more than its 36” counterpart.
Another distinguishing factor from the 36” PlowMaxx to the 42” PlowMaxx series is that a 42” series must be run with some type of hooks or coupler instead of a Skid Steer Quick Attach plate like the 30” and 36” PlowMaxx series utilize.
The 42” line is versatile in that you can run it on a machine as small as 14,000 lbs and a machine as large as 25,000 lbs (though we will typically suggest looking at a MaxxPro for any machine over 20,000 lbs).
Our most popular model in this series is the 1042-18 LE, this works great on loaders such as a Cat 910, John Deere 344, Volvo L45 and popular tractors such as Kubota 7M series, John Deere 7R Series and Case Puma.
MaxxPro (48”) series- The MaxxPro is Metal Pless’ signature plow line. The heaviest built and largest plows on the market ranging from 18’ all the way up to 60’ widths and custom order moldboard heights up to 60”.
These MaxxPro plows work great on machines 18,000 lbs and up.
Our most popular models in this series include the 1048-22 LE, 1248-24 LE and the signature 1248-28 LE Van Wing (hinged fold down wing allows the operator to clear under van trailer kingpins at distribution centers). These models work great on a range of loaders, some of the most common ones we see are: Cat 926, Case 621, John Deere 544, Volvo L70 and Komatsu WA320.
LiveBoxx Series- LiveBoxxes come in 4 unique moldboard heights but in general have far less options than the hydraulic wing plow models. Similarly to the PlowMaxx series the moldboard height is much more indicative of the machine size requirements than the width of the box.
The 32” models work great on skid steers and compact loaders up to 14,000 lbs. The 36” model is good for compact loaders 12,000-15,000 lbs. The 42” models cover a wide range of machine sizes from 14,000 to 30,000 lbs. And finally the 48” series is akin to the MaxxPro in that it has the heaviest build for machines over 25,000 lbs.
Don’t let all of the options intimidate you. At the end of the day its typically very easy to pinpoint the options for your machine and situation down to 1 or 2 models. At that point it may just be up to budget or personal preference. Give us a call or send us a message today and we would love to help!
See our contact information below.
Phone: 507.740.1746
Email: sales@stormEQ.com
]]>Storm Equipment is a spinoff of the Metal Pless Sales/Service division of Voigt Smith Innovation (VSI).
VSI began selling Metal Pless snow plows and parts in 2017 and quickly became the largest distributor and supporter of the brand in the USA. Fast forward to 2022 and the VSI Metal Pless division grew so large that we have formed a dedicated business just to support our Metal Pless customers.
Why Should You Care?
Being an independent entity gives us the opportunity to better serve our customers and grow in the right direction. We are offering a unique service that hasn't been available in the United States.
Some of Storm’s benefits and uniques include:
At Storm Equipment we work very closely with Metal Pless to ensure we can offer our customers factory level service here in the USA! Give us a call today to join Team Storm and let us prove it to you!
]]>One of the topics that seem to be discussed the most in the Team Storm community is when to replace cutting edges and shoes on your plow. Below we are going to cover some of that information as well as some things to consider when that time comes.
Live Edge Cutting Edge
On all LiveEdge cutting edges, whether it's on a hydraulic wing plow or LiveBoxx, the wear mark can be found by the small notches or "brands" located near the bottom of the edge. The notch indicates how far the carbide inserts go into the edge. Once you go past this mark, the rest of the edge is going to wear quite quickly. If you are ever wondering if the carbide is still there, safely lift the plow to a working position and inspect the bottom of the edge looking for the carbide rods. In this case it is best to wear them out completely before replacing, these edges wear extremely well/slow and would be inefficient to replace them prematurely.
Standard and HD Cutting Edge
The cutting edges on the standard and HD models are made of CHT400 steel, while it wears fairly well you will still see it wear quicker than the LiveEdge. You can see the wear marks in the picture above. When you get to those marks on the standard edge it is time to get them replaced. If you go much further than that you will start wearing on parts that can’t easily be replaced.
Abrasion Shoe Replacement
The general rule of thumb with abrasion shoes is that as long as the shoes are scraping and functioning as desired you don’t need to replace them.
On the standard shoe you should keep an eye on how they are wearing with the plowing that you are doing. If it seems to be fairly even, you are doing a good job of keeping the plow level correctly with how you have your wings positioned. If it is wearing unevenly you can use the leaf spring to adjust them so that the pressure is more even across the shoe.
With the AgriMaxx and PlowMaxx Lite plows, again, the rule of thumb is until you notice it's not scraping the way it should, or you start getting close to wearing on parts other than the shoe, keep using them as is.
When it comes to the HD shoes it will again depend on how well they are functioning. As long as you aren’t doing more damage to other parts of the plow, keep using them. There is no need to replace sooner than you need to.
On the LiveEdge shoes, they have the carbide inserts, so make sure to run them as long as possible. You might eventually notice some uneven wear to the point that some snow might be left between the shoes and the moldboard edges. If it starts to become an issue, you may need to consider replacing, but make sure your operator sees what is happening to help correct it in the future.
Many questions on the LiveEdge shoe have been about the “doubler” piece added to the bottom of the shoe. This piece is just extra metal to help absorb the abrasion and replacement time for the shoes. It's sacrificial and as long as there is enough hardware to hold it on, do not replace it. The doubler should not be replaced without replacing the entire shoe at the same time. Again, even if the doubler has to come off, as long as you have good carbide in the shoe keep running it until you notice it's not scraping as it should.
Other Notes
My advice to anyone is to get a spare set of edges and shoes for each Metal Pless plow you have sitting on the shelf for when that time comes. We all have heard and experienced some of the stories about shipping, lead times, etc. that may present themselves. I wouldn’t want to get to a point where my plow is not usable with the next storm coming and no way of getting parts in time. Get them ordered and on the shelf.
Also, assume you are going to need new hardware whenever you replace anything on your plow. Between rust and getting beat up from use, there is a very high likelihood it will not survive. Get the bolts you need from your local hardware source and have them ready as well. A lot of the hardware is interchangeable somewhere across plows regardless of size and model.
Order today. At some point in your plow’s life you are going to replace shoes and edges. Ordering today will give you peace of mind that they are on the shelf when you need them and the cost of parts are only going up. Buy today so you can save money when they are needed. If you don’t use them, the next guy to buy your plow will. Make them part of the deal.
When ordering shoes and edges make sure you know the model of plow that you have, the width of the moldboard, and the length of the shoes. These will make the process painless. Also realize that some have a defined left and right side which will be important when ordering. Storm Equipment’s website is set up to make this very easy and convenient if you know what you need. Please visit their parts page at: https://stormeq.com/pages/common-parts . You can also contact us at 507.740.1746 and we will gladly help you.
Conclusion
So for the most part, when it comes to replacing shoes and edges, the best practice is to wait as long as possible to replace them with replacement parts on your shelf. Your operator knows your plow better than anyone. If he thinks it's not performing as it should, take a look at the shoes and edges and address them if they appear to be an issue. The shoes and edges are designed to be worn down. With the cost of new ones be sure to wait as long as possible to replace them. My suggestion is to order them now and have them on the shelf so when the time comes to replace them you are ready to Push Through the Storm.
In summary, YES, Metal Pless plows are expensive, but they will pay for themselves very quickly and many times over. There is a reason that over 90% of first time buyers become repeat buyers and convert over entire fleets to Metal Pless hydraulic wing plows and LiveBoxxes.
You may be wondering, “If these plows are so great, why aren’t more people running them?”. The simple answer is that Metal Pless is very new to the USA market and they are just now starting to gain momentum. A great indicator of product success is the rate of repeat and referred buyers. We are proud to say that over 75% of our sales at Storm Equipment are repeat and referred customers. Want to see for yourself? Contact us today and we would love to chat more about it. We can also provide a long list of referrals to our customer’s who will confirm that Metal Pless has been a game changer for them and that they don’t ever plan to buy a different brand or type of snow plow.
Click Here to see a YouTube of these Metal Pless snow pushers in action!