Best Types of Heavy Equipment for Snow Removal

Best Types of Heavy Equipment for Snow Removal

When heavy snowfall happens, the whole community relies on snow removal contractors to restore normalcy and safety. Effective snow management keeps roads and sidewalks clear, allowing both drivers and pedestrians to make safe commutes. To effectively remove snow in a timely manner, it's necessary to bring the best heavy equipment for the job. This includes using both top-tier plow attachments and reliable vehicles to push them. Continue reading to learn more about the best types of heavy snow removal equipment that you can utilize.

The Best Types of Snow Plows

Not all snow plows are equally effective. Choosing the best type of snow plow for the job at hand will allow your operators to complete their work with improved efficiency. Two of the best types of snow plows are hydraulic wing plows and snow pushers.

• Hydraulic Wing Plows

If you want to be able to remove snow from roadways and parking lots with maximum efficiency, hydraulic wing plows are the way to go. These plows have adjustable wings on each side of the plow blade that can be reshaped as needed to best fit the surface being plowed. By adjusting the width of a hydraulic wing plow, a larger open space can be cleared of snow more quickly or a narrower residential street can be plowed effectively. Hydraulic wing plows are versatile plow attachments that can be used by various equipment, such as tractors and wheel loaders, to tackle even the most challenging snow management jobs.

• Snow Pusher Plows

When it comes to clearing parking lots and other wide open spaces such as loading docks, snow pusher plows stand unrivaled. These attachments, sometimes known as pusher boxes, excel at pushing large amounts of snow into piles.  A high-quality snow pusher plow can be relied on even for the heaviest snowfalls. Snow pushers are often mounted on heavy equipment like skid steers and wheel loaders to clear large commercial spaces in a short span of time. Because they have plates on the sides of the plow blades to prevent snow from spilling out, snow pushers can clear off a parking lot more efficiently than other plow types.

The Most Reliable Snow Removal Machinery

The heavy machinery on which you mount your snow plow is just as important as the plow itself. Powerful vehicles such as skid steers, tractors, and wheel loaders tend to be the most effective at removing snow efficiently when outfitted with a reliable plow.

• Skid Steers

When you need to remove snow from a narrower commercial space, such as walkways or narrow roads, skid steers are the best machine for the job. These vehicles are compact and highly maneuverable, so operators can get them into tight spaces and turn easily. Outfitted with a state-of-the-art hydraulic wing plow or snow pusher, skid steers can be efficient snow removal machines.

• Wheel Loaders

If you need to clear a parking lot or other large commercial space, a wheel loader is the ideal machinery to use for snow removal. These versatile, heavy-duty machines can clear snow from wide open spaces faster than any other equipment can. When a snow pusher or hydraulic wing plow is attached to a wheel loader, they can make short work of even the heaviest snowfalls. Compact wheel loaders can also be used for effective snow removal in smaller spaces.

• Tractors

Another reliable option for commercial snow removal is to use an agricultural tractor fitted with a snow plow. Tractors come in many sizes and most of them are compatible with various snow plow designs. Because they are designed for usage on rough terrain, tractors are a great option for plowing rural areas that aren't smoothly paved.

How to Choose the Right Snow Removal Equipment

What machinery best suits your snow removal needs will depend on what types of properties you primarily service. If you tend to plow narrower areas such as sidewalks and residential streets, skid steers will best serve your needs. When you need to clear large commercial properties efficiently, you're best off using wheel loaders. If plowing rural areas or places with rough terrain is a priority, tractors may be a better option. It's also worth maintaining a fleet of several types of snow removal equipment to best serve different clients.

As far as snow plows go, it's best to invest in both hydraulic wing plows and snow pusher plows to complete every job reliably. Hydraulic wing plows have the advantage of customizable width, allowing them to adapt to the size of any property. However, for large snow removal jobs where the priority is pushing as much snow as possible in each pass, heavy-duty snow pushers may be your most reliable option.

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