While gearing up for the winter season, you may find that last year’s snow removal equipment is no longer in the best condition to get the job done. On the other hand, if this is your first time purchasing such equipment, take the time to fully understand the options at your disposal. Some types of equipment might be better suited to your needs than others. Take a look at what each snow removal attachment has to offer before making your selection.

Which Snow Removal Attachments Do I Need?

Depending on where you are going to remove snow, how much snow you are going to move, and how quickly you need to get the job done will factor into which attachment will work best for you. Here are your options:

Snow Blower Attachments

Snow blower attachments such as Land Pride’s SB10 and SB15 are ideal for residential areas. They work well to clear snow from parking lots, driveways, and sidewalks. The SB10 offers accessories that allow drivers more ease with which to adjust their equipment during the plowing process, while the SB15’s larger design can cover more ground faster. If your crew will mostly service residential areas, snow blower attachments may be the preferable option for you.

Snow Pusher Attachments

Snow pushers are designed to push snow forward along the road rather than disperse it along the curb. They do not create windrows or tear up the pavement and have adjustable skid shoes. Due to their bulky size, they are difficult to steer around parked vehicles or other potential barriers. They can be inconvenient to transport; however, if you need to use the pusher at a separate job site, the SSP15 and SSP25 both use the Quick-Attach plate.

Snow Plow Attachments

There are three different types of snow plow attachments to choose from.

Straight Plows

The most simplistic of the plow options, straight plows work well to clear large lots. Straight plows have simple controls to keep the job quick and easy. This attachment is also less pricey than others. Due to its simplistic design, it is best to direct each clearing pass in the direction where you want to pile the snow.

V-Plows

V-plow are effective for a variety of projects and are highly recommended for crews working several locations. The V-shape of the blade breaks through packed snow and ice, which makes the V-plow perfect for tough-to-plow areas. Unlike snow pushers, V-plows can easily move around barriers such as parking islands. V-plows are popular and more expensive than their alternatives, so you’ll need to determine if the jobs are worth the cost of this equipment.

Box/Containment Plows

Box/containment plows are snow pushers. These plows move a lot of snow at one time, more than other options, containing the snow within the attachment as they move while preventing windrows or the need for extra passes to clean up leftover snow and slush. These are best utilized in parking lots, as they are capable of stacking snow. The large piles of snow you see in mall parking lots are likely thanks to a box/containment plow.

Snow Trip Blades

Trip blades protect your plow from extensive damage due to road obstacles. With all the snow piled on the pavement, there is no way to predict what types of objects might be hiding beneath. Whether your trip blade has a full trip or a trip edge function, having some sort of trip mechanism will keep your equipment in shape for more than one season. The STB10 trip blades are built for tractor loaders and include skid shoes.

Not all snow plows work in every location. While some removal attachments are more versatile than others, extra capabilities mean a higher price. Choosing the right attachment for your equipment means knowing the types of sites where you will be moving snow. There is little need to spend a hefty sum on a V-plow if your work is mostly in residential areas where a snow blower would suffice. Likewise, be careful not to underestimate the extent of your job and end up wearing out your equipment after one season. You want the right equipment to last winters to come.