Skid Steer Snow Pusher vs. Snow Blower: How to Choose the Best Attachment for Commercial Plowing
In commercial property maintenance, market competition is fundamental to profitability. Particularly when winter storms hit, it makes sense to work efficiently. In this context, the right selection of snow removal equipment can create a situation when a parking lot is cleared fast or, on the contrary, there are delays, losses, and the trust of clients is at risk. Skid steers, being perhaps the most versatile machines of any fleet, offer the debate of the two main pieces of equipment: Skid Steer Snow Pusher and Skid Steer Snow Blower.
Both attachments are capable of bringing benefits to the table, which greatly depend, however, on the job site conditions, the volume of snow, and the type of finishing required. At skidsteerloader.online, we recognize that choosing the right industrial machinery goes beyond safety and efficiency to also include returns on investment. Similar to how you wouldn’t misuse a lift at a height, the wrong snow attachment shouldn’t be used for your plowing contract either.
It is always advisable to look far beyond the sticker price and think about the operational consequences for a long time when it comes to Skid Steer Snow Pusher vs. Snow Blower. As one of the main points of a snow pusher is that it retains the outmost simplicity and speed in moving large volumes of snow on open ground, thus it has been a choice of shopping mall and distribution center owners. Instead, the snow Blower, with the accuracy it brings and the unique capability of completely removing snow from the area, is the imperative of sites with limited storage space. You will be able to pick the right piece of equipment after getting familiar with the working principles, hydraulic requirements, and maintenance profiles of the snow pusher and snow Blower.
Decoding the Skid Steer Snow Pusher
The snow pusher, or box plow, is a snow-moving device with a set of two closed sides whose main purpose is rapid bulk moving snow with minimum spillage from a points A to B.
It is different from an angled plow which windrows snow to the side as a pusher has its closed sides that trap snow in front of the moldboard letting the machine transport bigger loads in one pass.
This makes the snow pusher the undisputed champion of large, open spaces where pace matters a lot. The structure of a snow pusher is generally built strong and it has fewer moving parts than a typical plow which means that there are fewer breakdowns, thus lower maintenance costs and less downtime.
The snow pusher, however, has its limites. It is a great spot for snow bulk, but when snow has to be stacked high or the heavy snow load might be too much for a machine to get a grip, a snow pusher will faces difficulties.
Besides, the operators also need to consider the surface because even if a lot of pushers are coming with rubber or polyurethane cutting edges for pavement protection, they do less scraping on hard ice than a steel-edged angle blade.
On top of that, since snow is contained, the skid steer needs to have the power and traction to pull itself forward against the increasing snow weight.
- High-Volume Containment: Inside the box, snow is prevented from spilling off the sides that is why on every pass one can get significantly bigger piles as compared to standard blades.
- Low-Maintenance Design: Pushers are known to have no motors, hydraulics, or a plethora of complex moving parts (except for standard models), so breakdowns during major storms are quite rare.
- Surface Protection: Besides protecting surfaces, the rubber edges on many commercial pushers also allow them to glide over obstacles.
Dissecting the Skid Steer Snow Blower
The skid steer snow Blower puts the snow removal purpose on a different level by using hydraulically powered systems to actively “eat up” the snow and “throw” it away from the clearing path.
An auger is the unit that breaks the snow thus facilitating the operation of another one – the impeller – that pushes the snow through a directional chute.
The major benefit of this piece of equipment is in snow placement. It is clear that a pusher needs a place to dump the pile whereas, a snow Blower can throw the snow over a fence, into a truck, or far into a forest without leaving any huge piles that use up parking space.
Therefore, the snow Blower is a must-have for an urban environment or the commercial lot where every square meter of land is a luxury.
However, the snow Blower, albeit powerful, by nature comes with a considerably high level of demand on the machine and the operator alike. A standard skid steer is usually a good match with snow pushers while a snow Blower call for a skid steer with high-flows hydraulics to run smoothly, especially in the case of wet, heavy snow.
In the complexity of the attachment are the different components such as motors, hoses, augers, and chutes, all of which can be potential failure points if not properly maintained.
Moreover, since the snow blowing operation is generally slower than pushing one, the machine has to move at a speed which allows the auger to process the material efficiently without clogging or stalling the hydraulic system.
- Better Snow Placement: Snow can be blown as far as 30 to 40 feet turning towards and thus an area can be completely cleared without having to leave large snow piles that will melt and then freeze again.
- Cutting Through Corners: As Blizzard-Busters, Snow Blowers can easily go through streets and driveways where a pusher would be at a loss.
- Hydraulic Dependency: A skid steer’s hydraulic flow rate (GPM) directly influences performance, thus a standard-flow machine might not be able to perform commercial-grade blowing tasks effectively.
Comparative Analysis: Efficiency and Cost
Choosing between a Skid Steer Snow Pusher vs. Snow Blower for a work site depending mainly on the factors of either speeding up the operations or optimizing the space should be clear enough. Pusher will be the obvious answer for a lighter snowfall and a flat surface. This is because the operator can be made to clear the pavement really fast as he drives at a high speed. Later, when the snow gets deeper and heavier, the snow Blower can be relied on to keep the throughput steady while the pusher might just be losing traction. Another point that matters a lot when making a choice is the cost. The difference can be traced back to the fact the pusher is a passive tool, basically, a steel box, therefore, cheaper to buy and maintain while a snow Blower is an active hydraulic tool and its price might be three to four times that of a pusher and, likely, it will also have higher maintenance costs.
| Feature | Skid Steer Snow Pusher | Skid Steer Snow Blower |
| Primary Function | Relocating bulk snow by pushing | Removing snow by throwing/casting |
| Speed (Light Snow) | Very High | Moderate to Low |
| Snow Storage | Requires space for piles | Can throw over fences/obstacles |
| Maintenance | Low (Wear shoes, edges) | High (Auger, motors, hydraulics) |
| Initial Cost | Low to Moderate | High |
| Hydraulic Needs | None (unless wings are hydraulic) | High-Flow Recommended |
| Best Terrain | Large, open parking lots | Tight spaces, driveways, deep drifts |
Commercial Decision Making Key Factors
When deciding on which attachment to buy and – by the way – this is a significant investment, it is advisable to look firstly at the commercial contracts’ specific needs. A snow pusher would be the best choice if your contracts were mainly the large retail centers or industrial parks with the ample perimeter space to store the snow.
Besides, a pusher will allow you to operate rapidly, so you will be able to increase the number of serviced properties within a given time frame. However, a snow Blower is a must-have, if you provide a high-density residential complexes, medical facilities, and city lots where piling snow is a liability (like blocking the hem of one’s eyesight) type of service.
Besides, what you already own in machinery is a great factor to consider. Almost any skid steer can be used to operate a snow pusher, so long as the machine’s weight and tire traction are sufficient to move the load.
However, a snow Blower is a high-level of demand. Should your fleet be composed of older or standard-flow skid steers, the use of a high-performance snow Blower would either be impossible or inefficient, and frustration would result along with poor performance. Always check the GPM and PSI of your loader before you buy a hydraulic snow attachment.
- Site Constraints: Decide whether or not the snow is to be piled in the designated areas, otherwise, you will need a snow Blower to scatter the snow.
- Machine Compatibility: Knowing the hydraulic flow of your skid steer is essential; almost mandatory for high-flow machines to operate commercial snow blowing service.
- Snow Consistency: Pushers work best in relatively dry and light snow or slush, whereas snow Blowers are capable of breaking the frozen snow banks and the deep, wind-blown drifts.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – Skid Steer Snow Pusher vs. Snow Blower
Which one is faster for large parking lots, a snow pusher or a snow Blower?
The clear choice for a large open parking lot would be a snow pusher as, with it the operator can move a large space of snow in one pass thus at a high travelling speed. The reason why snow Blowers are slower is that the vehicle has to move at the speed that the auger can process the snow.
Do I have to install high-flow hydraulics for a skid steer snow Blower?
Yes, that is generally the case. There are snow Blowers that are standard-flow ones but they can only be used for commercial applications and wet snow at the most, as they are usually underpowered. If the machinery is equipped with high-flow hydraulics, it will have sufficient power to throw the snow a long distance and the auger will not get jammed, thus heavy snowstorms will no longer be a problem for operating getting done efficiently.
Will a snow pusher ruin the pavement or decorative concrete?
This relies on the cutting edge. If your pushing device has steel edges, they will most likely scratch or gouge the softer surfaces. So, for the case of decorative concrete or sensitive pavement, a pusher with a rubber or polyurethane cutting edge is the most highly sought after option to both avoid damages and clear snow efficiently.
Which is the better tool for wet, heavy snow?
In general, snow pushers should be used for wet, heavy slush as long as the skid steer has a good grip on the ground. snow Blowers can have problems with wet snow (“heart attack snow” as it is frequently called) because the chute may be clogged and, consequently, immense hydraulic power is needed to throw the snow effectively.
Can a snow pusher stack snow high?
Standard snow pusher is not meant for high stacking. It does push snow into a pile, but the efficiency drops once the pile is as high as the pusher. For stacking, it is better to use either a snow bucket or a specially designed stacking snow pusher (which has a pullback feature), whereas a snow Blower will just blow the snow over the existing piles.
What are the maintenance cost differences between the two?
Snow pusher comes with much less costly maintenance. The major fraction of maintenance involves wear of shoes and cutting edge which need to be replaced from time to time, whereas with a snow Blower important components like hydraulic motors, hoses, bearings, chains, and augers are to be maintained adding up to higher servicing costs of this type of equipment in the long run.
Is it reasonable to spend the extra money on snow Blower when commercial plowing is the case?
It makes sense if your contracts are those where space is very limited. If there is no room on the property to pile the snow, then a snow Blower will save you from having to transport the snow away by simply throwing it into non-critical areas. With a normal lot that has plenty of space, the cost-effectiveness of a pusher is usually better.
Final Share – Skid Steer Snow Pusher vs. Snow Blower
At the heart of the Skid Steer Snow Pusher vs. Snow Blower debate lies not a question about the superiority of a tool in isolation but rather about their correct usage in the context of the application. Snow pusher is an absolutely unbeatable speed and bulk-bulk clearing, simple tool and it can be viewed as the industry’s workhorse. Snow Blower, on the other hand, is all about precision and has the problem-solving capabilities for deep drifts or sites with zero storage space. It is quite common among the successful commercial contractors to have both pushers for the main event and snow Blowers for the detail and cleanup in their fleets. You can tread confidently in the winter with a profitable business if you carefully appraise your contracts, terrain, and machine specs.
