Snow removal again

bobcatbrian · Feb 10, 2009

Im sorry, im sure this topic get beat to death every year. I am wondering about some descent attachments for moving snow. I do mostly residential driveways, paved and gravel. Maybe some parking lots in the future. I have a S-250KH single speed. I am for sure getting a snow bucket, probably an 84" H&H, but i am wondering who makes a good blade. One that angles, oscillates, and trips. A box pusher would be good, but a blade that had a removable end wing kit would be better, then i would have both. A snow blower would be nice but i cant see spending that kind of money, and it seems like that would be kinda slow. The Quick Attack 84"snow blade looks like an option, does anyone have any experience with it? Does anyone make a v-plow with a wing kit? Thanks for your input.

Earthwerks Unlimited · Feb 13, 2009

Why would you want a plow that oscillates LOL?
Unless you have a lot of front end weight and using a snow plow, you will find the front wants to slide sideways. Having had a V-plow on a truck, having wings on it is redundant. If you're using a snowpusher you'll need a lot of traction too---you can only push the weight of the machine.
I have an old Western 8'-6" plow I bought on Craigslist for $100 and adapted it to my skid steer. Mine is rigidly mounted so that it doesn't trip. Bad idea. I hit a raised piece of concrete at less than walking speed. I hit the cab door window, my neck cracked, I blacked out, and when I came to I found my head jammed under the wiper motor. My neck was out of joint for almost a month. Oh, and mine doesn't float either-- which is great for down pressure but sucks driving down a gravel road at 15 MPH (mine's a two-speed). My original thought was to make the plow usable all year round for pushing dirt, debris, etc. Bad idea. The plow itself just isn't strong enough to withstand the tremendous pushing forces of dirt. In fact, I just glanced it off a driveway drain culvert one time and twisted the blade about 4" out of whack.
I made a similar setup for my buddy for his smaller machine that doesn't trip. Good idea. My buddy's mounts to the inside surface of his heavy grapple bucket via welded-on brackets. It is able to float too. The grapple weight keeps the front end down.

bobcatbrian · Feb 15, 2009

Earthwerks Unlimited said:
Why would you want a plow that oscillates LOL?
Unless you have a lot of front end weight and using a snow plow, you will find the front wants to slide sideways. Having had a V-plow on a truck, having wings on it is redundant. If you're using a snowpusher you'll need a lot of traction too---you can only push the weight of the machine.
I have an old Western 8'-6" plow I bought on Craigslist for $100 and adapted it to my skid steer. Mine is rigidly mounted so that it doesn't trip. Bad idea. I hit a raised piece of concrete at less than walking speed. I hit the cab door window, my neck cracked, I blacked out, and when I came to I found my head jammed under the wiper motor. My neck was out of joint for almost a month. Oh, and mine doesn't float either-- which is great for down pressure but sucks driving down a gravel road at 15 MPH (mine's a two-speed). My original thought was to make the plow usable all year round for pushing dirt, debris, etc. Bad idea. The plow itself just isn't strong enough to withstand the tremendous pushing forces of dirt. In fact, I just glanced it off a driveway drain culvert one time and twisted the blade about 4" out of whack.
I made a similar setup for my buddy for his smaller machine that doesn't trip. Good idea. My buddy's mounts to the inside surface of his heavy grapple bucket via welded-on brackets. It is able to float too. The grapple weight keeps the front end down.

U came to? So what are you saying, dont by a blade or pusher because i might get injured? I like to wear my seat belt when moving snow. I suppose if i was doing only parking lots then no, i wouldnt want it to oscillate. But like i said, i do mostly driveways and since not all driveways are perfectly flat, i think the blade should follow the contour of the ground to prevent unneeded stress on the mounting framework and gouging of the driveway and adjacent sod. Yes i understand that too much oscillation is not good either.

Earthwerks Unlimited · Feb 16, 2009

bobcatbrian said:
U came to? So what are you saying, dont by a blade or pusher because i might get injured? I like to wear my seat belt when moving snow. I suppose if i was doing only parking lots then no, i wouldnt want it to oscillate. But like i said, i do mostly driveways and since not all driveways are perfectly flat, i think the blade should follow the contour of the ground to prevent unneeded stress on the mounting framework and gouging of the driveway and adjacent sod. Yes i understand that too much oscillation is not good either.

I'm saying it's not as cut-and-dry as you might think: so you get a big plow and don't have the weight/traction or HP to push it--now what. Box pushers are not made for going other than straight, and good luck backblading with side wings sticking out. And what kind of snow? My 8,000 lb. machine on steel tracks won't push more than a foot deep of the wet, heavy stuff making windrows 2-1/2' high---but neither would my Cummins Ram. Snow bucket---slow.

skidsteer.ca · Feb 16, 2009

Earthwerks Unlimited said:
I'm saying it's not as cut-and-dry as you might think: so you get a big plow and don't have the weight/traction or HP to push it--now what. Box pushers are not made for going other than straight, and good luck backblading with side wings sticking out. And what kind of snow? My 8,000 lb. machine on steel tracks won't push more than a foot deep of the wet, heavy stuff making windrows 2-1/2' high---but neither would my Cummins Ram. Snow bucket---slow.

It really depends on your snow, if its dry like ours then a blade is great. Wet snow is tougher, I would not trade my 10' Erskine blade for any other snow removal tools. And trip and ocillate are vary important for the reasons mentioned. Blowers rule if deep or driffing snow is what you deal with. Blades are faster in lighter snowfalls and have that important trip edge.
Sometimes the blade tries to steer you, but I don't find it much of a problem. The Erskine/Quick Attach brand blades are as good as any and wing kits are available. Though I madeup my own wing system which Ilike better.
Shoot me a email if you would like a quote.
Ken

sp6x6 · Feb 18, 2009

skidsteer.ca said:
It really depends on your snow, if its dry like ours then a blade is great. Wet snow is tougher, I would not trade my 10' Erskine blade for any other snow removal tools. And trip and ocillate are vary important for the reasons mentioned. Blowers rule if deep or driffing snow is what you deal with. Blades are faster in lighter snowfalls and have that important trip edge.
Sometimes the blade tries to steer you, but I don't find it much of a problem. The Erskine/Quick Attach brand blades are as good as any and wing kits are available. Though I madeup my own wing system which Ilike better.
Shoot me a email if you would like a quote.
Ken

Go to plowsite.com and get some ideas. Move snow is all they do I EASLY RUN A 96" SNOW bucket on my s185 and you have 20 more hp. They make a snow pusher that is segmented and the segments trip, and also will move up over a 9" obstical vertically such as curb stop at full speed ahead.

sparky · Mar 23, 2009

I have a nine foot blade with wings. I can turn the blade side to side.
I put on chains for the winter ; With the A300 I rarely have a problem.
Sparky

Heater77 · Jun 7, 2010

sparky said:
I have a nine foot blade with wings. I can turn the blade side to side.
I put on chains for the winter ; With the A300 I rarely have a problem.
Sparky

Conterra Industries makes the Snow Max Blade out of 3/8" plate with all the features you're looking for in your post. It also has cross over relief in case the leading side of the plow gets hooked. It isn't on their website, but it is similar in construction to their Snow Dozer Blade. For the money, it is the best built Snow Blade in the Industry. Regards

Kermode · Jun 11, 2010

Heater77 said:
Conterra Industries makes the Snow Max Blade out of 3/8" plate with all the features you're looking for in your post. It also has cross over relief in case the leading side of the plow gets hooked. It isn't on their website, but it is similar in construction to their Snow Dozer Blade. For the money, it is the best built Snow Blade in the Industry. Regards

I run a 100" angle plow and a 108" light material bucket on two separate S185's. If you are plowing parking lots then the snow bucket is the way to go. If you are doing a lot of driveways, especially long ones then the angle blade works best. And yes, when you hit something like a raised manhole cover or rock frozen in the ground your cage will get rattled.

Snow removal again

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