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Snowblowers can succeed, where snow plows have failed. There are times, after the snow has landed, that it is better to attach a snow plow to a skid steer loader to clear the snow.
In other cases, only the skid steer snowblowers will do the trick. Skid steer snowblowers remove the pain and difficulty of removing snow from sidewalks, paths, and other paved areas. Rather than worrying about what to do with piles of snow at the end of sidewalks and parking lots, skid steer snowblowers can throw the snow in the direction that the operator chooses. As a result, the snowblowers operate with some more precision and ease than a plow.
There are several different sizes and configurations of snowblowers, so it is important choose the best one for the most likely snow removal jobs. An operator can try to save money, and get a snowblower that is too small to handle large jobs, like grocery store and mall parking lots. On the other hand, they could buy something that is too large for other projects, and he cannot generate the revenue he needs to pay for the purchase of the equipment.
The smallest that is available at most skid steer loader attachments manufacturers is a 48-inch wide, single motor, normal-flow unit. It will cycle between 8 and 13 gallons of hydraulic fluid per minute (GPM), which, although not the heaviest-duty configuration on the market, will still tackle a formidable amount of snow. It is a nice entry level machine for new snow removal operators.
As the skid steer snowblower increases in size, so does its flow capacity and power option. There are 60-, 72-, 78-, 84-, and even 96-inch wide machines available. In the first four model sizes, the operator can choose a single or dual motor unit, as well as a normal or high flow snow blower. The 96-inc model is only available as a dual motor design, and it comes with a high flow rating between 19 and 34 GPM. Prices vary according to the combination of size and power features.
It may seem that a smaller machine, with fewer features would not work in some conditions. But the opposite appears to be true. All of these snowblowers have the potential to overcome even the heaviest of drifts, tossing the snow 45 feet away.
Users report that even the smallest of these machines is powerful enough to clear crusted snow banks, some up to six feet high. Small blowers are there to simply accommodate smaller skid steer loaders, but they are still powerful. The lower-flow, single motor models can do the job, they just need to take smaller bites to avoid getting clogged, and that takes more time.
So choose the right snowblower, based on size and price that is appropriate to the size of skid steer, the operator's work style, and any budget constraints. Weigh that decision with the value of the time battling the elements, and figure out which of these snowblowers will get the job done, within the least amount of time.
