Owners and operators of skid steers and mini skid steers know that, powerful as these machines are, much of their utility comes from their compatibility with specialized attachments that are engineered to manage a specific task.
There are skidsteer attachments that are useful for farmers and agricultural workers, attachments for wildland clearing and management, and attachments for road crews.
And, as it is later in the year, and seasonally relevant, there are several specialized skidsteer attachments for clearing snow. Let’s take a look at some of the most practical of these.
Bucket Attachments
Bucket attachments may be more specialized for moving earth and landscaping materials, or for grading, but they can also be highly useful for clearing snow.
These are the sorts of attachments you’d want to have if you were tasked with clearing deep snow drifts from large open spaces, such as parking lots, if you had no other options.
But, for snow-clearing applications, forego the tooth bar. What you want is something like a snow bucket, which will have a wide edge and a larger volume, making it more practical for managing large snow loads.
Snow Blowers
There are also snowblower skidsteer attachments, which are actually just what they sound like. These are hydraulically driven snowblowers that, just like standalone units, clear and throw snow free of rights of way.
Some, like those produced by Spartan Equipment, are compatible with (and easily attach to) most major skid steer loader makes and models, and can throw snow as far as 75 feet.
Snow Pushers/Dozer Blades
Snow pushers and specialized snow dozer blades are, for many snow clearing applications, more practical than skid steer bucket attachments.
While these attachments are not specialized to lift or load, when it comes to moving a large volume of snow, and to condensing it into a mound or pile, dozer blades or snow pusher attachments are the best ones.
Many are made with replaceable skid shoes and bottom trip edge springs, as well as with softer, replaceable rubber cutting edges that are easier and safer to use on paved surfaces without causing damage.
Spreader Attachments
While spreader attachments for a skid steer won’t help with clearing snow, they can be useful for an equally practical application: applying salt and sand.
Many road-clearing and municipal crews apply sand for traction after clearing snow, or preemptively apply salt to help discourage snow from sticking.
Skidsteer spreaders might be designed for spreading feed and seed, but many can also be used to distribute sand, salt, and other such materials.
Angle Brooms
Angle brooms aren’t the best options in skid steer attachments for clearing snow, but in a pinch, they’ll make short work of a light dusting, earning them a place on this list.
The Industry’s Toughest Skidsteer Attachments
Interested in learning more about the industry’s toughest skidsteer attachments, which will Never Surrender?
Visit Spartan Equipment. They produce a wide range of attachments offered for many different jobs, and pride themselves on their compatibility with most major makes and models of skid steers.
Moreover, all of their heavy-duty attachments are made in the United States, with American steel, and many are covered with generous warranties.
For more information on their catalog of attachments, which includes pallet forks, brush cutters, trenchers, scrapers, grapple buckets and more, visit their website or get in touch with their customer service at 1-888-888-1085.
