Winter is a double-edged sword for many contractors, who don’t necessarily enjoy the harsh weather, but welcome the chance to keep generating revenue in the off-season by providing snow-removal services. As such, equipment that delivers maximum productivity, reliability and durability - and is easy to use and maintain - are important allies against snow, sleet and ice.
These winter brutes will help by turning your pickup truck, skid-steer or loader into a mean, revenue-producing, winter-fightin’ machine that’ll make short work of snowdrifts and ice. Whether it’s time to replace old equipment or expand and diversify your business by providing a profitable new service for customers, these cutting-edge plows and sand/salt spreaders are ready to keep the elements at bay.
Fisher HT Series
Designed to accommodate a trend toward reduced vehicle weight, the HT Series snowplow from Fisher Engineering, a division of Douglas Dynamics of Milwaukee, is a perfect fit for half-ton, four-wheel drive pickup trucks. Made for commercial and institutional use as well as for homeowners, this full-size plow boasts a 75-degree angle and a scrape-lock feature that hydraulically locks down the blade, both of which boost scraping and back-dragging capability. Other features include a 15-1/2-inch curl radius for increased snow-rolling action; vertical compression trip springs; added blade-core strength and stability, thanks to six vertical ribs and a full-length horizontal tube; a Minute Mount 2 on/off system; and a covered hydraulic system for protection from harsh winter elements. The blade weighs 414 pounds and measures 7 feet, 6 inches wide and 27 inches high, with a plowing width of 6 feet, 7 inches. www.fisherplows.com.
THE BOSS Poly Power-V XT
The extra weight of snow that sticks to a snowplow decreases gas mileage and increases wear-and-tear on vehicle drivetrains. That’s why Northern Star Industries Inc. of Iron Mountain, Mich., designed the Poly Power-V XT with a slick poly surface that sheds snow easily. Available in two models under The Boss Snowplow brand - one that’s 8 feet, 2 inches wide and the other at 9 feet, 2 inches - the multi-position plow, by company estimates, works 30 percent faster than traditional straight-blade plows. It features a 37-inch flared blade wing to maximize snow discharge; high-performance cutting edges; synchronized blade movement with full-blade trip design; the SmartHitch 2 attachment system and handheld control; an enclosed hydraulic package; and SmartLight 2, engineered with reflector optics and dual-bulb illumination for better visibility. 800/286-4155; www.bossplow.com.
Wausau Everest Snogo LR-44
Sized for loaders with 4-cubic-yard capacities or more, the Snogo LR-44 snow blower from Wausau Everest LP of New Berlin, Wis., employs a two-stage, helical ribbon blower capable of moving 2,000 to 2,800 tons of snow per hour (depending on snow conditions and engine horsepower). Also available in a truck-mounted configuration, the TR-44, the LR-44 weighs 12,800 pounds and offers a cutting width of 112 inches and a maximum casting distance of 175 feet. Both the ribbon and the impeller fan measure 44 inches in diameter. The ribbon features smooth as well as optional serrated flighting, designed for harder-packed, icier snow. The operator controls all functions hydraulically from the cab, and the reel and impeller are shear-bolt protected. Four diesel engine options are available: Caterpillar 385- or 415-hp units or Cummins 325- or 350-hp models. A quick-detach hitch rounds out the package. 262/784-6066; www.wausau-everest.com.
SnowEx V-Maxx 9300
The V-Maxx 9300 V-box-style spreader from SnowEx, a product division of TrynEx International based in Warren, Mich., is aimed at contractors who want to improve productivity through a larger-capacity spreader without the need to buy a larger vehicle. The 3-cubic-yard capacity spreader fits on 1-ton dump-bed and flatbed trucks and features a patented, multi-angle hopper with a built-in, inverted “V” baffle configuration. It also sports an attached vibrator to reduce clumping and promote continuous material flow, whether it’s sand, salt or a combination of both. The spinner assembly includes an extended drop chute, which more accurately disperses material closer to the ground. Operators can minimize waste, thanks to cab-mounted controls allowing independent adjustment of spinner and auger speed; spread width is variable from 10 to 40 feet. In addition, the hopper is made of lightweight corrosion-resistant polyethylene, which makes for easier installation and removal, boosts gas mileage and increases vehicle payload capacity. 800/725-8377; www.snowexproducts.com.
SnowKage skid-steer box
The easy-to-attach SnowKage box from Kage Innovation LLC in Scandia, Minn., combines the best features of a skid-steer plow and a snow pusher. By providing increased snow-removal volume (an 8-foot SnowKage can push 6 cubic yards of snow), the SnowKage boosts productivity, as well as minimizes the creation of frustrating windrows. The unit allows operators to use only an angle plow where it’s most effective, then use the boom movement to hook on the box in three to five seconds, without leaving the cab. Unlike fixed snow pushers, the SnowKage still operates like a plow when it’s attached, so operators can angle plow, follow pavement contours and maintain an operating trip-edge mechanism. The box fits on 6-, 8-, 9- and 10-foot-wide plows, made by either Kage, BOSS or Falls (made by Little Falls Machine Inc. in Little Falls, Minn.) and are designed for skid-steers that weigh at least 5,000 pounds. A powder-coat finish improves durability, and replaceable side panels make repairs affordable. 651/433-4628; www.kageinnovation.com.
Hiniker 9000 Series V-Plow
Obstacles such as curbs and parking barriers are no problem for the 9000 Series V-Plow from Hiniker Co., based in Mankato, Minn., which features a 9-inch-high trip-edge pivot point. In addition, the two high-clearance trip-edges operate independently, which decreases stress and twisting torque on the plow. The plow comes in two models: the 9850, with a blade width of 8-1/2 feet and weight of 798 pounds, and the 9950, which is 9-1/2 feet wide and weighs 826 pounds. V-position cutting widths are 93-1/2 and 104 inches, respectively. The dent- and corrosion-free, polyethylene moldboard is 30 inches high, with optional rubber or polyethylene snow deflectors available. Other features include replaceable, steel cutting edges; a compact, hand-held joystick with full controls; two quad halogen headlights; and pitch-adjustment system that keeps the blade level for maximum cleaning efficiency. 800/433-5620; www.hiniker.com.
Western Tornado
The Tornado contractor-grade hopper spreader from Western Products, a division of Douglass Dynamics of Milwaukee, features durable, one-piece poly construction, an adjustable feed gate and dual electric motors. The feed gate allows operators to regulate material flow to exact specifications, and the dual electric motors - one powers the conveyor and the other drives the spinner - provide independent control of both for optimal snow and ice removal. Another highlight is a steel pintle chain conveyor, located inside a stainless steel housing, which provides strength and reliability and promotes consistent material flow. The spreader is available in body side lengths of seven and eight feet. Capacities range from 1.5 to 1.8 to 2.5 cubic yards, with corresponding hopper weights of 591, 660 and 734 pounds, respectively. The spread widths range from two to 40 feet. www.westernplows.com.
Blizzard 9000HD
The heavy-duty, straight-blade Blizzard 9000HD snow plow features a flared moldboard that’s taller at the ends, which rolls snow farther ahead and throws it off farther to the side, promoting better gas mileage and reduced wear-and-tear. Made by Blizzard Snowplows, a division of Douglass Dynamics of Milwaukee, the plow is designed for 3/4- and one-ton, 4 x 4 pickup trucks. The blade weighs 718 pounds and measures 9 feet wide and 31 inches tall, with a full-angle plow width of 8 feet, 1 inch. Other features include a full-trip moldboard design with heavy-duty coil springs; A-frame construction; a solid welded, 1/4-inch-thick moldboard with six reinforcement ribs; enclosed, low-mounted hydraulic components; and a baked-on, powder-coat finish for added durability. www.blizzardplows.com.
