Getting ready for winter is essential to keeping your team efficient in clearing snow for local communities and businesses. By following these key tips, you can ensure your equipment and crew are fully prepared to tackle whatever the season brings.
Snow removal isn’t something you start the moment the first snowfall hits—it requires planning well in advance. Before winter arrives, it’s essential to get your skid-steer loader and attachments prepped for peak performance. Having a solid strategy in place ensures that when the snow starts accumulating, your equipment is ready to tackle the job efficiently. Whether you’re working solo or overseeing a fleet, the right attachments can transform your skid-steer into a powerful snow-clearing machine capable of handling anything from light dustings to heavy accumulations.
Get Your Equipment Ready for Winter Operations
As the busy snow removal season approaches, it’s crucial for operators handling both residential and commercial properties to thoroughly inspect their equipment during the fall. This ensures any necessary repairs are completed before the first snowfall. Here are some helpful tips to consider when preparing your tools:
Perform a Full Equipment Check
It’s important to inspect not just your skid-steer loader but also your attachments. These tools play a significant role in snow removal, and neglecting them can cause issues later. Carefully examine all components of your skid-steer and attachments—such as hoses, cylinders, guards, cutting blades, and edges—for signs of wear or damage. Focus particularly on the parts that make contact with the ground to ensure everything is in top shape before use.
Some attachments require checking fluid levels and lubrication. Test each attachment by connecting it, building up pressure, and verifying it operates properly. Doing so helps identify any issues with components that may have changed while idle and ensures that everything is in proper working order. Taking the time to make necessary repairs or replacements now can prevent unnecessary disruptions when winter weather hits.
Stock Up on Spare Parts and Equipment
To avoid disruptions during snow removal, many contractors proactively stock up on spare parts and equipment. This helps ensure they’re ready to tackle any unforeseen mechanical issues, especially in the middle of a heavy snowstorm. Having a supply of readily available parts allows you and your team to stay on track and meet deadlines, even under challenging conditions. Using Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) parts guarantees optimal compatibility, reliability, and durability, ultimately enhancing your equipment’s performance and reducing the likelihood of breakdowns or malfunctions.
Continue Monitoring Your Equipment Throughout the Winter
Now that winter is in full swing, you’ve already prepared your equipment for snow removal. However, don’t neglect regular inspections just because you’re ready to go. Snow removal is demanding on both the crew and equipment, so it’s important to keep up with checks throughout the season. Here’s a checklist to follow to ensure your skid-steer loader and attachments perform reliably throughout the colder months:
Ensure Equipment is Ready for Each Day
As winter progresses, your inspections should become more frequent. Cold temperatures can impact the viscosity of your engine and hydraulic oils, as well as the fuel grade required for optimal performance. Additionally, tire treads and air pressure can be affected by the freezing conditions, which may reduce your skid-steer loader’s ability to lift and push. Always check tire pressure and fill to the recommended psi listed in your operation and maintenance manual. Don’t forget to ensure features like cab heating, defrosting, and vehicle lights are in working order to maintain comfort and effectiveness for your team.
End-of-Day Equipment Inspection
The harsh winter weather can take a heavy toll on your skid-steer loader and its attachments. To prevent any issues from affecting your work, make it a habit to inspect your equipment for wear and damage at the end of each shift. This proactive approach allows you to catch and address problems before they interfere with the next day’s tasks.
Stay Informed for Optimal Performance
We are dedicated to providing high-quality equipment designed to tackle your toughest jobs. To make the most of these versatile machines, it’s important to stay informed: understand your tools, the snow conditions, and the jobsite.
Understand the Tools
A range of attachments are available to help you manage snow and ice across various surfaces. Commonly used tools during winter include snow blades, snowblowers, angle brooms, and spreaders. These attachments are built to handle different snow conditions—whether you’re pushing large drifts, blowing snow out of the way, or dealing with ice. Skid-steer loaders equipped with these versatile attachments make snow removal much faster and more efficient.
Know the Snow
Not all snow behaves the same way. The type of snow you’re dealing with—light, heavy, packed, or deep—will influence the best attachment to use and the level of power required. For light snow, an angle broom is ideal for clearing without damaging surfaces. For tough, compacted snow and ice, a scraper attachment will help break it up. When facing wet, heavy snow, a v-blade is perfect for plowing through drifts. To reduce slippery conditions, a spreader attachment makes applying salt and sand quick and easy.
Maximize Efficiency with Multiple Attachments
Using a variety of attachments at each jobsite offers significant benefits. With a team, one operator can use a skid-steer loader equipped with a snow blade to efficiently plow through snow drifts, while another operator can utilize a snow bucket or snow pusher to transport, dump, or move snow to different areas.
Understand the Jobsite
Just like snow, the demands of each jobsite can differ significantly. Before winter sets in, snow removal contractors should take the time to survey their sites, identifying and marking potential obstacles or hazards. Additionally, assigning operators to specific locations each season allows them to become familiar with these hazards, helping them avoid damage to both properties and equipment.
Versatile Snow Removal Attachments for Any Surface
Snow removal attachments offer flexibility, allowing you to choose the best tool for the job based on the surface you’re working with. A snowblower attachment is ideal for clearing driveways and sidewalks, efficiently removing snow and moving it away from these areas. While smooth, flat surfaces are preferred, they’re not always the reality. For uneven terrain, a snow pusher attachment is a great option, enabling you to clear snow without causing damage to paving stones, decorative concrete, or sloped sidewalks.
Snow removal can be a tough task, challenging both operators and equipment. However, with proper preparation, regular maintenance, and the right attachments, you can ensure a smooth and successful winter season.
