Snow Pushers vs. Angle Plows

When the days get shorter and colder, snow and ice usually aren't far behind. Making plans for the approaching weather and ensuring you have the best plow for snow removal are essential steps for reducing downtime this winter. You can save time and money on this process by learning the difference between angle snowplows and snow pushers and selecting the best machine for your property or project.

While snow pushers and angle plows both effectively remove snow, each design has its pros and cons. This guide will examine what the two tools are and how you can choose the right piece of equipment for your unique situation.

Snow Pushers

A snow pusher — also known as a box plow or containment box — is an attachment for skid steers, wheel loaders, tractors or backhoes that moves snow by pushing it straight forward. This heavy-duty piece of equipment features an enclosed design consisting of a curved moldboard and a sidewall at either end.

Snow pushers come in various sizes and designs, and the one that works best for you depends on your location and the amount of snow you need to move. Large snow pushers for tractors and wheel loaders can measure up to 30 feet long and 4 feet tall, while smaller models for skid steers can be as small as 6 feet long by 30 inches high.

Angle Plows

Angle plows are attachments for efficiently moving snow off of paved surfaces. While a snow pusher moves snow straight forward and dumps it in one location, angle plows allow you to push snow to one side for continuous plowing. Angle plows also have back dragging capabilities so you can move snow away from doors and other obstacles.

Using angle plows for snow removal on roads is popular in both urban and rural settings. This plow design allows snow removal trucks to clear long stretches of road so that traffic can resume as quickly as possible.

Snow Pushers vs. Plows: Pros and Cons

While you can use a snow pusher or an angle plow to accomplish the job of removing snow, the two designs excel in different situations. Let's take a look at the pros and cons of the snow pusher and angle plow to examine which machine might best suit your requirements.

Snow Pushers

Snow pushers work best for stacking snow in high piles away from a parking lot or work site. Although this feature is helpful in numerous situations, there are pros and cons to the snow pusher.

The pros include:

• Snow containment: A snow pusher is the best machine for moving large amounts of snow and containing it in high piles. If you need to clear a parking lot or storage facility, a snow pusher can move the most cubic yards per push.
• Simple construction: Because snow pushers have a simple construction with no moving parts, you're unlikely to encounter mechanical, electrical or hydraulic failure when you're out on the job.

The cons include:

• Poor scraping capabilities: The rubber edge on a snow pusher means that you can't scrape the plowing surface effectively. Most operators find themselves scraping an area twice, using extra salt or switching to a steel-edged pusher.
• Inefficiency: Because you can only push snow in one direction, operators spend about half of their time reversing the machine to push another section of snow toward their pile. Snow pushers can also overfill and create windrows that the operator needs to go back and clean up.
• Limited back dragging: Because snow pushers have fixed side plates, back dragging is ineffective without a pull-back accessory.
• Low visibility: Snow pusher attachments sit close to the machine, making it difficult for operators to see the ends of the pusher.

Angle Plows

Angle plows are ideal for removing snow from streets and other paved surfaces, but there are also pros and cons to consider.

The pros of angle plows are:

• Efficiency: The design of the angle plow allows an operator to keep the tool's cutting edge on the ground to move snow almost continuously, letting you minimize downtime. Angle plows also create fewer windrows, which means you can save time on cleanup.
• Excellent scraping capabilities: The plow's steel cutting edge scrapes the pavement entirely in one pass, so you can avoid scraping twice or adding extra salt.
• Back dragging: Angle plows are ideal for back dragging because they allow operators to get close to garage doors, curbs and other obstacles.
• High visibility: The angle plow attachment sits further away from the machine, allowing the operator to see the edges of the plow.

The cons include:

• Snow containment: Because the angle plows don't have sidewalls, they can only contain snow in a straight push by using accessories.
• More complex construction: Although angle plows are relatively simple attachments, they have more moving parts than snow pushers and require more maintenance.

Tips for Choosing the Right Snow Removal Equipment

Now that you know the pros and cons of snow pushers and angle plows, you can make an informed decision on which snow removal tool is best for your application.

Most people choose snow pushers when they:

• Move snow from between buildings and need the maximum amount of snow containment.
• Prefer the simplicity and low maintenance requirements of an attachment with no moving parts.
• Want a more affordable machine.
• Can't windrow snow to the sides.
• Remove snow from areas that don't require back dragging.

On the other hand, you might prefer an angle plow if you:

• Remove snow from open spaces and can plow in both directions.
• Don't require snow containment.
• Need to maneuver around structures with back dragging.
• Require excellent scraping on the first pass.
• Prefer better visibility when removing snow.

How Cleveland Brothers Can Help

At Cleveland Brothers, we have over 70 years of experience providing industry professionals with the highest-quality used construction equipment and machinery and new tools, accessories and heavy-duty machines. What's more, our extensive inventory of rentals includes site support equipment, heavy machinery, power systems and attachments. If you need a snow removal solution, we can help you get it.

We're committed to providing you with the best solutions to your project needs. Get in touch with us today to request more information or ask questions. Our team is on hand to help.