Winter Snow Removal Attachments - Snow Plow, Snow Bucket or Brushes?

In short: A snow plow is suited to quickly pushing snow aside off a road, a snow bucket to collecting snow and hauling it away, and brushes to removing a light layer of snow and slush from a hard surface. For the most part they work together rather than as replacements for one another.

Snow plow - for quickly pushing snow

• Use: clearing snow from roads, yards and parking lots, when the snow doesn't need to be collected, just pushed aside.
• V-plow: suited to larger amounts of snow, since it splits the snow to both sides at once in front of the plow.
• Advantage: fast and efficient at clearing large areas, good for the first pass after heavy snowfall.

Snow bucket - for collecting and hauling

• Use: collecting snow in one place or loading it straight onto a truck, when snow can't simply be pushed aside, for example on a narrow street.
• Advantage: better suited to situations where snow needs to be stored or moved, not just pushed.
• Use on a loader: if the machine also does other loading work, some standard loading buckets are suitable for moving snow, although a dedicated snow bucket is often more practical for this.

Brushes - for light snow and slush

• Use: removing a thin layer of snow, slush or ice dust from a hard-surfaced area, where a plow can't get the surface clean enough.
• Advantage: leaves the surface cleaner than a plow, since the brush reaches the surface even on uneven ground.
• Limitation: not suited to removing large amounts of snow, since a brush can't push deep snow, only sweep over it.

How to combine attachments

After heavy snowfall, it's common to first use a snow plow to clear the bulk of the snow quickly, and then, if needed, a brush to finish the surface, especially where a non-slip surface needs to be visible, for example in parking lots and on sidewalks. If snow needs to be moved elsewhere in bulk, a snow bucket is added too.

What to consider when choosing an attachment

• Machine type and mount: the mount type determines which plows and brushes fit, exactly as with other attachments.
• Size of the area to maintain: for large areas, a wider plow is preferable; for small and narrow areas, a more compact solution.
• Surface type: asphalt and paved surfaces handle a brush well, while on gravel roads it's worth being more careful with a plow so as not to damage the surface.

Tell us what surface you maintain and how large the area is, and we'll recommend a suitable snow removal solution. You can also browse all our attachments or get in touch via our contact page.