Tractors are becoming more and more popular as additional attachments are introduced to the market, including snowplows. Contractors are finding a ton of benefits to using tractors for snow removal and are even switching over generous portions of their fleet from truck to tractor use.

Why Should You Take Advantage of Using a Tractor Plow

It’s no secret that tractors are ideal for plowing and can stand up to the wear and tear that is required. Here’s another ten reasons why snow and ice contractors prefer tractor plows.

#1 – It’s Fun to Drive

Work hard, play harder with a tractor plow. Haven’t you always wanted to jump into a big tractor to move some snow around? Driving a tractor almost feels like driving a toy, it’s way more fun than driving a truck. It takes you outside of your norm and makes it feel way less like work.

#2 – Easy to Operate

A tractor is incredibly easy to learn how to operate, tons of beginners start on a tractor. Since there are less buttons and controls, you just need to know how to move forward and backward along with raising and lowering the plow.

#3 – Proven Efficiency

Making the switch to a tractor can drastically improve your efficiency. A single tractor—depending on size—has capabilities that can replace the amount of work done by 3-4 trucks combined. Tractors are also more fuel efficient and have more fuel tank capacity, so you’ll make less trips to the gas station and be able to complete more jobs and save valuable time.

#4 – Increased Visibility

All around your visibility is going to be better with a tractor. You sit higher and have giant windows, in comparison to a truck. You can see all your surroundings, including each blade edge and any obstacles that may be in the way.

#5 – Stacking Capabilities

A tractor is higher off the ground than a truck with a much better vantage point, this gives you more options when stacking snow. You can pile higher, take up less room, and avoid having to relocate snow during the season. This will save you time and allow you to become more efficient.

Note: Skid-steers, like the STORM BOXX™ pusher plow have incredible stacking abilities too, allowing you to put a skid-steer to work in many different situations.

#6 – Versatile Attachments & Applications

There are endless possibilities to a tractor. This is a piece of equipment that you will be able to utilize all year round with different attachments. Haul, mow, and clear land in the summer, and then add a plow to remove snow in the winter.

You can also push, pile, and lift snow in a variety of different ways, the incredible turn radius can even get around curbs and hard to reach obstacles. “Crab” steering or “quad” steering is a tractor feature that allows you to easily back away from curbs, all four tires can turn away, unlike a truck that can be harder to maneuver out of tight spaces.

Tractors are also fantastic for gravel surfaces and will create less ruts when turning compared to a skid-steer. The float ability reduces the chance of scraping too heavy or damaging surfaces.

Note: Tractor attachments are typically less expensive than skid-steer attachments.

#7 – Availability & Cost to Acquire a Tractor

Trucks are becoming increasingly difficult to find, however acquiring a tractor is a bit easier. There are many different sizes of tractors out there, you can choose the best fit for you and the work at hand.

Compact tractors can be great for sidewalk work and parking lots where drivers need to get around corners and hard to reach obstacles frequently. Big, specialty tractors are intended to push and haul large amounts of snow with minimal passes. While utility tractors are the perfect middle ground for anything in-between. Each type of tractor has intended plows to fit that application.

Note: Skid-steers are another great option when looking outside of work truck equipment, they have very similar benefits to plowing with a tractor. If you do not want to commit to owning a skid-steer and tractor, leasing options are available.

#8 – Easy Installation for Snow & Ice Equipment

Once you have acquired the desired vehicle, you will need to mount your snow and ice equipment.

Easily install the FISHER® tractor mount kits onto a wide range of tractor models. The universal tractor mount is compatible with FISHER straight blades (TRAILBLAZER™ Heavy-Duty, HD2™ and HDX™), v-plows (TRAILBLAZER™ Heavy-Duty, XtremeV™ and XV2™), winged plows (XLS™), or pusher plows (STORM BOXX™ with TRACE™ Edge Technology) Because of the high vantage point you get from a tractor cab it is extremely easy to drive into the mount and attach your plow.

Will it fit my tractor?

Use eMatch to find which FISHER plow will fit your vehicles unique specifications.

#9 – Dependable & Reliable

A tractors sole purpose is to push, haul, and lift and are built to withstand brute force. Trucks are made to drive, transport, and haul with limitations on the amount of snow and weight it can handle. Which makes plowing with a tractor a no-brainer. It’s the type of work it was designed for. The lifespan of a tractor is going to be longer than a truck with less repairs and maintenance required due to minimal gears and components. In addition, when tractors are used year-round, they are always ready to go without needing to take it in and out of storage.

#10 – Lighting & Nighttime Use

Due to The Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations, trucks are limited on what they can and cannot do with their vehicle lighting because it is intended to drive on roadways and must be “street legal”. On the other hand, tractors are not held to the same limitations. With a FISHER lighting harness kit, you will have the ability to add additional lighting. Plus, the vantage point in a tractor literally lights up the entire work area. Your nighttime visibility is going to be incredible. It will be like daylight out there!

Buying Decisions to Consider

You can choose to buy, lease, or rent tractors—it just comes down to what makes the most sense for your business and what is available. Most contractors choose to leave the larger tractors on site and service nearby locations, otherwise you can haul it in between job sites, especially if it’s a smaller, compact tractor.

Think a tractor may be the next addition to your fleet? Visit the FISHER Dealer Locator to check availability and pricing on tractor plows near you.

Interested in learning more about box plows or skid-steers plows? Check out these articles:

• 5 Points to Consider Before Adding a Box Plow to Your Winter Fleet
• Business Logistics & Maintenance for Skid-Steer Plows

Skid-steers aren’t just versatile in design and performance, they can also adapt to various business needs. If you think a skid-steer will help with your snow removal contracts, here’s a few business logistics to consider while keeping profitability and efficiency in mind.

How to Decide Between Buying a Skid-Steer Vs. Renting/Leasing One

It’s no secret that owning a skid-steer is an investment. Depending on the type and size of your business, renting can be a suitable option if needed for part-time use. Companies using a skid-steer all year long may determine there are more benefits and financial gains to owning the equipment. Keep in mind that you’ll also need a trailer to transport your skid-steer if using it on multiple job sites.

Advantages to Buying:

• It will always be available when you need it and configured to your needs. You can ensure that the unit is equipped with high-flow hydraulics, heat, enclosed cab, etc.
• A permanent addition to your snow and ice fleet can really open the doors to new business opportunities that may not have been achievable before.
• The productivity and capabilities you gain all winter long ensure you no longer need to turn down work due to inadequate capacity or lack of versatility.
• Rental costs can add up quickly, especially when factoring in insurance.
• Financing is typically available with consistent monthly payments. Used equipment can also be a viable option that greatly reduces the overall cost although full payment is expected up front.

Benefits to Renting:

• Up-front costs, like down payments, are eliminated. You are only responsible for the rental fee.
• It can be delivered straight to your job site, which is extremely convenient if you don’t own a capable trailer and are planning to keep it on one property throughout the season.
• Equipment breakdowns and maintenance are at at a minimum since the rental company takes care of the equipment long term. If you do run into a breakdown, they usually provide you a replacement. If you own, your company would have to pay for the parts and labor to fix it, plus experience the downtime.
• Easily take on a new client that requires specialty equipment not currently in your fleet.
• After a long winter with heavy storms that leave your properties buried, a skid-steer is useful for a short period of time to stack the snow higher than your typical plow truck can achieve. You can even use it to load and transport the snow offsite if needed.
• Equipment rentals allow you to expand or shrink your winter service fleets based on annual contracts.
• You don’t have to worry about off-season storage because you’ll return the equipment at the end of the rental contract, which can be short-term or long-term.

Rent to Own:

Still not sure if you should rent or buy? Then leasing might be right for you. At the end of the leasing term, you can weigh the business pros and cons and decide if you’re ready to acquire the equipment and grow your business long term. During the lease, you can even rent other attachments and see how easy it is to turn your skid-steer into a multi-purpose machine.

When to Trailer Your Skid-Steer Vs. Storing It Onsite

It’s common to see skid-steer plows stored at strip malls, grocery stores, and large commercial lots that need frequent upkeep during the winter. Maintaining safety for customers and reducing liability risk is crucial for these types of properties.

Hauling Equipment With a Trailer: Although you may need to race back and forth between accounts, it’s great to be able to take care of multiple properties with the same machine. It’s also under your supervision at all times rather than leaving it somewhere and worrying about accidental damage while you’re away.

Storing Equipment Onsite: This is the most common approach due to the time-consuming nature of loading and uploading equipment. If you can afford to dedicate a winter setup to one facility, then it can reduce a lot of headache and inefficiencies. Employees can drive to the site and keep the machine working in shifts. Make sure there’s a place to plug in your equipment, especially in cold temperatures, but keep jumper cables on hand just in case.

Maintaining Your Skid-Steer Plow & Spreader Throughout the Season

The longevity of your equipment is based on the completion of routine maintenance. Making time to inspect your skid-steer before and after each job ensures efficiency, increases productivity, and extends the life of your skid-steer. Whether you purchase a skid-steer or rent one, both require seasonal and daily maintenance per manufacturer guidelines.

• Check your equipment over top to bottom. Look at all moving parts, track tension, tire pressure, attachments, hoses and fittings, and measure all fluids to ensure it meets quality standards.
• Use FISHER^® FREEZE GUARD^™GREASE on bearings, hinges, and pivot bolts to protect moving components in frigid conditions. Grease bushings and pins to reduce wear on pivot points.
• Use engine oil made for low temperatures and change out filters at recommended intervals.
• Change the timing belt to prevent bent push rods and monitor the drive belt, replace before deep grooves form or it starts to crack.
• Let your skid-steer warm up before you start plowing so the coolant and hydraulic oil reaches the appropriate temperatures.
• Try not to let it sit idle for too long in the cold weather and if possible, store it in a well-protected area when it’s not in use.

Tip: Add anti-gel additive in the fuel after each plow, before shutting the equipment down to reduce condensation in the tank.

Don’t forget to catch up on the benefits and techniques of skid-steer plowing:

Put Your Skid-Steer to Work this Winter With a Straight Blade or Winged Plow

Go big with snow removal and get the equipment that’s going to get the job done all season long. The award-winning  STORM BOXX™pusher plows with TRACE edge technology move massive amounts of snow, so you can get more jobs done faster and better.

Transition your skid-steer from part-time to full-time by attaching a snow plow to your lineup this winter. Skid-steer plows offer many advantages during winter storm cleanup, here are just a few.

Easy Skid-Steer Maneuverability Improves Plowing Efficiency

Although a skid-steer is a little slower than a truck, the added gains in maneuverability make it hard to compete against. Skid-steers have zero-turn capabilities and can easily spin around without needing much room and can plow in both directions, making it extremely efficient. Unlike a plow truck that is great for long passes, but needs to reverse in order to make the next pass.  A skid-steer can also quickly clear snow in tight spaces or high traffic areas that a truck wouldn’t be able to access.

Stack Snow Higher With Skid-Steer Boom Arms

Unlike truck plows that can only stack snow a little higher than the blade—a skid-steer can stack snow way higher, making this an ideal addition to your fleet. The skid-steer boom arms rise up much higher than the plow typically goes to improve accessibility at gas stations or apartment complexes where there’s often not a ton of space to pile the snow.

Increased Versatility for Year-Round Cleanup

Plow attachments allow skid-steers to work all year round. The STORM BOXX™, XRS^™, HDX^™, and HD2^™ skid-steer snow plows from FISHER^® offer fast and easy hook up, adding versatility to your snow-clearing arsenal. FISHER’s design uses the skid-steer loader bucket hydraulics to lift and lower the blade for a more intuitive operator experience.  Skid-steers can travel over different surfaces and terrain quickly to clear snow from sidewalks, backdrag snow away from buildings, and quickly maneuver through cars in busy parking lots like big box retail stores and hospitals.

When there’s nowhere else for the snow to go, a skid-steer can easily switch to the loader bucket to lift and load snow for offsite transportation. This can be a huge benefit for the Snow Belt states with heavy storms that leave residential properties and businesses buried.

The XRS^™, a Winged Plow Designed for Skid-Steer Use

An adjustable-wing plow maximizes your capabilities and enables you to move snow faster, especially on larger job sites. FISHER designed the XRS for versatility and simplicity, essentially getting three blades in one (straight blade, scoop, and windrow) to make it even more adaptable for various applications. Since the wings automatically adjust for their intended use (whether windrow, scoop, or pinning the wings back for straight blade configuration), the XRS gives a user hinged blade efficiency with straight blade ease of use.  The controls are simple up/down, left/right so skid-steer native hydraulics run the plow with no additional hookups needed.

Added Down Pressure Creates a Cleaner Scrape

A truck relies on the plow weight for down pressure whereas a skid-steer has the weight of the plow, plus the front of the machine to help give an incredibly clean scrape. This can be great for hard pack or backdragging when you need more friction and force to get the job done.

Wheels Versus Tracks for Snow Removal

Although wheeled skid-steers are more popular, it all comes down to which one has the best traction for snow removal. Tracks are usually recommended if summer use justifies the cost of ownership, otherwise you can purchase a separate snow-specific track just for winter use. A skid-steer track has thicker rubber and tread patterns meant for icy, slippery surfaces that get maximum traction when moving snow.

Make your winter storm cleanup more efficient by adding a skid-steer plow to your current lineup. A simple attachment can quickly turn your skid-steer into a winter work horse. Visit the FISHER dealer locator to find out more about skid-steer plow availability from your local dealer.

Go big with snow removal and get the equipment that’s going to get the job done all season long. The award-winning STORM BOXX™ pusher plows with TRACE edge technology move massive amounts of snow, so you can get more jobs done faster and better.

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Business Logistics & Maintenance for Skid-Steer Plows