This time of year, a lot of the calls we get come down to one question: can this loader push snow for me this winter, and what do I need to put on it?

Here's how we walk people through it.

Start with the pusher, not the loader

Most snow calls really come down to the box. The loader is the easy part. The pusher is where people get stuck, because there are a lot of them and a lot of them look the same.

We don't keep pushers stacked in the yard anymore. We're a dealer for Pro-Tech and Daniels, and we can also get simple, basic units through another distributor. That gives us a range from a no-frills box with a steel edge up to a heavier, top-line unit. The basic box can run about a third of the price of the top one. Both push snow. The question is how hard you're going to use it and for how long.

A few things we ask every time:

1. Ten foot or twelve foot? Those are the two sizes most of our customers land on. Wider isn't always better. It has to fit the lot, the drive lanes, and the gate. 2. How tall? For most of the work we see, around a 30-inch-tall box is plenty. We don't usually recommend going much higher than that. 3. Basic or heavy-duty? Most people who call us want a basic box with a steel edge, and that does the job for a lot of lots. If you're pushing all night, every storm, it may be worth stepping up. 4. Have you measured? Go out to the site, measure the lanes and the openings, and then pick the box. Everybody's lot is different, so there's no single "best seller" that fits everyone.

Don't forget the adapters

This is the part people miss on a quote. Whichever pusher you pick, you're going to need the right adapters to hang it on the loader. If you already own skid steer attachments, adapters are also how you get those working on the loader instead of buying everything twice.

We'd rather sort this out on the estimate than on delivery day. If you tell us what you already own, we'll tell you what it takes to make it fit.

Hydraulic plows

We don't have hydraulic plows in stock right now. We work with Pro-Tech and other American-made manufacturers, so if that's what you're after, send us the specs and what you need it to do, and we'll look at the options with you.

Rent for the season, or own it?

We get asked this a lot: "Do you have a lease program for snow, or do you just sell them?"

We don't rent machines out for the season. What we have is a long-term lease, 48 or 60 months, with a buyout at the end, so the machine is yours when you're done. Only a few places rent loaders for snow season and take them back in the spring. Most people we talk to would rather end up owning the machine.

Here's why that usually makes sense:

  • You can use it after the snow melts. A lot of our customers plow with their loader all winter and then run it in a mulch yard, a stone yard, or on landscaping jobs the rest of the year. A rental goes back right when the spring work starts.
  • You keep the equity. When the lease is done, you own a machine you can keep working or sell.
  • There may be a tax benefit. Buying equipment can come with a write-off, including possibly Section 179. Talk to your accountant about your situation. We're not going to give you tax advice.

If you're a commercial maintenance or landscaping company, that's exactly the case where owning beats renting. You have a real use for the machine in every season, not just three months.

One more thing for snow guys

If you're going to be in the seat at 3 in the morning, ask about the cab. Our 930 HD comes with a diesel cab heater. It's worth knowing what you're getting before the first storm, not during it.

Before you call

If you can tell us:

  • what you're pushing (lot size, lanes, curbs),
  • the box size you're thinking about,
  • and what attachments you already own,

we can usually put together the whole package in one conversation: loader, pusher, adapters, and the lease numbers. Then you're ready before the first snow, not scrambling after it.

— Evan Goldberg, Damstrong