Wheel Loaders

If you’re moving large amounts of snow, wheel loaders are a great solution. Although wheel loaders aren’t as compact and maneuverable as smaller alternatives, they can move up to several feet of snow with ease. Wheel loaders have great reach and the position of the operator cabin provides excellent visibility.

Not only are wheel loaders powerful, they’re highly versatile. They can be fitted with a range of attachments, including snow plows, snow buckets, snow blades and snow blowers. Their productivity and versatility make them an ideal solution for snow removal on streets or at airports, stadiums and mines. 

Pros: high capacity, versatile, good traction, comfortable operator cab.

Cons: expensive to operate, large footprint, high fuel consumption. 

Skid Steers

If you need to remove snow in a cramped setting, such as in a parking lot or between buildings, then skid steers are a worthy option. Their small footprint and tight turning radius make them easy to maneuver, which comes in handy if you’re working in a confined area.

Like loaders, skid steers can be fitted with a range of attachments to make them more efficient at snow removal. Common attachments used with skid steers to remove snow include snow blades and snow buckets. Wheeled skid steers tend to perform better in snowy conditions.

Pros: highly maneuverable, variety of attachments available, good visibility, quick attachment changes.

Cons: limited capacity, slower snow removal, operators are exposed to the elements.

Backhoe Loaders

If you need to dig through deep snowfall and haul large amounts of snow into a pile, then backhoe loaders are an efficient alternative. Backhoe loaders feature a bucket on the front of the machine and a backhoe on the back. This makes it very simple to switch between digging through snowfall and plowing it.

Pros: dual functionality, stable, easy to operate.

Cons: limited attachments, slower than other options, not very maneuverable.

Utility Vehicles

For plowing and removing snow in challenging terrain, like farmland or wooded areas, utility vehicles tend to be more effective than the alternatives. Utility vehicles are specially designed for off-roading and they commonly feature all-wheel-drive, special tires and nimble suspension systems.

Utility vehicles can be fitted with snow blades that make plowing a simple task. However, utility vehicles come in a wide range of sizes and not all models are equally capable. If you plan on moving large amounts of snow or heavier/wetter snow, you’ll need a larger model.

Pros: cost effective, small footprint, versatile.

Cons: limited capacity, operators are exposed to the elements.

Telehandlers

Recently, telehandlers have been gaining popularity for use in snow removal. These machines are speedy and highly maneuverable, moving around the work area quickly.

In addition to their dexterity, telehandlers have the unique ability to pile snow into tall piles/stacks. Whereas other machines are capable of simply pushing gathered snow into the base of a snow pile, a telehandler's high reach means it can place gathered snow on top of the snow pile.

Pros: high reach, versatile, stable.

Cons: higher cost, limited capacity, more training required.

Tractors

In many cases, tractors are the ideal machine for snow removal. Tractors have impressive ground speed, which makes them more productive than slower options. They also have great fuel efficiency and can be fitted with useful attachments like snow blades or snowblowers.

Pros: cost-effective, suitable for large areas, fast.

Cons: limited snow plowing, slower than other options, operators are exposed to the elements.