Complete Snow Removal Setup for Skid Steers

Most Canadian contractors running snow removal with a skid steer think they need one attachment. What they actually need is three — each doing a distinct part of the job. Here's how a complete, efficient snow removal setup comes together.

Whether you're running commercial lots in Winnipeg, clearing residential driveways in the GTA, or maintaining a farm yard on the prairies, a skid steer is one of the most efficient tools for snow work. The challenge is that no single attachment does the whole job. A pusher handles volume but can't windrow clean. A blade moves snow but can't contain a full lot's worth. A broom sweeps but can't push heavy accumulations. Used together in the right order, these three tools cover every scenario.

Timing matters too. Snow equipment sells out early. Dealers in Alberta and Saskatchewan often see pusher inventory thin out by mid-October. If you're reading this in August or September, you're in the right window to shop. If it's already November, expect premium pricing and limited selection on the sizes that actually fit your machine.

Attachments You'll Need

1. Snow Pusher — The Primary Tool

A snow pusher is the workhorse of any skid steer snow setup. It uses containment wings to hold snow as you push, which dramatically reduces how many passes you need on a large lot. Unlike a straight blade, snow doesn't spill around the ends. Most pushers work on standard hydraulic flow — no high-flow requirement — which means they'll run on virtually any skid steer.

Sizing: match your pusher width to your machine's rated operating capacity, not just its horsepower. A general rule is 1 foot of pusher per 1,000 lbs ROC. An 8,000 lb machine handles a 8–10 ft pusher well. Going wider creates tip risk on heavy, wet snow.

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2. Snow Blade — Windrow Cleanup and Piling

A snow blade angles, which means you can windrow snow to the edge of a lot or pile it without making repeated back-and-forth passes. It's the right tool for moving snow along a perimeter, clearing a lane, or repositioning a pile that's getting in the way of traffic. Most blades also lift higher than pushers, useful for throwing snow over a berm.

Hydraulic angling requires auxiliary hydraulic hookup. Confirm your machine has aux hydraulics before ordering an angle blade — most modern skid steers do, but older units occasionally don't.

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3. Angle Broom — Final Sweep

After the pusher and blade are done, there's always a residual layer — wet snow, slush, or ice granules pressed to the pavement. An angle broom handles this final pass efficiently. It also excels on textured surfaces (brick pavers, aggregate concrete) where a steel cutting edge would skip. Spring cleanup of sand and debris after the snow season is a bonus use case.

Most brooms need standard aux hydraulics (hydraulic motor drive). Some also offer hydraulic angle adjust — useful for sweeping into gutters or along curbs.

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In What Order

1. Snow pusher (first pass): Do the heavy volume work. Clear lanes, push snow to the edges of the lot. Do this before trucks arrive if it's a commercial site.
2. Snow blade (windrow and stack): After the pusher has cleared the main field, use the blade to angle windrows toward collection areas, push piles higher, or clear tight corners the pusher can't reach.
3. Angle broom (final pass): Sweep the surface clean of the residual layer. This is what separates a professional result from an "OK" result. Clients notice when the lot is actually clean vs just mostly clear.

What to Watch For

• Buy before October. Inventory thins fast across Western Canada. Pre-season pricing runs July–September. In-season, expect 10–20% premium and 4–6 week delivery windows on popular sizes.
• Match your cutting edge to your surface. Steel edges on asphalt = fine. Steel on pavers or decorative concrete = damage risk. Use rubber or poly edges on sensitive surfaces, or switch to a broom earlier in your pass sequence.
• Size for your machine, not your ego. Operators consistently oversize pushers relative to their machine. Wet, heavy snow — common in BC and Ontario — can stall or tip a machine running a pusher that's 2–3 feet too wide for its ROC. When in doubt, go one size smaller.