When it comes to clearing snow, you may have heard of both a snow plow and a snow pusher, but they serve slightly different purposes and have different designs. Here’s a breakdown to help distinguish them:
Snow Plow:
- Purpose: A snow plow is typically used to push snow off roads, driveways, or large areas. It’s commonly seen on trucks or larger vehicles.
- Design: Snow plows generally have a large blade that can be raised or lowered. The blade is angled to push snow to the side or clear a path.
- Uses: Snow plows are mainly used for clearing roadways, highways, or large commercial properties. They’re effective for heavy snow accumulation and can clear wide paths.
- Types: There are various types, including straight blades, V-shaped blades, and even ones with rotating blades for better snow removal.
Snow Pusher:
- Purpose: A snow pusher is typically a manual tool or attachment used to move snow in a more controlled manner. It can also be attached to a machine or used by hand.
- Design: A snow pusher usually has a wider, flatter blade (or a series of blades) that’s more rigid compared to a plow. The design makes it better suited for pushing snow in large, flat areas without much lifting.
- Uses: Snow pushers are usually better for clearing flat surfaces like driveways, parking lots, or sidewalks. They are often used in smaller areas or for more precise snow removal.
- Types: Snow pushers can either be manual (like a shovel) or attached to a vehicle (like a skid-steer or tractor) to move large amounts of snow in a straight line.
Key Differences:
- Size & Power: Snow plows are typically larger and mounted on vehicles, making them more suitable for large-scale snow clearing. Snow pushers are often smaller, manual or machine attachments, for more detailed snow-moving tasks.
- Efficiency: Plows are great for heavy snow and clearing larger areas, while pushers are better suited for finer snow control and smaller spaces.
- Application: Plows are common for roads and highways, while snow pushers are often used for driveways, parking lots, and sidewalks.
Which one is best for you depends on your specific needs! If you’re tackling large areas like roads or parking lots, a snow plow is your go-to. If you’re clearing smaller, flatter surfaces, a snow pusher might be a better fit.
Do you have a particular project in mind, like clearing a driveway or preparing for a big snowstorm?