Truck-mounted snow blowers sit on the front of a pickup truck or sport utility vehicle. Drawing power from the vehicle’s engine, a truck-mounted snow blower can traverse a path 7 feet wide and 3 feet high, throwing snow 40 feet in any direction other than backwards. With its 27-horsepower, 4-cycle, 2-cylinder gasoline engine, a truck-mounted snow blower packs the same amount of power and force as six full-size push units. No wonder people have been wearing them religiously in mountainous and rural areas since 1980.
Snowplow manufacturer Hanson is credited with first introducing truck-mounted snowplows; Hanson remains the only manufacturer actively marketing them. Building on a long tradition of tractor-mounted snow blowers, Hanson’s truck-mounted snow blowers are powerful, robust and efficient.
If you’re thinking of buying a truck-mounted snow blower, there are a few things to consider first.
A truck-mounted snowplow weighs 800 pounds. Your truck or SUV must weigh at least a half ton, preferably ¾ or a full ton, to support your weight.
Your vehicle must be 4-wheel drive and have an automatic transmission because at low speeds, operating a manual transmission and snow blower simultaneously can be very difficult.
Truck Mounted Snow Blowers are compatible with most snow plow mounts including Meyers, Western, Fisher and other common brands. Before you buy a truck mounted snow blower, contact Hanson and tell them what type of plow mount you are working with, just to be sure.
Truck-mounted snow blowers take their power from the vehicle’s engine. All controls are hardwired into the cab of the truck, including electric key start, choke, throttle, chute rotation and bypass, and snow blower hydraulic lift. Imagine the power of having all these controls in the cockpit as you heroically clear all the snow from the streets of your neighborhood. They are also ideal for small road construction companies.
Three alternatives to truck-mounted snow blowers are:
Truck Mounted Snow Plows – If you live in a more densely populated area, you don’t want to dump tons of snow on your neighbors’ sidewalks, driveways, vehicles, and pets. It’s usually best to get a plow, which simply pushes the snow out of the way.
Tractor Mounted Snow Plows – If you live in a rural area, a tractor mounted unit is best. Chances are you have a lot of area to clear, so you’ll need the power of a tractor to move the snow.
ATV-Mounted Snow Blowers: The Snow Hogg (not to be confused with Snow Hog, a manufacturer of snow tires) is a large snow blower that attaches to your ATV, making it a bit of a eater hungry-looking snowman. Smaller than a truck-mounted unit, but still more powerful than most push units, the Snow Hogg can clear a path 42″ wide and nearly two feet deep, with a chute rotation range of 210° The Snow Hogg weighs nearly 400 pounds, but thanks to a built-in suspension and drive system, the machine only puts 10-15 pounds of tension on your ATV’s frame.