5 Ways to Keep Your Skid Steer Productive All Winter

If you’re in the business of landscaping, construction, farming or other land-related jobs, you’re probably already in the habit of asking what you can do now to be more productive. That gets harder to answer in the colder months when snow and ice set in and your usual tasks are disrupted. But winter doesn't have to slow you down. Here are five ways to get more out of your skid steer, no matter the weather.

Keep Your Land Clear of Snow and Ice

Part of staying productive is keeping your land clear of snow and ice so you can continue with your normal tasks. The right attachments make winter work faster and more efficient, so you can stay on schedule all year long.

Winter Work Ideas:

• Snow Clearing: Use a snow plow or snow pusher attachment to remove fresh snow from driveways, yards, and work areas. Use a standard bucket to clear smaller amounts of snow in tighter spaces.
• Ice Scraping: Clear ice from surfaces using a heavy-duty bucket or ice scraper to keep areas safe and accessible.
• Clearing Debris: Use a grapple to remove snow mixed with debris or compacted snow that’s harder to move.

Stay on Top of Storm Cleanup

You may not be able to go about some of your typical tasks when it’s snowy and icy out, but you can get ahead of post-storm cleanup so you can hit the ground running when spring rolls around.

Winter Work Ideas:

• Debris Removal: Remove fallen limbs, storm debris, brush piles, and fence line material with a grapple or bucket.
• Post-Storm Leveling: Use a bucket or snow pusher to move soil that has been displaced by winter weather. Take care to only do this on firm or partially frozen ground to avoid rutting.
• Fence & Path Maintenance: Clear snow and debris from around fences, gates, and walkways to prevent damage and keep access clear.

Generate Extra Income

Winter creates new work, and with the right attachments you can capitalize on it. Use the downtime from your normal tasks to take on winter jobs in your community. Here are some ways to go beyond just keeping your own land clear.

Winter Work Ideas:

• Snow Removal: If you have a plow or snow pusher, consider starting a side business clearing, relocating, or stacking fresh snow for neighbors, farms, and small businesses.
• Ice & Hardpack Removal: If you have a heavy-duty bucket or ice scraper, start a side hustle removing ice and hardpack snow that forms on driveways, yards, pathways, or around buildings.
• Firewood Handling: Firewood is in demand during the winter months for obvious reasons. Now is a great time to use your grapple or pallet forks to move and stack firewood you split in the warmer months for packaging and delivery.

Take Advantage of Winter Conditions to Work Ahead

It pays to work ahead, and many land operators find that frozen ground makes certain tasks easier, like surface prep and material handling that can increase operational efficiency later.

Winter Work Ideas:

• Prep Work Areas: Clear drive lanes, work pads, and yards before mud season. Frozen soil allows your skid steer to grade and move materials without getting bogged down.
• Access Hard-to-Reach Areas: Get work done on low-lying, usually wet, or wooded areas that would otherwise be soft and inaccessible in the spring.
• Stage Materials for Spring: Take advantage of the frozen ground to stage materials like gravel, pallets, feed, or building supplies so they’re ready for spring work—without creating rutting that could make the path impassable later. Just make sure your materials are protected from the elements and compatible with winter conditions.

Maintain and Upgrade Attachments While Your Workload Is Lower

Winter productivity isn’t just about moving material, it’s also about reducing future downtime. Staying ahead on maintenance and needed upgrades now ensures your setup is ready for everything spring throws at it.

Winter Work Ideas:

• Perform Routine Maintenance: Check hydraulics, grease fittings, and inspect attachments.
• Upgrade Attachments: Take care of any attachment upgrades now so you’re ready for spring work without delays.
• Test New Attachments: Now is a good time to try out any new tools or attachments before they’re critical in busy months.

Maximize Winter Efficiency with Titan Attachments

The bottom line is, winter doesn’t have to slow productivity when you have the right attachments for the season. Titan Attachments has the plows, snow pushers, grapples, and buckets to keep work moving year-round—no matter the conditions.