Snow clearance is an essential winter task, and the choice of snow-plow systems is equally essential. Rear and box-blade systems are the most common, and both have strengths and weaknesses.
Rear Blade
Rear blades are concave and are dragged behind the plow, collecting snow as it travels. Rear blades are light but can't handle the weight of the snow on their own; as a result, they are used along with front blades.
Box Blade
Box blades consist of a three-sided metal box, open at the front, top and bottom that is towed behind a vehicle, with the open end facing forward. The box scrapes the snow off the ground, accumulating it against the rear wall where it can be removed once the vehicle has stopped. Box blades are extremely heavy, with the smallest weighing up to 500 pounds.
Considerations
Rear blades are lighter but must be used in conjunction with a front blade to be effective. Unless you are dealing with a large amount of snow, a front and rear blade setup is best. Box blades can handle more snow and can be used by themselves, but are they extremely heavy. They are better suited to large-scale snow clearance.
Tags: blade, rear, snow, Rear blades, Blade Rear, extremely heavy, with front
