Skid Steer Snow Removal Rental in Northern Indiana: Machines, Attachments and Tips
When the first real snow hits northern Indiana, a shovel and a pickup plow only go so far. Parking lots in Auburn, shop yards in Kendallville, church lots in Goshen and long farm lanes outside Angola all need something with more muscle. For a lot of property owners and contractors, the answer is a skid steer or compact track loader with the right snow attachment on the front. This guide covers how skid steer snow removal works, which machines and attachments we rent at Wakarusa Heavy Equipment, and how to plan a winter rental before the storm instead of during it.
Why Use a Skid Steer for Snow Removal?
A skid steer turns in its own footprint, which makes it the right size for the places a truck plow struggles: tight corners, loading docks, sidewalks along storefronts, and the spaces between parked equipment. It can push snow, lift it, and stack it, so you are not just moving the pile around the lot. And because the attachment is the business end, the same machine can push heavy, wet snow one day and sweep a light dusting the next.
Snow removal is also a natural fit for renting. Most people only need a snow machine for a few months, and some only need one after a big storm. A weekly or monthly rental lets you put a loader to work when the weather calls for it without carrying the machine on your books all year. If you are on the fence, our guide to renting versus buying equipment walks through the math.
Skid Steer, Track Loader or Wheel Loader?
Wheeled skid steers
A wheeled skid steer is the most common choice for clearing paved lots and drives. Tires are easier on asphalt and concrete than tracks, and a wheeled machine moves quickly between sections of a larger lot.
Compact track loaders
Compact track loaders spread their weight over rubber tracks, so they keep traction on packed snow and stay steady on gravel lanes, yards and unpaved job sites. We rent track loaders in several size classes, and our overview of the Takeuchi track loader lineup explains how the models differ.
Wheel loaders
For big commercial lots, plant sites and snow that has to be loaded and hauled away, a wheel loader moves far more material per pass. We rent wheel loaders in 1, 2 and 3 yard bucket sizes.
Mini skid steers
For sidewalks, walkways and other narrow spaces, a mini skid steer with a 48 inch angle broom can clear paths a full-size machine cannot fit through.
Snow Attachments We Rent
The attachment matters as much as the machine. These are the snow and cleanup tools in our skid steer attachment fleet:
Snow pusher (snow box)
Our 8 foot snow pusher is a box-style attachment with side walls that hold the snow in front of the machine, so you can push a full load across a lot without spilling it off the sides. It has a replaceable rubber cutting edge that is easier on pavement than a steel edge. Snow pushers are the go-to tool for open parking lots where you are pushing snow to one or two stack locations.
Angled snow blade
A skid steer snow blade angles to roll snow off to one side. That makes it a good choice for drives, lanes and long aisles where you want to windrow snow to the edge rather than carry it to a pile.
Angle broom and pickup broom
For lighter snow, slush and the cleanup after plowing, a broom gets down to the surface. Our 84 inch Erskine power angle broom swings 30 degrees left or right to sweep material to the side. A 72 inch pickup broom collects material into its hopper, which is handy for cleaning up sand and grit once the snow season ends.
Buckets and pallet forks
A standard bucket is still useful for loading snow into a truck or lifting piles to stack them higher, and pallet forks help move salt and sand on pallets around the yard.
Plan Your Winter Rental Before the Storm
Reserve early
Snow equipment tends to go out fast when a storm is in the forecast. If you know you will need a machine for the season, call before the first big snowfall so you are not hunting for one the night before.
Match the attachment to the machine
Some attachments need more hydraulic flow or a heavier machine than others. A power broom, for example, runs off the loader's auxiliary hydraulics, so the machine has to be able to supply the flow the broom is built for. Tell us which machine you are using, or let us pair the loader and attachment for you.
Think about where the snow goes
Before the first push, decide where your stack locations will be. Keep piles away from drains, fire lanes, sight lines at entrances and the low spots where meltwater will refreeze. A clear plan saves passes and keeps the lot usable all winter.
Take care of the machine in the cold
Let the machine warm up before you put it to work, check tire pressure or track tension, and clear packed snow and ice from the tracks or wheels at the end of the day. Our seasonal maintenance tips for Indiana contractors cover more of what cold weather does to heavy equipment.
Snow Removal Equipment Rental Near You
We serve contractors, property managers, farms, churches, businesses and homeowners from two locations. Our Waterloo yard is about five miles from Auburn, and a short drive from Garrett, Kendallville, Angola and north Fort Wayne. Our Wakarusa location covers Elkhart County and the South Bend area, including Goshen, Elkhart, Nappanee and Mishawaka, where lake-effect snow can stack up quickly. Both locations are backed by our own service department, so if something needs attention mid-season you are talking to the people who work on these machines every day.
Thinking about keeping a machine for good? We also have used skid steers for sale.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I rent a skid steer just for snow removal?
Yes. You can rent a skid steer and a snow attachment by the day, week or month, whether you need it for the whole winter or just for a few days after a big storm. Call us to talk through what fits your property.
Is a snow pusher or a snow blade better?
A snow pusher is usually faster for open parking lots because its side walls carry a full load to the pile. An angled blade works better for drives and lanes where you want to roll snow off to one side.
Will a skid steer damage my pavement?
Used with care, a wheeled skid steer and a rubber-edged pusher are gentle on asphalt and concrete. Avoid sharp turns in one spot on fresh or soft pavement, and ask us which setup suits your surface.
Should I choose wheels or tracks for snow?
Wheels are generally better on paved lots and drives. Tracks give more traction on gravel, packed snow and unpaved sites.
Which areas do you serve?
We serve northern Indiana, southern Michigan and western Ohio, including Auburn, Angola, Kendallville, Fort Wayne, Goshen, Elkhart, South Bend and Nappanee. Call us at +1 (574) 862-7914, Monday through Friday from 7 AM to 5 PM, or contact us online to reserve a machine.