Two-Speed Option Skid Steer

[River Hill]

I am still in the process of shopping for a skid steer. I will probably put a Blizzard 810SS on it. I was wondering for those of you who have used a 2 speed machine does it have enough power to move snow in the high speed mode? I have not decided on a brand yet as I am still shopping. I know the high speed mode will be great for moving from site to site, but I am mostly intrested in if I can move snow in the high speed mode. CAT is suppose to be coming out with a machine in February that will have High Flow and a 2 speed option. The only have one or the other as of now.

[BRL]

I used a Cat 95XT with 2 speed a couple of years ago. We got to plow with it also and it worked great plowing in high speed. Great machine IMO. Good luck!

[Bob Horrell]

I have a bobcat S250 with a 2 speed. Although I have never plowed snow with it I think it would probably work in high gear as long as you weren't pushing too big a pile. I have a 80 inch bucket that holds almost 1 yard of dirt and I can go up a pretty good grade with it full in high gear. If I stop on the hill, I switch to low gear to get going and then back to high gear. If you do plow in high gear, be sure to wear a seat belt in case you hit anything burried in the snow. The bobcat comes with a shoulder harness in all the 2 speeds and I can see why after using it in high gear. Things happen fast at that speed with such a short wheelbase.

[earthwerks]

I have a two-speed New Holland LS180. Love it. It can almost double cycle times, not good if you are charging by the hour LOL. My owner's manual says that the two-speed is for transporting a load not for working/digging/pushing. The engine and hydraulic system have to work much too hard in 2nd. It's sort of like driving a car with a manual trans in the wrong, higher gear--don't do it.