Bobcats: Pros & Cons
Rob Thibault
Every device or tool offers certain strengths and weakness—and it usually takes several tools to complete a simple project around the house.
When is comes to snow clearing, a Bobcat (Skid Steer) is a fantastic piece of snow removal equipment. These machines were made for grading land and transporting soil—these features also come in handy for snow clearing.
Pros
Bobcats are perfect for getting into small or awkward areas and have the advantage of picking up the snow to pile it in a specific area. When servicing parking lots with many parked cars, this is the best option. This feature makes any parking lot much safer as it limits the melting run-off trails which often re-freeze at night creating a new hazards.
If the operator lifts the Bobcat arms and angles the bucket slightly downward, it becomes a high-powered ice scraper. Trucks, snow-blowers and even shovels are virtually useless when it comes to dealing with ice or compact snow.
Cons
These machines typically have buckets between 5'-6' wide. Sometimes, their size limits their use in smaller spaces. They also move slower than trucks. That said, if you want a precise job, this is right machine for your project.