If you’ve spent any time around snow-removal equipment, you’ve probably heard the term wing plow tossed around—especially in connection with skid steers. But what exactly is a skid steer wing plow, and how is it different from a traditional snow pusher or a conventional straight blade? Understanding these differences is essential if you’re trying to choose the right attachment for your equipment, your team, and your operation.
Let’s break down what a skid steer wing plow is, why its hydraulically powered wings make it uniquely effective, what positions those wings can be put in, and how to tell a true wing plow apart from snow pushers that are often confused for the same thing.
The Simple Definition: What Is a Skid Steer Wing Plow?
A skid steer wing plow is a snow-removal attachment that mounts to a skid steer or compact track loader and features independently controlled hydraulic wings on each side of the main moldboard. These wings can move in and out, forward and backward—allowing the operator to shift the plow into several different modes depending on the snow conditions and the job at hand.
The key word here is hydraulic. The wings are not fixed. They’re not just side plates. They’re active, powered components that transform the plow’s shape and function in seconds.
Wing Plow vs. Snow Pusher: The Common Misunderstanding
Many people confuse wing plows with snow pushers, especially those that have side containment panels. While a snow pusher is a great tool in its own right, it cannot match the versatility of a true hydraulic wing plow.
Here’s how to keep them straight:
Snow Pusher
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Features fixed side containment panels
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Designed strictly for pushing and carrying snow forward
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Does not change shape
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Wings do not move—they are simply walls
Wing Plow
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Features hydraulic wings that articulate, like the wings of a bird
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Can operate as a straight blade, angled plow, or snow pusher-like box, depending on wing position
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Allows multiple modes, making it far more versatile
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Can windrow, backdrag, scoop, push, carry, or spread
To help remember the difference, picture a bird. A bird can move its wings, flap them, change their angle, and adjust their shape to maneuver. That’s what a hydraulic wing plow does. A snow pusher, in comparison, is more like a bird with its wings taped rigidly in place—not going anywhere, not adjusting, not responding dynamically.
If side panels move, it’s a wing plow.
If they don’t, it’s a pusher.
Why Hydraulic Wings Matter
Hydraulic wings add game-changing flexibility. Snow conditions are never consistent—wet, heavy snow behaves differently than dry powder, and tight parking lots demand different tools than open lots or long drives. With moveable wings, the operator can immediately adapt to:
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Tight spaces
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Open areas
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Heavy storms
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Backdragging needs
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Windrowing long stretches
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Carrying and transporting piles
The right wing position makes the job faster, cleaner, and more controlled.
The Different Wing Positions (Modes) of a Wing Plow and What They Do
A skid steer wing plow typically has three to five primary modes, depending on the brand and design. Below is the core list of modes you’ll see on most hydraulic wing plows.
1. Straight Blade Mode (Wings Parallel with the Moldboard)
What it is:
The wings are pulled back in line with the main blade, creating a long, straight moldboard.
Purpose:
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Ideal for clearing snow straight ahead
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Useful for wide-open areas
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Great for plowing light-to-moderate accumulations
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Provides the most efficient cutting width
This mode essentially turns your wing plow into a traditional straight blade—but wider and more versatile.
2. Angled Blade Mode (Wings Straight with Moldboard, Moldboard Angled)
What it is:
The plow is angled left or right, and the wings are positioned in a way that directs snow to one side.
Purpose:
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Perfect for windrowing
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Moves snow to one side efficiently
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Common for clearing roads, long drives, lanes, or parking lot passes
While a snow pusher can only push in a containment manner, a wing plow in angled mode acts like a powerful, maneuverable road plow attached to your skid steer that allows the snow to roll off one end of the plow.
3. Scoop Mode (Wings Angled Forward to Form a “Bucket” Shape)
What it is:
The wings are pushed forward just enough to form containment walls but not fully closed.
Purpose:
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Excellent for carrying and transporting snow
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Prevents snow from spilling off the sides
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Ideal for stacking or relocating piles
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Useful in lots where you need to consolidate snow into designated areas
This is one of similar to a snow pusher, except it offers the ability to widen or narrow the containment area to some degree.
4. Box (Containment) Mode (Wings Straight Forward Like a Pusher)
What it is:
Both wings fold forward simultaneously, creating a deep containment shape.
Purpose:
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Works similarly to a snow pusher
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Excellent for pushing long straight sections
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Keeps snow contained
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Good for heavy accumulation or deep storms
This is basically a snow pusher that offers angling capabilities for pushing around corners.
5. Backdrag or Back-Blade Mode (Wings Angled Back, Plow Tilted for Pulling)
What it is:
Some wing plows allow the wings to angle backward, tightening the blade profile and allowing effective back-pull motion.
Purpose:
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Clearing in front of garage doors
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Tight spaces
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Loading docks
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Along walkways
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Anywhere you need to pull snow away rather than push it
Some pusher manufacturers add specific backdrag cutting edges to create this mode while skid steer wing plows accomplish it with simple wing positioning.
Who Benefits Most from a Skid Steer Wing Plow?
The versatility makes wing plows an ideal choice for:
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Commercial landscapers
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Snow contractors
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Municipal fleets
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Property managers
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Parking lot maintenance teams
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Schools, hospitals, and campuses
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Anyone handling multiple surface types or lot layouts
If your winter work includes a variety of conditions and spaces, a wing plow provides unmatched efficiency.
A Wing Plow Is a Dynamic Tool, Not a Static Attachment
So, what is a skid steer wing plow? It’s a highly flexible snow-removal attachment equipped with hydraulic wings that move like a bird’s wings—dynamic, purposeful, and built for adaptability. It can shift between multiple modes, functioning as a straight blade, an angled plow, back drag plow, or a containment pusher depending on the situation. This makes it dramatically more capable than a snow pusher, which has fixed containment panels that never move.
When the storms hit and speed matters, a wing plow gives you options, control, and the ability to work smarter—not harder. KAGE Innovation offers skid steer wing plows, snow pushers and 2-in-1 plow and pusher systems in its SnowFire Series of plows.
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