Anyone have a SSQA plow? I have been using a rear blade but like the idea of a FEL plow.
I like the idea as well, but it has some drawbacks. Mostly that loader float doesn't work & commercial blades don't have blade float.
Plow #1. Cheap garage sale plow off a Jeep or something. I welded a 3pt quick hitch to a SSQA plate. That made a good mount with float. The OEM plow frame had maybe 15 degrees of rotational float (by design, not wear). Probably to much float in my mount as I could bounce the plow frame past vertical if I tried. It was lighter, manual angle, stick out way to far & attached to an open station tractor. So it got sold with the L3200.
Plow #2. I got a decent deal on a new SSQA Snow Dawg. Much heavier, hydraulic angle, pre-built unit. Just like every other commercial one I've seen its a solid mount with no float. I figured I could rebuild it with float if needed. 2? 3? Winters later I'm very much of the opinion I need to rebuild it with float, but it barely doesn't make my urgent to do list.
I guess a solid mount works well for a compact skid steer on flat parking lots. But a longer tractor on less smooth gravel roads, not as much. You end up plowing a lot of gravel. Float let's the blade follow contours. Floating your loader doesn't work just like digging with your loader in float doesn't work. You end up with your front tires 2' off the ground.
Your plow hanging way out also sucks. The further out your plow the more leverage it has. Angle the plow in big snow & you just get pushed to the side. If the plow was on tighter, there would be less push sideways. Also the more compact the more maneuverable.
Several people have posted SSQA plow builds that are really compact & have float. I'll likely poach some of their design ideas when I finally rebuilt mine with float.
I recently got a rear blade again (for dirt work the SSQA plow & box blade couldn't do or do well). It has some advantages, but I like the visibility of the SSQA despite the disadvantages.
Stay away from the cheap light SSQA plows with a double acting cylinder for angle. They are more compact, but are pretty weak. You can't put a crossover relief valve to protect your cylinders or loader on 1 double acting cylinder. They also usually don't have a trip edge.