Snow Blower Side Extensions: Your Secret to a One-Pass Driveway
The familiar winter chore of snow blowing often comes with a hidden frustration. You meticulously clear a path, only to look back and see two thin, infuriating lines of snow left on either side, forcing you to make another overlapping pass. This inefficiency doesn’t just waste your time; it burns extra fuel and adds unnecessary wear and tear on your machine.
This common issue, known as windrowing, happens because the auger housing on a standard snow blower can only contain so much snow. As you push forward, excess snow spills out the sides, creating those annoying trails. The solution is simpler and more affordable than buying a massive new machine: snow blower side extensions.
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What Exactly Are Snow Blower Side Extensions?
Snow blower side extensions, often called wings or side plates, are simple but brilliant attachments that bolt onto the sides of your snow blower’s auger housing. They act as barriers, catching the loose snow that would normally spill out. Instead of being left behind on your driveway, this captured snow is funneled directly into the augers.
This simple modification effectively widens the clearing path of your machine with each pass. By increasing the functional width, you can clear your driveway, sidewalk, or patio in significantly fewer passes, transforming a frustrating task into a far more efficient one.
The Core Problem: Why Your Stock Snow Blower Is Inefficient
Standard snow blowers are designed for a balance of power, size, and cost. Manufacturers create an auger housing that is effective for average snowfalls, but this design has inherent limitations. The problem lies in the physics of moving a solid (snow) with a rotating auger.
When dealing with light, powdery snow, the volume can easily overwhelm the height of the housing, causing it to pour over the sides. In wet, heavy snow, the sheer weight and momentum cause it to push outward and escape the auger’s grasp. This spillover is the root cause of the inefficiency that forces you into making extra, overlapping passes to achieve a clean finish.
The Hidden Costs of Inefficiency
The frustration of leaving snow trails goes beyond simple annoyance. The need for extra passes translates directly into longer run times for your machine’s engine. This means you are burning more fuel and putting more hours on the motor, which can lead to premature wear on critical components.
This kind of nagging inefficiency can be as maddening as discovering an unexpected pest problem, like finding a squirrel in a drain pipe. Both situations represent a hidden issue that, if left unaddressed, leads to bigger headaches and more work down the road. By optimizing your equipment, you save time, money, and future repair efforts.
The Solution: Upgrading Your Machine with Side Extensions
Installing a set of side extensions is the single most effective way to combat snow spillover and increase the efficiency of your existing machine. This upgrade directly tackles the design limitation of the stock auger housing, providing an immediate and noticeable improvement in performance. The extensions act as a wall, keeping the snow in the path of the auger and impeller where it belongs.
Instead of investing in a larger, more expensive snow blower, this modification delivers a wider clearing width at a fraction of the cost. It is a practical upgrade that enhances the tool you already own, maximizing its potential.
Key Benefits You’ll Notice Immediately
The advantages of adding side extensions are tangible from the very first use. The most significant benefit is the wider clearing path. Adding just a few inches to each side can increase your total clearing width by 6 inches or more, which dramatically reduces the number of passes needed for any given area.
This wider path directly leads to significant time and fuel savings, potentially cutting your clearing time by 30% or more. Furthermore, you will achieve a cleaner, more professional finish without the frustrating snow lines. In deep snow, extensions truly shine by preventing the snow from simply toppling over the sides, forcing it into the machine for powerful discharging.
Choosing Your Weapon: Commercial Kits vs. DIY Solutions
When deciding to upgrade, you have two primary paths: purchasing a pre-made commercial kit or creating your own custom DIY solution. Both options have distinct advantages and are suited for different types of users. A commercial kit offers convenience and a guaranteed fit, while a DIY project provides customization and cost savings.
Your choice will depend on your budget, your access to tools and materials, and how much time you are willing to invest in the project. Carefully weighing these factors will help you select the best option for your specific machine and needs.
The Case for Commercial Snow Blower Side Extensions
Commercial kits are the go-to choice for those seeking a quick, reliable, and professional-looking solution. These products are engineered from durable materials like powder-coated steel or heavy-duty polyurethane. They are designed to fit specific makes and models, ensuring a perfect and secure attachment with minimal guesswork.
While the initial cost is higher than a DIY solution, you are paying for professionally manufactured parts, robust mounting hardware, and detailed instructions. This is the ideal option if you want a proven product that you can install in under an hour and trust to last for many winters.
The DIY Approach: A Project for the Handy Homeowner
For the homeowner who enjoys a good project, building your own side extensions can be a rewarding and highly cost-effective option. The primary benefit is the ability to fully customize the size, shape, and material to your exact specifications. You can create wings that are larger or shaped differently than commercial offerings.
Common materials for DIY extensions include thick rubber from truck mud flaps, durable UHMW (Ultra-High Molecular Weight) plastic sheets, or scrap sheet metal. While this route requires careful measurement, cutting, and drilling, it offers maximum flexibility and significant savings, especially if you already have suitable materials on hand.
| Feature | Commercial Kits | DIY Solutions |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Higher initial investment ($50 – $150+) | Low cost, depends on materials on hand |
| Installation Ease | Easy; often a direct bolt-on with instructions | Moderate to difficult; requires measuring, cutting, drilling |
| Durability | High; engineered with robust materials like steel or polyurethane | Variable; depends entirely on the material and hardware chosen |
| Customization | Limited to the manufacturer’s design | Fully customizable in size, shape, and material |
| Performance | Excellent and predictable results | Can be excellent, but depends on the quality of the design and build |
Installation Guide: How to Properly Mount Your Side Extensions
Whether you choose a commercial kit or a DIY solution, the installation process follows the same fundamental steps. Proper mounting is critical to ensure the extensions are effective and can withstand the powerful forces of moving snow. Always begin by preparing your workspace and your machine.
First and foremost, ensure your safety by disconnecting the spark plug wire from the spark plug. This crucial step prevents any possibility of an accidental engine start while you are working on the auger housing. Gather all your tools, hardware, and the extensions themselves before you begin.
Positioning and Mounting
Position the side extension against the auger housing to determine the ideal placement. You want it to be flush with the bottom of the housing to prevent snow from escaping underneath. Mark the locations for your mounting holes with a permanent marker, ensuring they are evenly spaced for a secure fit.
Using a center punch can help prevent your drill bit from wandering. Drill the holes through the auger housing, then align the extension and fasten it securely using high-quality hardware. Stainless steel bolts with nylon lock nuts and large washers are highly recommended to prevent loosening from vibration and to resist rust. The precision required is similar to delicate home projects; just as you’d take great care when deciding how to move doorbell wiring to avoid damaging walls, you must be precise here to ensure a secure fit.
Beyond the Basics: Advanced Tips for Maximum Efficiency
Once your extensions are installed, you can explore more advanced techniques to further boost your snow blower’s performance. These subtle adjustments and material considerations are what separate a good modification from a great one. They can provide an extra edge in challenging snow conditions.
These strategies focus on the physics of snow removal, optimizing the way snow is captured and funneled into the machine. Small changes in angle or material can yield surprisingly large improvements in clearing speed and overall effectiveness.
The “Aggressive Angle” Tweak
For even better performance, consider mounting your extensions with a slight forward angle instead of being perfectly parallel with the direction of travel. By angling the front edge of the extensions inward slightly, they more aggressively scoop and direct snow into the auger path. This technique can be particularly effective in deeper snow.
This “toe-in” angle acts like a plow, actively forcing snow toward the center of the machine. It ensures that even less snow escapes the sides and helps the auger get a better bite, improving the overall throughput of your snow blower.
Why Material Selection Is Crucial
The material you choose has a significant impact on performance, especially in wet and sticky snow. While steel is incredibly strong, it can be prone to rust, and wet snow can sometimes cling to its surface. A superior choice for DIY projects is often UHMW plastic.
UHMW plastic has a very low coefficient of friction, which means it is incredibly slick. Snow and ice have a difficult time sticking to it, which ensures a smooth flow into the auger housing. Flexible rubber from mud flaps is another excellent option, as its flexibility allows it to absorb impacts from hidden curbs or ice chunks without breaking or damaging the auger housing.
Potential Downsides and How to Mitigate Them
While side extensions are overwhelmingly beneficial, it is important to be aware of a few potential downsides. Understanding these allows you to adjust your technique and ensure the long-term health of your machine. The primary consideration is the increased workload on the engine.
By widening the clearing path, you are asking your snow blower to move a larger volume of snow with each pass. This naturally puts more strain on the engine and drivetrain. Proper operation is key to mitigating this added stress.
Engine Strain and Maneuverability
To avoid overloading the engine, especially in deep or wet snow, simply reduce your forward speed. Allow the machine to work at a comfortable pace, discharging the snow effectively before you push it forward. Pushing too fast can clog the chute and strain the engine, so listen to the motor and adjust your speed accordingly.
The added width can also slightly reduce maneuverability in very tight spaces. Be mindful of the wider profile when making sharp turns near garage doors, walls, or other obstacles. An awareness of your machine’s new dimensions is crucial, much like how a toilet not used for years needs a careful inspection before being put back into service to prevent unexpected issues.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Here are answers to some of the most common questions about snow blower side extensions. Understanding these points will help you make an informed decision and get the most out of your upgrade.
Will side extensions void my snow blower’s warranty?
Installing third-party or DIY side extensions could potentially void the warranty on your snow blower, particularly if the installation requires drilling holes into the main housing. If your machine is still under warranty, it is wise to check with the manufacturer before making any modifications.
What is the best material for DIY snow blower wings?
For a DIY project, the best all-around material is often considered to be UHMW (Ultra-High Molecular Weight) plastic. It is extremely durable, impact-resistant, and has a very slick surface that prevents snow from sticking. Heavy-duty rubber from commercial truck mud flaps is another excellent, flexible, and affordable option.
How much wider can I safely make my clearing path?
A good rule of thumb is to add no more than 3 to 6 inches of width per side. Exceeding this can put excessive strain on your machine’s engine, belts, and gearbox, especially on smaller, single-stage snow blowers. It is better to have a moderate, efficient increase in width than to over-stress the machine and cause premature failure.
Are drift cutters the same as side extensions?
No, they serve different purposes. Drift cutters are tall metal bars that mount to the top sides of the auger housing to knock down tall snow drifts into the path of the auger. Side extensions are wide plates that mount lower on the housing to increase the clearing width at the ground level. Using both together can create a highly effective system for tackling very deep snow.
The Final Pass: Are Snow Blower Side Extensions Worth It?
For almost any homeowner with a two-stage snow blower and a medium to large area to clear, the answer is a resounding yes. Snow blower side extensions are one of the most cost-effective and impactful upgrades you can make. They solve the common and frustrating problem of snow windrows, saving you time, fuel, and effort every time you clear snow.
Whether you opt for a polished commercial kit or a custom DIY solution, this simple modification will transform your machine’s performance. Stop making extra passes and start enjoying a cleaner, faster, and more efficient snow removal experience.
