Colorado’s winter weather is unique — heavy mountain snow, freeze/thaw cycles, ice storms on the plains, rapid temperature swings, and variable terrain from the Front Range to Alpine and rural roads. Municipalities and counties need trucks and equipment that not only handle heavy snow — but are durable, versatile, and ready for long seasons of snow removal, de-icing, roadway clearing, and maintenance.
At O.J. Watson, we specialize in equipping Colorado fleets with gear that’s built, tested, and proven under real Rocky Mountain conditions. This guide will help you understand what to look for — and which systems from Aebi-Schmidt, BOSS Plow, and Monroe are best suited for your jurisdiction.
When evaluating snow & ice removal equipment, municipalities generally choose from:
Snowplows (straight, V-plows, wedge, reversible, side-wing, multi-segment)
Snow blowers / snow cutters / cutter-blowers
Spreaders & de-icing / brine systems
Combination sweepers / sprayers / de-icers (for sidewalks, narrow roads, lot clearing)
Dump bodies / service trucks / multipurpose chassis — to carry salt, sand, brine, or remove snow loads
Versatile “municipal truck platforms” that can be reconfigured seasonally (summer/winter) for maximum ROI
When selecting winter equipment for a Colorado municipality, consider:
Durability & corrosion resistance — snow, salt, gravel, de-icing chemicals, and freeze/thaw cycles demand heavy-duty steel and protective coatings.
Maneuverability & multi-use flexibility — for mountain roads, narrow streets, rural highways, parking lots, sidewalks.
Power & performance — enough horsepower or hydraulic capacity for plows, blowers, spreaders; ability to throw heavy or wet snow, slush, or icy buildup.
Ease of maintenance & parts availability — quick repair times, stocked parts, and local support reduce downtime when winter storms hit.
Modular / interchangeable attachments — being able to swap from plow to blower to spreader or sprayer increases fleet flexibility.
Their plough line includes a wide variety of configurations — straight, multi-segment, wedge, side-wing, chassis-mounted, multi-blade, V-ploughs — making them suitable for everything from residential streets to highways and mountain passes. aebi-schmidt.com+2aebi-
For deep snow, heavy accumulations, or high-demand winters (common across Colorado’s mountains), Aebi-Schmidt also offers heavy-duty snow cutter-blowers (e.g., their “FS HP” cutter-blowers) — capable of robust snow removal, moving snow efficiently and clearing to a high standard. aebi-schmidt.com+1
For municipalities needing more than plowing — like sidewalks, parking lots, cycle paths — their combination units (sweeper + sprayer + de-icer) deliver versatile performance: ploughing, sweeping, and brine/spray de-icing in a single pass. aebi-schmidt.com+1
This versatility makes Aebi-Schmidt especially appropriate for mountain towns, ski-area communities, county roads at elevation, and agencies that want maximum flexibility with one platform.
When Aebi-Schmidt is ideal: heavy snowfall areas, mountainous terrain, deep drifts or frequent freeze/thaw storms, municipalities seeking long-lasting, all-weather snow fleets, or needing both plowing and de-icing.
BOSS offers a broad snow-removal line: straight blades, V-plows, heavy-duty plows, compact vehicle plows, and plows designed for trucks as well as UTVs/ATVs — giving flexibility across large and small fleets. bossplow.com+1
Models like the Steel BOSS XT feature heavy-duty steel moldboards, full moldboard trip systems (to absorb impact if hitting obstacles), and enhanced design to throw snow higher and farther — helpful in Colorado blizzards or heavy snowstorms. bossplow.com
BOSS’s approach tends to emphasize reliability, straightforward operation, and ruggedness — appropriate for municipal fleets, parking-lot clearing, sidewalks, and light-to-medium snow conditions, or as part of a mixed fleet (plow trucks + dump trucks + spreader trucks).
When BOSS Plow is ideal: municipalities needing dependable plowing, mixed-use fleets (parking lots, public lots, light-snow areas), or budget-conscious fleets wanting strong performance without over-spec’ing heavy-duty blower systems.
The municipal snow plows from Monroe are built to handle “the harshest winter conditions” — suitable for both rural highways and dense urban settings. Monroe Municipal Truck Equipment+1
They offer many plow blade configurations (trip-edge, full-trip reversible, deep C-shaped, multi-cast flexible plows, “Expressway” series, etc.), along with various shoes, moldboards, pushframes, and hitch options — giving municipalities the flexibility to tailor their plow to the local terrain, road type, and fleet needs. Monroe Municipal Truck Equipment
Because Monroe bodies are often integrated into work-truck chassis, it’s a good option when you want a full “work truck + plow + spreader/dump body + utility upfit” combination rather than just a standalone plow.
When Monroe Snow & Ice is ideal: municipalities wanting a turnkey fleet-ready work truck, mixed-use trucks (snow + maintenance + utility work), or agencies needing heavy-duty plow setups with flexible hitch and body configurations.
| Use Case / Environment | Recommended System / Supplier | Why It Fits |
|---|---|---|
| Mountain towns with deep snow, steep terrain, rural highways or passes | Aebi-Schmidt (plows or cutter-blowers) | Heavy-duty, versatile, built for extreme snow and altitude |
| Medium snowfall areas: cities, suburbs, commercial lots, parking lots | BOSS Plow | Dependable plows, cost-effective, good for mixed-use |
| Mixed-duty fleets needing plowing + utility work + salt/grit spreading | Monroe Snow & Ice (plow + upfitted body) | Full work-truck package, flexible configurations |
| Municipalities needing de-icing, sidewalk/path clearing, brine application, or variable winter maintenance | Aebi-Schmidt combination units or plow + spreader/sprayer | Integrated sweeping, de-icing, and plowing — efficient and flexible |
| Agencies on budget but needing reliable snow clearance | BOSS Plow (compact or standard plows) | Strong performance at moderate cost, simple to maintain |
Chassis & Truck Compatibility: Make sure your truck chassis (GVW, power, hydraulic/power take-off capacity) matches the plow or blower requirements — especially for heavy-duty blowers or combination units.
Upfit Versatility: Can your plow body also serve as a dump-body or utility truck in other seasons? Multipurpose fleets get better ROI.
Parts & Service Support: Local availability of replacement cutting edges, moldboards, electrical/hydraulic components, salt spreaders, etc. is critical — especially in remote mountain or rural areas.
Winter Safety & Reliability Features: Trip-edge blades, moldboard trip systems, impact protection, corrosion-resistant coatings, bright flood/LED plow lights, and rugged hydraulic systems for freeze-resistance.
Operational Flexibility: For sidewalk clearing, parking lots, city alleys or narrow streets — consider combination sweep & spray units, or smaller plows, rather than large highway V-plows or blower-only systems.
Total Cost of Ownership (TCO): Evaluate not only upfront cost, but maintenance, downtime, part replacement, seasonal versatility, fuel/hydraulic consumption, and longevity under snow, ice, salt, and road grime.
We know Colorado — the mountains, plains, altitudes, weather patterns, and municipal needs.
We work directly with leading manufacturers — Aebi-Schmidt, BOSS, Monroe — to source the right equipment for your volume, geography, and usage.
We build, upfit, and deliver trucks that are “Colorado-ready”: from heavy snow blower rigs to compact plow trucks for city streets, parking lots, and mountain roads.
We offer parts, service, and support — ensuring fast turnaround to get trucks back on the road when winter hits.
We help you configure the right combination: plows, spreaders, dump bodies, utility bodies — maximizing fleet flexibility and utility year-round.
Identify the environment and use case (mountain pass, city, rural roads, parking lots, sidewalks).
Match the environment to the recommended system (see table above).
Review your fleet’s truck chassis and capacity — confirm compatibility.
Decide on single-purpose vs. multipurpose upfit (plow only vs. plow + dump + spreader + utility body).
Contact O.J. Watson for a quote, configuration consultation, or fleet needs assessment.
Colorado winters can be unpredictable — from heavy snowpacks and drifting blizzards in the mountains to ice storms on the plains. For municipalities, contractors, and public works departments, the right snow-removal, de-icing, and maintenance fleet can make all the difference.
Use this guide to make informed decisions. Whether you need a heavy-duty snow blower for mountain passes, a reliable plow for city streets, or a multipurpose work truck that serves year-round, the right equipment from Aebi-Schmidt, BOSS Plow, or Monroe — installed and supported by O.J. Watson — will help you stay ahead of winter.