Tow Plow Feedback From Clear Roads: Upfit, Spreading and Blades

What the source is: the Clear Roads “Product Experience Feedback 2006-2021” file, a compilation of state ratings and comments on products. Why it matters: the tow plow section includes comments on upfit, spreading and blades that an equipment manager can use as questions. I read the tow plow pages on 24 October 2026. These are state staff opinions and ratings, not measured trials, and the file does not give wear data.

What the file shows

The file is a set of operator comments, and the comments are more useful than the ratings.

• Many states reported ratings of 4 or 5 out of 5 for overall satisfaction, and the table’s average ratings are given as 4.5 (extremely satisfied) overall. A few ratings were lower, including a Pennsylvania entry of 2.
• Blades: Michigan DOT wrote that a flexible blade was fitted because the pilot route had raised pavement markers, which tore up steel blades.
• Upfit: Michigan reported that the unit needed enhancing to work with its truck, including lights, and that the discharge on the tongue side was awkward for unloading unused material. Pennsylvania reported that the truck upfit cost was high and needed conversion to spread granular material while plowing, and a later Pennsylvania entry said the tow plow could not spread the whole snow route with material.
• Training: Minnesota and North Dakota comments describe a learning curve, with operators liking it more with experience.
• Risk: New Hampshire noted that if the towing unit breaks down, the patrol section loses two plowing devices unless a backup can be mated.
• Use: Missouri comments describe clearing shoulders or extra width in one pass.

Questions this suggests for your fleet

Feedback from clear-road operators is useful only if it maps onto your own fleet. These five questions turn someone else’s experience into a decision.

1. What blade will you fit, given your pavement markers, joints and other features? The edge that suits a clear arterial may damage a marked junction.
2. Does your truck have the horsepower, lighting and hydraulics to carry the unit? A tow plow adds load and demand that a standard build may not cover.
3. How will you spread material while plowing, and does the tow plow affect that? Spreading and plowing at once changes the salt budget.
4. What is your backup if the towing truck breaks down? One truck pulling two lanes is a single point of failure.
5. How will operators be trained, and for how long? The learning curve is where most early damage happens.

What the file does not tell you

The file reports satisfaction, not wear, and the difference matters when you budget edges.

• It does not give blade life or edge wear figures for tow plows.
• Ratings are from different states and years and are not directly comparable.
• The comments are opinions of those who chose to respond.

Boundary: Ratings and comments are state opinions compiled by Clear Roads and contain no measured edge wear data; read the full file before relying on any detail.