When you're pushing through a snow-covered lot, you're not just dealing with snow—you’re also dealing with hidden obstacles underneath it. From manhole covers and curbs to frozen snowbanks and storm drains, these hazards can put stress on your plow and truck.
That’s where a snowplow tripping system comes in. A tripping system allows part or all of the plow blade to give way when it encounters an obstacle, helping absorb impact and reduce stress on the equipment.
BOSS uses three tripping system designs: Trip-Edge, Full-Trip, and Dual Trip. The right system depends on the types of obstacles and conditions you encounter while plowing.
Definition
Snowplow Tripping System: A snowplow tripping system is designed to reduce the impact when a plow encounters a hidden or solid object. Instead of stopping abruptly when the blade hits an obstruction, the blade or cutting edge “trips,” or gives way, to absorb some of the force.
Most tripping systems rely on two key components:
Tripping mechanisms that allow part or all of the blade to move
Pressure relief valves that help reduce stress on the hydraulic system and frame
Together, these components help protect the plow and truck while reducing the impact felt by the operator.
Trip-edge plows are designed to handle smaller, low-profile obstructions—generally anything under about six inches. When the lower edge of the blade encounters an obstacle such as a manhole cover, large pavement crack, or speed bump, the trip edge pivots forward and gives way.
This allows the plow to move over the obstacle without transferring the full impact to the moldboard, truck, or operator.
Helps maintain your snow load because the upper blade stays rigid
Reduces operator shock
Trip-return spring tension can be customized for different conditions
Well suited for applications where low-profile obstacles are common
Full-trip plows provide protection when the plow encounters larger obstacles. With this design, the entire moldboard trips forward to help cushion the impact.
Examples of larger obstacles include:
Curbs
Storm drains
Frozen snowbanks
The full-trip system allows the entire moldboard to move forward when an obstacle is encountered, helping distribute the impact and reduce stress on the plow and truck.
BOSS plows that use full-trip technology include XT plows and Super-Duty straight-blade plows.
Provides additional cushioning when encountering larger obstacles
Well suited for commercial snow removal applications
Helps protect the plow and truck when ground hazards are difficult to see
The BOSS DXT combines trip-edge and full-trip technology into one system.
When the trip edge encounters a lower obstacle, it trips forward first. If the impact requires additional movement, the full moldboard can also trip, providing a second layer of impact protection.
The DXT combines the low-obstacle protection of a trip edge with the additional cushioning of a full-trip moldboard. That makes it well suited for contractors who encounter a wide range of conditions and obstacles during a snow event.
Heavy-duty base cutting edge with a replaceable wear edge
Protection against both low-profile and larger obstacles
Designed for mixed terrain and unpredictable conditions
The right tripping system depends on the conditions and obstacles you encounter most often.
No matter which system you choose, BOSS tripping technology is designed to help reduce the impact of obstacles and protect your snowplow and truck while you keep moving.
A snowplow tripping system allows part or all of the plow blade to give way when it encounters an obstacle. This helps absorb impact and reduce stress on the plow, truck, and operator.
A Trip-Edge system allows the lower cutting edge of the plow to trip forward while the upper moldboard remains rigid. A Full-Trip system allows the entire moldboard to trip forward when the plow encounters an obstacle.
A Dual Trip snowplow combines Trip-Edge and Full-Trip technology. The trip edge can move when it encounters a lower obstacle, while the full moldboard can also trip when additional movement is needed.
The right tripping system depends on the types of obstacles and conditions you encounter while plowing. Trip-Edge systems are designed for low-profile obstacles, Full-Trip systems allow the entire moldboard to move when encountering larger obstacles, and Dual Trip systems combine both approaches.
The BOSS DXT snowplow uses Dual Trip technology, combining a trip edge with a full-trip moldboard for two layers of impact protection.