Do I need skid shoes?

[RoyJackson]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I tried a rear blade for snow....generally useless regardless of frozen ground or not. Might work OK on paved surfaces. I'd get a snowblower for the rear if you have to struggle with frequent snow or get a blade for the loader. )</font>

Why do you think a rear blade is useless, Jim?

 

[JimMorrissey]

Sounds like you're looking to have a conversation on rear blades.....which from the sounds of your question you own and use successfully. I believe rear blades are useful for many things (ditching, grading (depending on size tractor and blade), light snow clearing on frozen ground, pushing debris, rough cleanout, counter-balance, smoothing, root removal, etc.) however removing wet snow on soft ground in reverse is not one of them, especially with a smaller machine and blade. If one starts to dig in or the snow is somewhat deep and wet the angle of the blade will push the machine and control it. Exactly what the poster stated is going to happen. It will take hours to get the job done and will likely do more damage than good, especially if there is nice lawn to contend with. There are better options IMO. Hope that answered your question.

 

[snmhanson]

I'm not sure if you were referring to my orignal post or someone else who replied but my B7800 (with only loaded turfs I might add) did perfectly fine when using the blade. It tracked straight as a bullet with the ~8" of heavy snow I was plowing. I can't say what will happen when we get more snow but usually we don't get more than one foot between plowings. The problem I was having was with the blade digging in or rising too high with every slight change in pitch of the tractor so that is why I was wondering about skid shoes. Sounds like everyone has had mixed results. In any case my impatience got the best of me and I ended up ordering a pair. Oh well, they weren't that expensive if they end up not working out for me. Thanks for the help.

Matt

 

[JimMorrissey]

Yes, I was referring to the post earlier. Hopefully that will work for you. Blades are tough in the snow, but some folks seem to like them. I guess it's all what you get used to and your expectations.

I've had situations later in the snow year when the banks get piled high and are frozen and it's very difficult to work with a rear blade even with frozen solid ground. I have a long drive (1000'+) so that makes a difference too.

 

[Toolguy]

If during the winter you get snow piled up enough that the tractor can no longer move it, then a snowblower is the way to go. My JD318 with weights and chains that I had for years would do fine with the front blade until the banks froze. Then I would spend a couple of hours pushing them back only to do it all over again after the next big snow. I bought a snowblower for it and the problem was solved. It all depends on the size of the machine. A pickup with a snowplow would have no problem with the banks I could not move with the little JD but, I don't have a pickup with a snowplow. So I used what I had. Now I have a Kubota B3030 and the rear blade will do just fine until I get my used Meyers plow fitted up to the front of it. For me and the snow we get here, that is all I will ever need. And yes, skid shoes help a lot. Until the ground is frozen shoes that are flat on the bottom with a turned up lip at the front will work better than the round concave type. If you can only get the round type you can always make some flat pads out of 1/4 to 1/2" stock.

 

[rcaretti]

I bought skid shoes for my rear blade before last winter, and they made quite a difference. They do leave two small skid marks, but that isn't much of a problem compared to the amount of gravel I was plowing up previously.

I don't plow in reverse and don't turn the blade around. I find (as someone mentioned earlier) using the top link to change the angle on the blade works well enough for me.

 

[CTyler]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I've had situations later in the snow year when the banks get piled high and are frozen and it's very difficult to work with a rear blade even with frozen solid ground. I have a long drive (1000'+) so that makes a difference too. )</font>

I have a 600'+ drive on a hill and use the RB with the blade turned around backwards while driving forward. We just had ~2" followed by 5" of snow this weekend and it works fine. When its gets heavy and wet then i turn the blade around. Yea it will slide the back end if you pull to much snow. I'll usually set the FEL bucket up several inches and skim the blade. If we get 12" of snow then I'll take a couple passes at it. Same thing for snow banks.

The first year I pulled lots of rock around, no HTL. The second year I installed an HTL and pulled a minimal amount of rock, also learned a little along the way. This year zero rock has been pulled around so far.

This is my third year in the country and we have had some record snow falls. A snow blower would have been nice to have one time each year. If I lived in an area that more snow a blower may be the way to go or get chains. Everyone needs are a little different.

 

[Makers_Mark]

I've been plowing succesfully with a blade for 2 years. This year is different. I put down 3/4" gravel. I like the draining qualities of the gravel. The driveway never puddles. Rain runs under the gravel not on top...but, the gravel is always loose. Plowing in reverse works to a certain extent. but has anyone ever plowed with guage wheels on the blade? I figure the wheels won't dig in like the shoes would.

 

[TwinWillows]

Do you have a photo of yours w/the skid shoes? That'd help since I can't picture what the shoes you're talking about look like. Thanks.

 

[snmhanson]

Allright, I had some skid shoes on order but the saleman called back and said they'd be ~$175 so I am cancelling that. How much did any of you have to pay? Any ideas where I can get a pair for less? I could try to make some but I really don't have the tools to do it right. Thanks.

Matt