taming icy (gravel) driveway

[44trxfun]

After several 30-40 degree (F) days with a few bouts of rain, my snow "base layer" on the gravel driveway has become a skating / sliding rink. It's darn slick and dangerous, not to mention a challenge going up or down in a vehicle. I'm not big on de-icers, don't burn wood so don't have ash readily available, etc.

For grins, I mounted up the landscape rake and took several passes at the driveway and the garage turnaround. IT WORKED GREAT! It's got enough texture in it now that traction on foot or vehicle shouldn't be an issue (espcially since it's supposed to get below freezing tonight).

Don't know if any of you fellow gravel drive brethren have tried this, but it seems like a pretty easy way to make those icy areas a whole lot safer.

 

[JoeL4330]

Glad to hear it worked ...I thought of doing just that, because we had a wicked ice storm and my drive is 3/10 mi. uphill all the way. However, I didn't try it because I was too lazy to take my snowblower off the 3ph. I have chains on all 4 wheels of my 4wd tractor and that broke up the slick ice.

Additionally, what I decided to do, was buy a "tailgate sand spreader" that attaches to a hitch receiver. Thought, first, I would use if on my 4wd truck, but noticed that I had a clamp-on receiver for my FEL bucket ...so, I attached the receiver and mounted the spreader, thinking that I could snowblow the drive clean and spread the sand at the same time ...

I have no idea if this will work, because by the time I got it and hooked it up, the big thaw had arrived, temps in the 50's. So, I figure as long as I have it, we won't have any more ice, at all ...just as we haven't had any snow worth snowblowing in the 2+ years I've had the blower ...but, I am all set for whatever.

If this idea interests anyone, I could take some pics.

 

[Dmace]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Additionally, what I decided to do, was buy a "tailgate sand spreader" that attaches to a hitch receiver. Thought, first, I would use if on my 4wd truck, but noticed that I had a clamp-on receiver for my FEL bucket ...so, I attached the receiver and mounted the spreader, thinking that I could snowblow the drive clean and spread the sand at the same time ...)</font>

This is exactly what I have been planning on doing. I have been eyeing the SUV spreader from Northern Tool for $399 seen here. I planned on mounting a 2" receiver to the bucket with clamps to mount the sander/spreader and then sanding while snowblowing.
Seems like a great idea with a rear mount snowblower.
Let me know how it works.

 

[Slamfire]

When it isn't raining it is freezing and thawing. Under those conditions it isn't a good idea for me to stir up the clay base on my drive. There are a couple of spots where the mud tires on my truck slip and slide a bit. I think I'll leave the rake parked for now, glad it worked ok for you though.

 

[PineRidge]

Been known to use the landscape rake, salt, and when it really gets bad the rippers on the box blade. They all work to some degree. The
tractor and the cars are 4-wheel drive so we have never had any problems getting in or out. But whenever there is ice we don't let the USPS trucks, FedEx or UPS in any further than the end of the drive. I've had to pull them out so often that I now kid them all about their towing tab.

 

[GoodGuy]

Yes, Pics would be Great. How bout the tractor & blower setup as well. Thanks

 

[KubotaSteve]

That was some ice storm we had, wasn't it. I just took a bucket full of crusher run and dumped up the driveway. It is relatively flat except for right as you enter the county road and is only 200 feet long. I think next year, I'll just have a tandem load of stone dust on hand.

 

[Freds]

That's good to hear this worked. My drive was a rink a couple weeks ago and I used rock salt at $5 for 50lbs. I would have much rather used my rake, but thought it would just skid along.
I almost slid off my own drive idling around a curve when I left to get the salt /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[CTyler]

Interesting about the landscape rake, would not have guessed that would work.

The last time the drive got icey slick, it was scary slick. I couldn't even get past my terrace with the tractor. All tires spinning and going backwards makes things interesting till you drop the bucket. Of course the sun turned everything to slush a hour or so after that little episode.

I keep several tubes of dry sand around and throw a couple in the bucket. That way there is always traction since your sprinkling sand in front of the tires. This year I also kept about a yard of 3/4 crusher run sitting in a pile out of the way.

The drive is about 600'+ and all hill. We have 4wd vehicles so its not an issue for us but is for delivery trucks. Usually scraping it with the blade is good enough but had to sand it twice last year. 3 or 4 ~75lb bags does the trick.

 

[44trxfun]

As with all winter weather work, there's a bunch of variables. I'm guessing my technique requires the ice to be within a range of density such that the rake teeth can get just a bit of bite.

The pictures I have aren't great, but I think they show the end result (this time). Before I started (several degrees warmer), it was just a sheet of ice.