55gal snow roller/ compactor

NS Gearhead · Feb 12, 2016

I'll get some pics up later today, but first one question; how much weight do I need to effectively compact snow? I'm planning on putting 20gal of washer fluid in it (1/3 full, up to the axle where I would leak out) about 170lbs. I could add a cinder block tray...three would add 120lbs, so 290lbs...but I'd rather not if it's not needed. What do you think?

NS Gearhead · Feb 12, 2016

It is a 55gal plastic barrel. Approx 3' long, 2' diam.

Looking4new · Feb 12, 2016

I think it would compact the snow IF you went over it a few times. Why compact it? Why not plow/blow it?

semntrails · Feb 12, 2016

Depends on how much snow you are trying to compact and how dry/wet your snow is. Are you trying to compact it hard enough to walk on, snow shoe, drive?

An easier way might be to add weights to the frame around the roller then you can add/remove them as you need. For rolling ski trails we use just the roller and the tracks of the snow machine to pack it down. Some places add 25-150lbs of weight to a 6' wide roller. Let it sit over night and it'll be somewhat firm. It helps to pack it in layers, if you pack several 6" snow falls it'll be firmer than trying to pack one 24" layer.
Going over it a few times will keep packing it down but unless you have moist snow and/or a few freeze/thaw cycles it'll never be like concrete.

RobS · Feb 12, 2016

I've been riding a lot of groomed fat bike trails lately. The better ones seem to be groomed with a corrugated roller, likely a section of PVC culvert pipe. Here's some photos from Google:

https://www.google.com/search?q=fat+bike+grooming&espv=2&biw=1366&bih=681&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiolrXwq_LKAhXTth4KHTXXBrUQsAQIGw&dpr=1

Blaneypark · Feb 12, 2016

I'm going to guess the plastic barrel will crack, They don't like cold.

NS Gearhead · Feb 12, 2016

It's for the neighborhood sledding hill.

Looking4new · Feb 12, 2016

NS Gearhead said:
It's for the neighborhood sledding hill.

A half a dozen people on a toboggan will do the same thing and have fun doing it.

NS Gearhead · Feb 12, 2016

It's a decent hill, but when we get a foot of snow, nobody's getting anywhere until it gets packed down. Sure, you could spend the afternoon scooting yourself 6" at a time and wade through a couple feet of snow on your way back up, but that gets old fast... I'm just trying to do something nice for the neighborhood kids. I'm 7 hours in & $90. Just needs another coat of paint and final assembly. I also plow a walking path back up the hill and brought over a heavy pallet for dragging.