Snow Equipment Owning/Operating Snow "Clearing" Observation

[BXRICK]

As the snow has flown in much of the country over the last month, there have been a lot of posts about the "best" way to clear driveways, the downsides of each and such.

As I read these posts, I see the main ways to do it:
FEL, back blade (fowards and backwards), blower, front blade.
Each has its up and down sides which you can read about all over this board.

One thing I find interesting, and I think affects peoples' opinions on the "best" method, is the reltive nature of the phrase "clear snow".

For instance, many people talk about "letting a few inches build up" on their gravel drives. Which works well - I do it on my drive. But to other people "a few inches" of hard pack is anything but "clear". Neither is wrong, just a difference of opinion about how clear a driveway has to be.

None of this matters, but I just found it interesting.

And, no matter how well you clear your driveway, how much money and effort you tie up in it, it'll be clear in July.

[trlong]

Good observations. Often, each has their own set of circumstances, especially amount and type of snow normal for area, type, length, slope of driveway, and then financial and personal preferences. I think I get a little more seat time with the blower and RB combination vs. front angle blade (this is a good thing [img]/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]). That said, I'm off to clear about 6" of nice new white stuff [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img], and it's still snowing [img]/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img].

Tom

[scott_vt]

I think everything is relative when someone, as you say, is going to clear snow [img]/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img] My driveway is 800 ft long and is sloping from moderate on top to steep on the other end. This time of year right through until sometime in Feb or Mar, I have a layer of ice on the entire length of the drive. Even though the driveway faces south amd west. Once that ice gets on there, it doesnt go away anytime soon [img]/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] As Tom says, its still snowing [img]/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

scotty

[rfmr]

My definition of "clearing snow" is to make sure the Motorhome can get out at a moments notice. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] If I have to wait to July in order to get back into the driveway that's ok. The advantage of having my own tractor is that I don't have to lose time waiting for the plow guy before I could leave.

[zuiko]

I'm happy so long as I can get in and out in a rear wheel drive car with no problem. The areas I plow are gravel and grass so I let a base develop.

[Slamfire]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">(

And, no matter how well you clear your driveway, how much money and effort you tie up in it, it'll be clear in July.
)</font>

I once worked at a hydro electric plant in the Eastern Sierras. The company housed you there. The driveway wasn't always clear in July. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

[Boondox]

Yup, only seven more months till summer!