Snow Equipment Owning/Operating R4's and snow don't mix

[lungdoc]

Our 4320 with loaded R4's (and our much larger JCB backhoe for that matter) is ok on cold snow, relatively useless on slippery near-freezing point snow or ice especially if there's a hill. Problem solved with chains - now it's a tank!

 

[JB4310]

My drive has about a 20' change in vertical in about 200' of length (don't have the gumption to look up the formula to calculate grade...).

That would be 10% grade average (I'm pretty sure), some parts might be steeper and some less. That's about as steep as you will see on public roads.
Not sure how to figure it in degrees? 4.5?

That's about the same as mine about 10' in 100' one part of mine is steeper and under trees, ices bad. I've always made it up or down with just the R-4's but put the chains on the front to have more control.

lungdoc, nice set up!

JB.

 

[Dargo]

I happen to have two sets of wheels and tires for my tractor; R1's and R4's. To be honest, I really don't see much difference at all in moving snow. There is a big difference in pulling hard in muddy conditions, the R1's pull much harder there, but I actually prefer the R4's in the snow after about 3 years of going back and forth between the two. The only time the R1's pull better is if I get off the paved surface and they bite into the turf next to the paved surface. Otherwise it's pretty well a toss up with a slight edge to the R4's based on a tractor that weighs around 10k on average.

 

[lungdoc]

Thanks JB! - I'm still trying to decide on the ideal combination of loader/blower/rear blade for my needs - have a long and hilly road in that is expensive to pay others to plow...which I'll need to do sometimes but nice to be able to do myself. Loader alone obviousy not answer. Nice to be able to move the banks left by pickup plowing as they close in over time so some appeal of a rear blade with offset. Speed favors front blade (we have skid-steer quick attach). Front blower nice but $$$ and then no FEL, rear blower makes it a long way backwards; considering rear pull-type blower and FEL/front blade combos.

Highly recommend chains if you have R4's and hills, though my father in law has successfully plowed with his JCB and R4's for years on his flat lot -but he won't even go up our hill in the winter!

 

[kennyd]

Get in, sit down, shut up and hold on

 

[dirtworksequip]

Okay, R1's work better for me. R4's work better for me. R3's work better for me. Lets just say whatever tire you prefer works better for you, instead of dragging this out for 20+ pages.

Sincerely, Dirt

 

[Danno1]

Not sure how to figure it in degrees? 4.5?

JB.

ArcTan (20/200) = 5.7 deg

.

 

[Reg]

My Deere with 17.5x24 R4 tires in 4wd can't make it up a hill my truck can in 2wd It's time for some R1's or chains..

That probably isn't a tire problem.
I have the same size tires and they PULL in snow.
Check that it IS IN 4 WD (or "front assist", whatever JD call it) and STOMP on the diff lock if you have to.

 

[ChuckinNH]

Thanks Kennyd, That really brought a laugh that I needed today. I'm getting comfortable!

I think that there are particular snow / ice conditions that will challenge any tire without chains installed. I can see where that snow that turns slick the minute one drives on it would be a problem with my R-4's, too much smooth rubber there, Same thing with R-1's too, nothing to bite into. Turfs would win here with their siping, and soft compounds. Take a turf tire into deep snow, or the cornmeal snow of spring, and they will load up, and spin. R-1's are probably best here with R-4's a close second. On snow that is firm, or plowing where you can get down to frozen earth, or pavement my guess is that R-4's will win. Ten degrees in temperature can change the odds of any tire winning, but chains don't care about that much, especially chains like Lungdoc has! That is one sharp looking setup BTW! With that kind of chain, what's under it becomes a moot point.

 

[schmism]

ive had no issues with my R4's and snow... little short on lateral stability but R1's are going to be even worse at that...