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

[Diamondpilot]

I think it really matters on tire size, tractor weight, HP, snow type, ect, ect, ect. My 28Hp Jinma weighs 5,200# with me and the 7' rear blade on it. I have the R1's loaded with WW Fluid, rear weights, and front weights plus a FEL with a 5' bucket. Its a tank. I see alot of these 25ish HP tractors that weigh in at about 2,000#. They make good lawn mowers but not really cut out to do work like moving snow.

Chris

 

[DK35vince]

For years I fought trying to push snow with my R-4's. They were useless in snow.
I added chains this year and the differance is AMAZING. Don't know why I waited so long before adding a set of chains.

 

[pat32rf]

Since when is 10' in 100' considered a HILL ? Thats level ground around here. Our driveway has 3- 20/100 slopes. I normally wait until I get a good frozen base of packed snow/ice then put on the blower. I find that my R4s with chains are fine until I hit about 40'/100 (actually one spot on the maple syrup trail where I have to climb 4'/10' ) then I have trouble if the snow is deep or packed

 

[jimb1724]

My r4s (loaded) were great for the first 2 winters i had the machine. by the 3rd winter, the leading edge of the treads were worn down somewhat and i think that they actually round-off. my driveway is 700'+ on a pretty steep hill. last year i added vbar chains on the rear only and now it is a tank. i can push and blow snow back up the hill now as well, so it cut my play time in half... i don't think any type of tire by itself will matter much on compacted, frozen snow/ice....

 

[lungdoc]

Since when is 10' in 100' considered a HILL ? Thats level ground around here. Our driveway has 3- 20/100 slopes. I normally wait until I get a good frozen base of packed snow/ice then put on the blower. I find that my R4s with chains are fine until I hit about 40'/100 (actually one spot on the maple syrup trail where I have to climb 4'/10' ) then I have trouble if the snow is deep or packed

I hear you! Our place is on the other side of Algonquin north of Dwight and we have some decent hills as I know you do in Bancroft. This is a view up the not-that-steep part of our drive, there are at least three spots significantly steeper.

As to more weight being better moving snow that may be a help when plowing but when you start to slide it isn't a help - in fact it makes things worse as asking more of the contact patch. Ask anyone who's slid off the road in a 7 ton loader...

With slippery conditions R4's on flat = ok, R4 on hill = bad, R4 + chains =

 

[Builder]

Get in, sit down, shut up and hold on

Hilarious!

And I'm staying out of this one, because I'm enjoying all the bovine scatology I can possibly read in one thread!!

 

[Hooked_on_HP]

Has anyone tried lowering their tire pressure to get a wider footprint. I do this with my R1's and it helps. Most of the R4's I see seem to have a lot of crown? to them.
Bill

 

[Knute]

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..

Interesting. My Kubota 7510 with R4 tires in 4wd easily drove up a wet, thick slush, snowy hill (my driveway) my 4x4 truck couldn't get up.

I think chains will do you more good, and be cheaper, than buying a set of R1's.

I want a set of front and rear lockers for my truck.

 

[Conservation]

Interesting. My Kubota 7510 with R4 tires in 4wd easily drove up a wet, thick slush, snowy hill (my driveway) my 4x4 truck couldn't get up.

I think chains will do you more good, and be cheaper, than buying a set of R1's.

I want a set of front and rear lockers for my truck.

Lockers on a truck are great. I ordered the limited slip on my 3/4 ton chevy. That plus the 500# of lead in the back that I cleaned out of the printing shop I run make my pickup a real monster, even in two wd. Lockers are even better. Again, I am a beliver in penetration, or high surface pressure for winter challenges. My narrow r1's that I should have at the beginning of next week will really increase the psi on the ground compaired to my wide turfs. We will see if it works as well as I hope. I just hate sliding sideways when using the rear blade angled.

 

[nightrodjc]

Thanks for all the posts, some good info here. How about chevy,ford,dodge just kidding. Lungdoc I like your setup, r4's for all around use and chains for the winter months. I just ordered rear duo style chains but with 15 to 65 deg. paths I might still need to get the front set also. I have some 85 deg. quad paths here too but I try and keep the deere away from those ones