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

[Conservation]

After switching my turfs to R1's in the rear, I can say that the title of this thread is conditional. My fronts are R4's, and are now the weak point traction wise. They don't penetrate the way R1's do. However, on ice, the R4's should be just as good as anything else, expecially with chains. In deep snow, the R4's just don't paddle the way the R1's do. Since I drive through the snow and clear with the rear blade, this is significant to me. My tractor's performance switching from chained turf to R1's is much better in the snow. I could still use a little more weight though. I may also ballast the front so that the R4's can penetrate better. Should make steering better also.

 

[Builder]

I just plowed some driveways last night with R-4's. One was hilly. I started at the bottom and dropped the plow. I plowed uphill to the top of the driveway and felt a slight wheel slippage on the way up, but easily continued.

I looked at the 4x4 lever and noticed I was in 4x2.

I was happy to see that my "pathetic" R-4 tires had just plowed snow uphill in 4x2.

I think what's lost in a lot of these hotly contested R-1 vs R-4 threads is the skill of the operator, the ballast, the use of the locking rear, etc. I'm experienced in off-roading, tractoring and snowplowing. I can plow snow on bald tires better than most people can with studded snow tires, so the whole R-1 v R-4 urinating match is more entertainment to me than fact.

 

[Conservation]

I'm sure skill is part of the puzzle. Do you have a front plow or a rear blade? Actually, I see now that it is a pretty good size tractor with a front plow. If you were driving through the snow and having to use the rear blade, the R1 vs R4 thing may be more of a factor. I like the plow you have too.

 

[wolc123]

Certainly you can make R4's work on snow with enough rear ballast. I had a Case 580C TLB that had a bunch and it would move a lot of snow with little trouble. The problem with the CUT's, is that they cant handle that kind of ballast. Most of these guys also have to deal with blacktop or concrete which rules out chains. Loaded R1's are the best option here and will provide much more traction on snow than R4's. If you are stuck with R4's and cant use chains or sufficient rear ballast then I would forget about a plow and stick with a blower which requires far less traction.

 

[Builder]

Certainly you can make R4's work on snow with enough rear ballast. I had a Case 580C TLB that had a bunch and it would move a lot of snow with little trouble. The problem with the CUT's, is that they cant handle that kind of ballast. Most of these guys also have to deal with blacktop or concrete which rules out chains. Loaded R1's are the best option here and will provide much more traction on snow than R4's. If you are stuck with R4's and cant use chains or sufficient rear ballast then I would forget about a plow and stick with a blower which requires far less traction.

I will never go through the hassle or damage of chains. I have my rear tires filled. I plan on sticking with a power angling plow and I bet I have no trouble whatsoever.

I chuckle when I read all these "traction" problems. I barely needed 4 wheel drive last night while plowing with R-4's.

I have a feeling a lot of the guys that can't get traction have a front plow and little or no rear ballast, or have unreal expectations of their tractors.

 

[SPYDERLK]

I'm not talking temp's...I have some 90's that nothing goes up or down, even the deer stay clear and I'm not talking the john type...

Well, what are you talking about? 90 degrees is straight up. Absolutely no traction. Insects manage it with sticky filamentous feet. Mountain climbers drive pitons to get hold of. Perhaps youre talking % even tho you said degrees?
larry

 

[Dargo]

I will never go through the hassle or damage of chains. I have my rear tires filled. I plan on sticking with a power angling plow and I bet I have no trouble whatsoever.

I chuckle when I read all these "traction" problems. I barely needed 4 wheel drive last night while plowing with R-4's.

I have a feeling a lot of the guys that can't get traction have a front plow and little or no rear ballast, or have unreal expectations of their tractors.

I was wondering if I was the only person who had people tell me that they don't want any chains on tires when their lot or driveway is plowed. I've seen many driveways where the chain marks are very clear and the surface is damaged. Granted we don't get much snow where I live, but after spending the coin to concrete over a quarter mile of my own driveway this last year, I'll be darned if I'd ever use chains on any tires to plow my driveway. Heck, the few jobs I do have to plow snow for have actually come out and inspected the skid shoes behind my blade to make sure that they are the poly-whatever and not steel skid shoes that might leave marks. Maybe my people are just picky?

To be honest, I'd really prefer it to snow at least once here before winter is over. I need to make a little more to finish covering the cost of the blades I have for snow removal. I told my wife I'd do enough jobs to pay for the equipment and then quit, leaving me with "free" snow removal equipment for our driveway. Our biggest snow has been a whopping 1" so far this year. I think bald turf tires would have handled that just fine. Seriously though, don't people complain about the damage done by chains?

 

[john_bud]

I have a feeling a lot of the guys that can't get traction have a front plow and little or no rear ballast, or have unreal expectations of their tractors.

Well, that feeling is not 100% correct. I have R4's and they suck for traction. No plow, loaded tires and a 1000# box blade on the 3pt. I'm not talking about pushing on fresh plowed driveway, I'm talking about going thru 20" or more of accumulated snow across fields and thru the woods. They stink. Going across side hills and the tractor will go downhill for every foot forward - if you are lucky. The deep lugs on R1's limit that from happinging as easily as the R4's.

There is more to traction than what pushes snow when the tractor is on the fresh plowed part. Go cross country without the plow and let us know how you like going up, down and across hills. Some of us used to do it frequently and have formed opinions from that experience.

 

[ScottK]

ArcTan (20/200) = 5.7 deg

.

That's not how they calculate road grades though. You're right if talking about an angle in a triangle. On roads, for every 1 foot change over 100 feet = 1%.

 

[nightrodjc]

I got my new chains installed on the deere and I should kick myself for not getting them sooner. I have a hill at the end of my drive thats 40ft long and on a 30 deg. angle. This hill always gives me trouble(even my last tractor with loaded r4's) but this time it walked right up it in 2wd without the diff. locked. For 260.00 shipped to my door they are worth every penny..

Thanks for all your inputs, I'm now a happy camper again