Snow Attachments Snow removal over gravel?

[jjmarotz]

A trick I learned from my dad is....use your tractor and drive over every square foot, a couple of times, of what you intend to plow/blow in the winter. The compaction of driving over the snow will keep your gravel "locked" in place and not in your yard. Once the hardpack or ice layer form you won't have a problem. I still use this tecnique to this day on the same property he lived at for 30+ yrs and my gravel does not live in my pastures or main drive As a matter of fact... I did this very thing this morning as we finally got enuf snow to warrant fireing up the blower.

 

[D7E]

For the first couple of snows i don't remove it but rub the loader bucket over it backwards or drag the blower backwards repeatedly and pack it down hard,With our cold and repeated traffic it makes an ice road eventually that nothing will break through ..i can drop the D7 dozer blade on it and scrape without finding gravel for the rest of the winter..!

 

[wedge40]

I have a question for the OP. Is this a new driveway with fairly loose gravel or something established. If its loose gravel then just raise the blade an inch or two off the ground and go.

For those of you with flat driveways that pack the snow into ice, thats a great idea, till you have to go up or down a hill that has curves in it. Ice isn't a good thing then. My drive gets ice packed once or twice a year and getting up it is a real challenge sometimes.

I'm lucky in that my gravel is packed, I have a 4x4 that I drive in what little winter we get. If the snow it higher than 10 inches than I might have to worry about it. But for the most part I just put the truck in 4-wheel drive when I get the house and I'm fine.

Wedge

 

[D7E]

we live on open prarie so have heavy windbreaks around the yard so snowfall is'nt so much the problem as drifting. Where the 1/4 mile driveway ends and enters the tree line it can drift 4ft deep for 100-200 ft overnight and the rest of the drive is blown clean.
With our -35's the ice can actually grip reasonably well..it's when it warms up we get problems.
I have one 90hp tractor that puts around 100-150hrs snow clearing each winter just servicing my own and my parents yards...I would'nt bother clearing half the time as my old F150 farm truck has not far short of tractor tyres on it and loaded down with Headache rack /welder/compressor/tools etc will usually push through but the wife has a ford focus and leaves at 6am every morning ...Looks funny when she parks my old truck outside her office..!

 

[irvingj]

First couple of snows I just drive over & pack down. Once a good base is set up, then the blower...

BUT---I also always keep sand handy for the inevitable freezing rain episodes....

 

[lungdoc]

I think a lot of this depends on where you live - easier in many ways if it's cold enough to leave hardpack snow/ice layer than if that always melts off. We're in solid winter territory and do as many others - try to develop a 'base' packed layer. Helps a huge amount to have shoes on a plow if you use a conventional plow; can get good control also with loader bucket as others have said.

 

[JDGreenGrass]

I agree with most.

It's all about allowing a base to set up.

Most of your problems will come early winter and spring time or at those times when the ground isn't frozen or there is a thaw in the works.

But, really, it's no biggie. Adjust your skid shoes to be a couple inches high and don't scrap with a blade.

 

[Dusty1]

Thanks for the input guys, it really helps. I'm leaning toward a blade since I live in Southern Ohio and don't get very much snow a year. So does a front blade tilt left or right like the rear blade? My drive is packed pretty well since I cover it with crusher run instead of plain gravel (definately the way to go), but it is not all that wide, and 2 passes tilting the blade would probably work pretty well. Also, is a front blade better at grading the gravel in the spring than a rear blade? I'm trying to purchase 1 impliment, not 2, so if it doesn't work double duty I won't get it.
I'm also concerned with leaveing a "base" of snow since we mostly get a freeze that is in a constant state of thawing then re-freezing. My truck is 2WD and I have a decent hill to climb. Do you guys ever put sinders or salt on the gravel after a snow?

 

[zzvyb6]

The secret is to 'plow' the driveway lightly with the blade before the snow comes to level off the humps and mounds. This sets the grade for the plow blade once the snow is present. This includes packing down the gravel with a roller or tires, too. Then, the blade ought to have adjustable skid shoes set to an inch or so below the blade. This keeps you from digging up the gravel.

 

[Dusty1]

Serously guys, lots of great input here, I really appreciate it. One final question for you that's always up, do you have better luck with ag tires or R4 tires over frozen gravel?