Snow-How much can I do w/o more $

[jimb1724]

Thanks for all the great replies. Maybe chains are cheaper than I thought. I would definitely pick up a pair for $200. Can anyone recommend an online seller, and exactly what type give the best traction? Thanks again


If you have a gravel hilly driveway, chains are the best investment you can make. I have a long steep gravel drive and when the ground freezes for the winter the snow gets packed and icy. R-4's or Ag tires dont matter. I put a set of rear V-Bar chains on my little 20hp machine and now it's a tank.

 

[jimb1724]

Oops. Forgot to add to my prior post....

I got the V-Bar chains from tirechain.com a couple of years ago, I think they were about $160 for the set.

Jim

 

[MWB1564]

Looks like I'm going to be getting some v-bar chains from tirechains.com. I'm pretty confident now that if I can maintain traction I can make my loader and box blade work for moving the snow. It might take me longer, but thats OK. Thank you everyone for the advice and happy new year.

 

[VictorW]

I have a CK30hst and plow snow with a 6ft back blade. We get good snows here of a foot or more. Sometimes I use the fel bucket to move piles around. One thing that helps when using the bucket is to keep the bucket just off the ground which lets the extra fel weight stay on the front tires for more traction and better steering when it's icy. I do have chains for the rear, from tirechain.com, about $275, that really help. The duogrip work great, had them on an older tractor, but they don't make them for the 15-19.5. I have the ladder chains without the v-bar but bought the two link instead of the four link. I plow my cement driveway and my neighbors asphalt driveway and don't want to tear it up to much. V-bars can dig in if you spin and the two link will keep you from bouncing. Either way, you should be fine with a set of rear chains. Have fun with the snow. I've plowed about five times so far this year and it's falling now. I'll have something to do in the morning.

 

[Mark_in_NH]

I have also invested in a blade from Michigan Iron. That one has power lift and power angle;
Jon

I took a look at the Michigan Irons website. They make some pretty nice stuff, but they sure aren't cheap. (none of the atachement company's are) When you said you "invested" in a blade you weren't kidding
$2300 for a 7' power angle plow blade with quicktach. OUCH !!! and I am sure that doesn't include the cost of shipping the blade to you or the cost of going to pick it up.
I think I have maybe $500 into my modified Fisher truck plow. That includes buying the used plow, the quicktach plate and paying the local welder to create the end result.

 

[woodyacres]

I have 2 hills on my gravel driveway each about a 60 degree incline over about 45 feet long (I hate them!). I use my back blade to clean the snow and only occassonally do I even struggle to get up with my DK35. I don't have chains on my wheels and I live in the woods so there isn't any sun melting the ice. I have a very difficult time getting up the hills in any vehicle without 4wd (makes my vehicle choices limited). There have been two cars pulled out by a wrecker in 3 years. When they are really iced over, I just engage the locking pedal to lock the wheels and up I go. The difficult part is that one of the hills is immediately after a 90 degree turn so, it is difficult to get up speed. I haven't even thought of getting chains, even though I am sure it would eliminate any issues of spinning. Why does everyone with just slight inclines put chains on their tires? Maybe I am missing something bigger here.

Oh, and by the way, I paid $150 for my back blade (used) and it makes life so much easier than using the FEL. I couldn't imagine having to use a box blade for snow removal. My 1/4 mile drive takes me 15 minutes to clean.. Up and down twice to get both sides and I a done. I run in Medium gear , full throttle (well, about 20,000 RPM's). Have fun and enjoy your snow removal!

 

[Dirtnut]

If you have hills get the chains it is a cheap safety feature.It will pretty much eliminate getting yourself in a scary situation.One sideways ride down a hill and you will understand.If you get the duogrip make sure you get them with the extra cross bars they will ride much smoother.I had to add them to my duogrips,now they ride like ladder chains.I also got mine at tirechains.com.Your set up will work just take a little longer.Cheapest way to for the future would be a rear blade.Keep an eye on sales in papers for used ones.

 

[JoelD]

I have 2 hills on my gravel driveway each about a 60 degree incline over about 45 feet long (I hate them!). I use my back blade to clean the snow and only occassonally do I even struggle to get up with my DK35. I don't have chains on my wheels and I live in the woods so there isn't any sun melting the ice. I have a very difficult time getting up the hills in any vehicle without 4wd (makes my vehicle choices limited). There have been two cars pulled out by a wrecker in 3 years. When they are really iced over, I just engage the locking pedal to lock the wheels and up I go. The difficult part is that one of the hills is immediately after a 90 degree turn so, it is difficult to get up speed. I haven't even thought of getting chains, even though I am sure it would eliminate any issues of spinning. Why does everyone with just slight inclines put chains on their tires? Maybe I am missing something bigger here.

Oh, and by the way, I paid $150 for my back blade (used) and it makes life so much easier than using the FEL. I couldn't imagine having to use a box blade for snow removal. My 1/4 mile drive takes me 15 minutes to clean.. Up and down twice to get both sides and I a done. I run in Medium gear , full throttle (well, about 20,000 RPM's). Have fun and enjoy your snow removal!

20K RPM, man, I'd love to know who built your motor, that's F1 type RPM and then some. I'm thinking you are in turbine territory.

That thing must sound amazing in full song.

What kind of fuel consumption?

You must be running magnesium connecting rods or some such sort.

You need some serious tollerences to get something like that to spin that fast without grenading.

I could not resist.

Does bring up a good question on what is the max RPM out of a diesel piston motor?

Chains are a good thing though, once you start to slide, no fun if you can't until you hit something hard.

Joel

 

[jimb1724]

"I haven't even thought of getting chains, even though I am sure it would eliminate any issues of spinning. Why does everyone with just slight inclines put chains on their tires? Maybe I am missing something bigger here."

Woodyacres

You might be needing chains shortly. My R-4s were great without chains on my hill for the first 2 years. After a couple of hundred hours on the machine the leading edges of the R-4 treads start to wear down and round-off. Early in the third winter I found myself spinning on certain parts of my driveway. I ordered chains that day. Also, when the temps are well below freezing, the hard rubber tires become more like hard plastic and spinning becomes more of an issue. If they made soft rubber winter tires for tractors like they do for cars, it might help, but chains are easier to change than tires.

If you have hills and need to clear snow, chains are the best money you wil spend to protect yourself, and your investment.

Jim

 

[DK35vince]

I plowed for years without chains and got by OK.
Put chains front and rear on my tractor a couple years ago.
The differance is HUGE. I can push more, push it back farther and go so much better.
I should have added chains years ago.