Kubota L3600 saves the day!

[cook96cbra]

A few days ago mid Michigan was slammed with 18-22" of snow. I was trying to clear out the driveway of the house we just bought because I had a delivery coming. It was wet and slippery under all that snow. When I went to back up to reposition my little snow plow rig (a 99 Durango) and I couldn't stop, I just slid down the hill and into the deep snow. That was it, no matter what I did the "green blob" was done. So, out comes the tractor. I got stuck three times trying to get from the barn to the driveway but I made it. After a few tries at different angles plus fighting the wet icy driveway and using the bucket to help me move around I was able to jerk the blob out far enough to get it moving. I finished the drive, did the road out to the main road and even helped an ambulance get to a call down past my house. The 'bota really did save the day, in more ways than one....

 

[teg]

That's one reason to have a tractor!!! :thumbsup: It looks like you have R4's and they work well for you?

 

[GPintheMitten]

That snowfall was challenging and what made it worse was the ground was thawed and wet.

 

[cook96cbra]

That's one reason to have a tractor!!! :thumbsup: It looks like you have R4's and they work well for you?

Yup, I think they're a perfect mix. In this case the Ag tires might of been better but chains would of been the real answer...

 

[cook96cbra]

That snowfall was challenging and what made it worse was the ground was thawed and wet.

Yup, wet ice with snow on top.... Slippery as snot on a door handle.

 

[farm boy00]

Yup, wet ice with snow on top.... Slippery as snot on a door handle.

I don't know if I'm more worried about the ice or that you know what snot on a door handle feels like.

Ok ok corny jokes done

 

[CDennyRun]

Good work! I couldn't imagine life without a tractor. Is it just me, or is your tow package bent upward? I'd like to hear that story

Chris

 

[xring100]

Tractors ate invaluable.
I live south of flint had a similar experience. at that point there was about 9" of super wet and heavy snow on the ground. I Parked on the driveway which has a side slope to it.
I Could not move forward or backward only sideways towards the pine tree. the crappy Goodyear All Terrain tires would not bite at the snow. 4wd was useless

I had to get to the buss stop 4 miles away ended up taking the cruze diesel with michelin X-ice tires. which had tons of traction in those conditions

Later the M8540 was used to get the truck unstuck.

 

[cook96cbra]

I don't know if I'm more worried about the ice or that you know what snot on a door handle feels like.

Ok ok corny jokes done

I actually have no idea but is sounds like it would be slippery. It's an old saying.... Picked it up from my grandpa.

I'd ask him if or how he knows but he died in 1982.

 

[cook96cbra]

Good work! I couldn't imagine life without a tractor. Is it just me, or is your tow package bent upward? I'd like to hear that story

Chris

It's not but it looks like it in that pic. I do have a bent receiver from when I was towing my 21ft car hauler with my 96 F-250 and a kid in an Astro van coming the other way turned right into me causing a head on collision. Threw that van off the road and crunched the front of my truck. I drove it home and eventually fixed it. I had a **** of a time getting the trailer off the hitch, the impact tilted the ball forward about two inches...

I need to throw that thing in the scrap metal pile.

 

[cook96cbra]

Good work! I couldn't imagine life without a tractor. Is it just me, or is your tow package bent upward? I'd like to hear that story

Chris

You're not far from me then. I'm east of Perry (Haslett). Sounds like you had the same thing happen to you. How about today? I've been plowing on and off all day. Just got home about an hour ago. I take care of my driveway, some friends and family members. I had the day off to work on our new house and take the kids to the dentist. Been a long day LOL. Sippen' on some Gentleman Jack.

 

[CDennyRun]

It's not but it looks like it in that pic. I do have a bent receiver from when I was towing my 21ft car hauler with my 96 F-250 and a kid in an Astro van coming the other way turned right into me causing a head on collision. Threw that van off the road and crunched the front of my truck. I drove it home and eventually fixed it. I had a **** of a time getting the trailer off the hitch, the impact tilted the ball forward about two inches...

I need to throw that thing in the scrap metal pile.

Sorry to hear that! Accidents are never fun. I've been in enough to know. On a different note, I've always loved those Dakota's.

Chris

 

[CDennyRun]

You're not far from me then. I'm east of Perry (Haslett). Sounds like you had the same thing happen to you. How about today? I've been plowing on and off all day. Just got home about an hour ago. I take care of my driveway, some friends and family members. I had the day off to work on our new house and take the kids to the dentist. Been a long day LOL. Sippen' on some Gentleman Jack.

Did you quote the wrong person? I'm not aware of a Haslett WA.

Chris

 

[cook96cbra]

Sorry t hear that! Accidents are never fun. I've been in enough to know. On a different note, I've always loved those Dakota's.

Chris

They sure aren't! I lost a lot of money too because that was my plow truck. The durango/dakota is a great little plow rig. V8 power, 9.25 rear axle and easy to maneuver. Mine has the 318 (5.2). That and the bigger 360 are great engines. Can't kill em. The transmissions are kinda crappy. Gotta go easy on them...
PS - I'm a Ford guy and the 318 / 360 remind me of Ford's 302 / 351W. Great engines!

 

[cook96cbra]

Did you quote the wrong person? I'm not aware of a Haslett WA.

Chris

Yup. LOL Haslett, MI.

 

[motownbrowne]

Tractors ate invaluable.
I live south of flint had a similar experience. at that point there was about 9" of super wet and heavy snow on the ground. I Parked on the driveway which has a side slope to it.
I Could not move forward or backward only sideways towards the pine tree. the crappy Goodyear All Terrain tires would not bite at the snow. 4wd was useless

I had to get to the buss stop 4 miles away ended up taking the cruze diesel with michelin X-ice tires. which had tons of traction in those conditions

Later the M8540 was used to get the truck unstuck.
View attachment 459155

It's amazing how much traction you get with good snow tires. I'd take my Honda fit with snow tires over any 4wd vehicle with all season (even all-terrain) tires for any snowy conditions. I'm basically only limited by clearance. Once you start plowing snow with the body, it starts to slow down.

 

[xring100]

It's amazing how much traction you get with good snow tires. I'd take my Honda fit with snow tires over any 4wd vehicle with all season (even all-terrain) tires for any snowy conditions. I'm basically only limited by clearance. Once you start plowing snow with the body, it starts to slow down.

I agree Snow tires are the way to go.
My old 16" Snow Tires and wheels from my 1996 Z-71 won't clear the larger brakes on the new 2015. The trucks is a lease and i plan on going for a dually next time around so i don't want to drop $1200 on snow tires and wheels for this truck