I had a snowy misadventure today
- Thread starter MinnesotaEric
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LD1
Epic Contributor
What, no videos of being stuck and trying to get out:confused3:
Wish we could get some snow down here. Though maybe not that much all at once. I plow commercially as s sub for a friend that owns a landscape company. Two winters ago was the best we have had. Last winter was a big bust. But everyone keeps saying, this is supposed to be the worst winter in recent history around here.
I am sure you have mentioned it in other threads, but whats the plow? made for the tractor or truck plow converted? how wide?
Was pretty impressive seeing that heavy stuff roll off the plow like that. When we get the occasional ~6-8" of heavy stuff, of the ~40 or so trucks that I plow with, only myself and a few others are effective. The guys with the little 1/2 ton gassers and no weight.....dont do so well. Good tires and weight are where its at.
Only in Ohio. 70 yesterday. I was sweatting my azz off last night at ~5:00 deer hunting. Wake up this morning to fluries:confused2:
Wish we could get some snow down here. Though maybe not that much all at once. I plow commercially as s sub for a friend that owns a landscape company. Two winters ago was the best we have had. Last winter was a big bust. But everyone keeps saying, this is supposed to be the worst winter in recent history around here.
I am sure you have mentioned it in other threads, but whats the plow? made for the tractor or truck plow converted? how wide?
Was pretty impressive seeing that heavy stuff roll off the plow like that. When we get the occasional ~6-8" of heavy stuff, of the ~40 or so trucks that I plow with, only myself and a few others are effective. The guys with the little 1/2 ton gassers and no weight.....dont do so well. Good tires and weight are where its at.
Only in Ohio. 70 yesterday. I was sweatting my azz off last night at ~5:00 deer hunting. Wake up this morning to fluries:confused2:
comancheflight
Gold Member
Hey big E, your windows are really clean as in no fog. Do you run the A/C to keep the window fog at bay? Was discussed last spring and haven't had the chance to try it here and just noticed your windows had no fog...anything else you do?
OP
MinnesotaEric
Super Member
The carry all is kind of neat, but I have a snow blower on the back of my tractor.
FWIW, I cannot ride motorcycles or ATVs, or for that matter sit down all kinds of seats because of a bad back (I've had three operations and am resisting having a fourth operation that may or may not help the pain, but would definitely further limit what I can do for the rest of my days). My bad back is why I haven't purchased a side by side as I cannot sit in any of them without pain.
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MinnesotaEric
Super Member
All four tires are ballasted and the entire tractor as you see in the photos weighs around 8400 pounds. That said, traction pushing this much heavy snow was definitely a problem and turf tires would be way, way, way better.
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MinnesotaEric
Super Member
It was really dark. In order to post a video, I'd need to get out, trudge over to a tree, and get the video going, and get back in. Making a video wasn't even on my radar once I realized I was stuck and up to that point I had been in "video-making mode."
Plow wise, it is a 108" Hiniker Big Ox skid loader plow. Hiniker is a Minnesotan company. I like how the plow articulates over uneven terrain, but loath the SSQA plate. I think the plow trips too easily for my size moldboard.
Hiniker Snowplows - Skid Steer Conventional Plow - Series 2275/2280/2285/2103 Snowplows
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dickfoster
Elite Member
I see you're running R4s now Eric. Any thought of grooving them to improve traction in the snow? The folks in the thread on grooving all say it really helps big time. I just got the grooving iron and am ready to get to work on my tires. With my asphalt driveway, chains are not an option. Not that I could fit them on my tractor without spacers anyway.
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MinnesotaEric
Super Member
Yes, I keep my AC on until it is about 20 degrees or colder. All AC systems have either a thermocouple or a temp sensor designed to protect the AC compressor from damaging itself by swallowing a slug of liquid refrigerant in colder temperatures. In my tractor in the cold, the AC doesn't work until the hydro oil along with the engine coolant is warmed up so as to provide enough heat around the engine bay to get the AC working. All to say that it is fog-city clearing out my own driveway as I don't really seem to get enough heat into the hydro oil until I'm transporting or plowing for awhile.
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MinnesotaEric
Super Member
I don't have any experience grooving R4 tires, but I think grooving and siping would definitely help traction, otherwise consider turf tires and ballast.
Check out siping tires.
"Siping is the process of cutting thin slits across the surface of a tire to improve traction for driving in snowy, wet or icy conditions. Siping can also help manage tire heat when the road is overly hot."
https://www.lesschwab.com/tires/performance-siping