L6060- Half mile paved driveway

[Oldoak]

The combination of chains and weight makes for the best traction.

 

[majorwager]

If one reads the informational request from the OP, he has a new paved driveway surface, and seeks to minimize damage. Chains are not likely to serve his needs.

 

[LouNY]

If he has much of a grade to climb or descend on wet snow, chains can be the difference in driving or being stuck.
The euro style are actually quite gentle on pavement if you do not get extremely aggressive.
I don't care what tire you have as soon as a tire runs on warm wet snow you are on slick hard pack,
I've had 200+hp 4wd tractors spin and stop moving in the desired direction with just a few inches of wet snow,
a couple of feet of a colder dry snow not a problem.

 

[finn1]

First, I don’t know how you fit a 1/2 mile driveway in a plot of land that is only twenty acres. A forty is 1/4 mile x 1/4 mile.

Second, with only 57” of snowfall, a blower doesn’t seem like the correct tool to remove snow from a long driveway. Too slow, compared to a plow. Blowers excell in congested areas, ie around buildings and where snow stacking area is at a premium, or areas deep in the snow belt.

For your situation, a truck mounted plow would be my suggestion. Just because you already have the tractor doesn’t make that the best tool.

A truck mounted plow will throw the snow farther to the side than a lumbering tractor, and the undercarriage is mounted directly to the frame, not the loader arms.

Use your loader to disburse any snow stacks the truck mounted plow leaves in inconvenient locations.

 

[NEPA guy]

Fin1 hit the nail on the head.

What I learned just from 2 years of using a tractor to clear my 1/2 mile paved driveway. I have a cabbed B2650 with the Quick attach, for the front snow blower and snow blade. Lesson number one. There is no silver bullet.

I thought getting a tractor would act as my Swiss Army knife of end all to be all. Man was I wrong. Does it work? Yes. Is it slow? Yes. Is it loud and annoying at times? Yes. would I rather be spending my time with my family in front of the fire? Yes. Do I love owning and operating a tractor? Yes. Is it worth it at times? Yes.

Does it break. **** right it does. Do hoses pop, shear bolts break, and hydraulic cylinders give out spraying out UDT2 fluid all over your nice new pavement? YES.

Funny, I 've been looking to upgrade my machine to a 6060 as well, or even a JD 4066r to increase my productivity, during all seasons, but the more I look and read lotsa guys say 150 HP or better for snow removal.

I'm looking at a v plow for my truck and plan on using the tractor to clean up after I'm done with the major cleaning. It's quiet, comfortable, and my tractor will act as my backup when the truck setup eventually needs a repair. I also live in the middle of nowhere, the nearest dealer is 50 miles away and there aren't any reliable sources to hire a plow truck out if the need should arise.

 

[OrangeMuscle]

Finn1, I have a flag lot, which is why the driveway is crazy long. Also, a truck will play no part in my snow removal operation. I have a beautiful Kubota L6060 with a cab that will be put to work.

I will research which soft chains might work best with my new asphalt and go well with my turf tires. For ballast box, i see titan has one for $257 with free shipping that holds 800 LBS.

The other thing worth mentioning is my driveway on both sides has lots of room that is flat...at least a nice ten foot shoulder everywhere. My two hills are 14% grade.

 

[Oldoak]

If one reads the informational request from the OP, he has a new paved driveway surface, and seeks to minimize damage. Chains are not likely to serve his needs.

Perhaps not for the OP, but 90+% of other tractor owners chains along with extra weight will. Besides, what another member had to offer, soft chains are another option. Much better than no chains at all when it comes to traction.

 

[nybirdman]

The first year I would try a front plow and no chains;turfs work quite well in snow.With loaded rears/ballast box or a heavy rear blade would be a nice combo.Next year you can upgrade if needed.
Note;most "factory front blades for tractors are fixed(no float) which is o.k.on paved surfaces.Converted truck plows (float the plow with a chain) work real well on gravel and uneven surfaces.
My set-up(L4240 HSTC with R1's loaded) has a converted 8'truck plow and a 7' rear blade.Works well,I plow about 10 miles of drives/roads.

 

[LouNY]

First, I don’t know how you fit a 1/2 mile driveway in a plot of land that is only twenty acres. A forty is 1/4 mile x 1/4 mile.

Second, with only 57” of snowfall, a blower doesn’t seem like the correct tool to remove snow from a long driveway. Too slow, compared to a plow. Blowers excell in congested areas, ie around buildings and where snow stacking area is at a premium, or areas deep in the snow belt.

For your situation, a truck mounted plow would be my suggestion. Just because you already have the tractor doesn’t make that the best tool.

A truck mounted plow will throw the snow farther to the side than a lumbering tractor, and the undercarriage is mounted directly to the frame, not the loader arms.

Use your loader to disburse any snow stacks the truck mounted plow leaves in inconvenient locations.

Well if you think it's hard to get a half mile drive in 20 acres, I've got a 1/4 mile in 10 acres.
And that 1/4 mile is mostly steep hill 14-16 degrees or roughly 25 to over 28% slope,
I have plowed with trucks and tractors with FEL, front blades and back blades.
I keep my plow truck mainly for the sander and plow with the tractors.
No matter what I plow with I have to use the brakes or engine braking plowing down hill.
A truck will throw the snow futher if you care to drive fast plowing, I don't, the visibility from my tractors
is much better then from the truck and it doesn't hurt that I have a cabbed tractor.
Much of my plowing is pushing snow over banks and dropping one front tire on a truck even with chains
on the rear can easily mean for walking. The tractor can have one front wheel over a ways and back right on out.
Time wise it takes just about the same time with the tractor or the truck, and my tractor is robust then the truck.

 

[TheFarmerInAdell]

I use an old Western plow with wings adapted to fit my skidsteer. It's not the fastest for driving up and down the driveway, but it sure is fast when turning around and getting into tight spots. It also swings that blade pretty quick! I like that I'm not putting extra strain on my truck (plowing is hard on trucks), and the skidsteer is faster at changing direction when I'm out clearing the end on the road, and it's hard to get a skidsteer stuck. Plus I can see every inch of my plow so I don't hit anything. My truck is the back-up for me and for other people that might need my help when their equipment breaks down. That has a Western 8-1/2' MVP.