L6060- Half mile paved driveway

[Rustyiron]

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.

I don't know if you've seen any of the conversations here about chains & tire studs, but I have been running the screw in tire studs because 1. I run the roads (plowing driveways) and would wear them out fast, besides jarring my teeth out. 2. Much more gentle on the paved driveways providing you don't aggressively spin the tires while stationary. The studs are removable but they leave a small pocket (small hole) in the tire lug. I removed then the first year just because I thought it was a good idea, but after seeing these small holes fill up with gravel/sand, I've just left them in for the past 3 years or so.

The bigger (longer) studs are in the rear, shorter on the fronts.

These are the front tires

Wet snow is the devil, I too would be concerned about damaging 1/2 of pavement. These studs are about a $1 each, not real cheap when you add up the number of them you need. I put 2 in each "bar" and iirc I bought 400 of so of them so it's not a cheap alternate, just another choice to consider. If you decide to give them a try you could start by 1 in each lug or 2 in every other etc. The plus for chains is that I would guess for a lot of your snows you'll get away with just the tires, esp if your house & tractor is at the top of your hills (opening up down hill), as with many things, gravity is your friend.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

OP,

For the love of God, do not spend money on a ballast box! Worst investment EVER. And 800 pounds?? Spend that money on a 800-1000 pound rear blade, or box blade instead. Then you at least have a tool hanging off the back that you can do something with. A ballast box is useless.

And I have no trouble at all pushing 6' tall piles of snow around without chains, with filled R4's and 4wd engaged.

 

[Piston]

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.

Speaking from experience here, chains will not damage a new driveway. Only if it’s a hot summer day and the tractor is parked on the blacktop.

 

[oosik]

I have neither a paved driveway nor chains(anymore). However - I've seen chains used on asphalt driveways. Unless you are some form of total idiot/moron and enjoy "rolling coal" or spinning your chained up rear tires - chains ARE NOT going to do damage to an asphalt driveway.

Majorwager - if the op is looking for a complete and total "no damage" situation - then why didn't you suggest hand shoveling the driveway.

 

[TheFarmerInAdell]

Standard chains should not do any damage. V-Bar chains may do damage if you are too aggressive. Same for studs.

 

[Rustyiron]

To some (snowflake) customers, any minor scratch can be the BS reason not to pay you.

 

[majorwager]

Perhaps the asphalt composition varies in different areas? Each post is simply an opinion, the same goes for EACH verified EXPERIENCE. Chains, regardless of the style, do surface damage to asphalt, my experience.

The OP presented a valid request for information while noting the expensive asphalt surface he seeks to protect. That is a legitimate concern. Again, my opinion. My area receives up to 110 inches of snowfall per winter season. More than some, less than others. I NEVER need tire chains w/ a front wheel assist tractor, to clear snow. From a weather news perspective, the nor'easter storms we experience are substantial.

oosik's attempt at humor or sarcasm , the differential indistinguishable, is an inappropriate manner to treat a new member. With NOTHING positive to offer, why post nonsense?


Despite typical self-adoration (or admiration) coupled with an inflated ego, know that NO single post is equated with the status of a biblical revelation, regardless of the emphasis applied in the post.

AGAIN, my opinion.

Now some red meat to ponder. A #1 binder surface, properly compacted, will display more surface damage resistance than typical finish topping because there is less asphalt content exposed. Asphalt is simply the cohesive agent in the mix, the Stone, sea shells some cases, is the wearing surface. Our area has an abundance of limestone available and that is the primary aggregate ingredient in local asphalt paving. Many small residential paving contractors do not own adequate compaction rollers, choosing to use more economical solutions that are simply easier to trailer. They are less sensitive to the application temperatures appropriate to apply paving materials, often allowing material to cool in the truck bed longer than suitable. The result delivers a product more susceptible to surface damage.

Rubber cutting edges are more friendly to paved surfaces. These are becoming more common on front mount snow blades, but I've NOT seen this feature on any rear blade. Skid shoes may prevent full STEEL blade contact w/ the driveway.

 

[majorwager]

Roy Jackson is a respected member, dating back to 2001. He recently outfitted his tractor w/ some new snow fighting equipment in observance of his paved driveway surface.

Roy started a thread to discuss his new purchase. I include the link, for interested folks to review Roy's snow removal solution. Also note Roy believes in a tractor cab for comfort, the vivid smell of adjacent pine trees notwithstanding. Perhaps he has a pine air freshener hanging in his cab?

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/snow-removal/402045-new-snow-blade.html

 

[RjCorazza]

To some (snowflake) customers, any minor scratch can be the BS reason not to pay you.

Yup. Never had a payment issue, but some customers expect their driveways plowed clean to the pavement, dry, and no marks. I suspect that in this thread there is a definition problem of what constitutes “damage”. Chains and steel edge blades will at least mark or scratch any paved driveway I have ever seen in my neck of the woods.
I added a polyurethane edge to my rear blade last season and advertised its availability at a $50 additional seasonal charge. The people that complained about marks the prior year still wouldn’t go for the polyurethane surcharge. I’m likely going to drop some customers this season if they complain about minor surface marks.

 

[OrangeMuscle]

Just called and inquired about Quickattach brand rear pull snowblower and the price is $5,700. Next I will reach out to find out how much the Normand 82 everyone here raves about is. I would imagine having the v-plow on the front and a rear pull on the back would be a serious snow machine.

Terra grip rubber tractor chains on Amazon look like they would work good for extra traction. My rear tires are loaded currently with beet juice.