I Stink At Removing Snow From My Gravel Driveway

[snpower]

Here in Virginia we are having our 2 x per decade decent snow event. I have a #8 brownstone driveway and I've never been very good at getting the snow off with my JD 1025R.

I have a rear blade, which requires constant attention to keep from gouging. I have put PVC on my loader and use it in float mode. Not so great honestly. The best luck I've had is backdragging in float mode with the PVC installed on the loader edge. It doesn't get to the surface but it also doesn't displace the stone. I am thinking it's the best case scenario.

What am I missing, if anything here? Edge Tamers?

 

[LittleBill21]

I use the tamers, these below, you may need 3 depending how heavy the bucket and how soft the ground is.

I can run in float at almost full speed with out digging in.

Amazon.com

 

[George2615]

Here in Virginia we are having our 2 x per decade decent snow event. I have a #8 brownstone driveway and I've never been very good at getting the snow off with my JD 1025R.

I have a rear blade, which requires constant attention to keep from gouging. I have put PVC on my loader and use it in float mode. Not so great honestly. The best luck I've had is backdragging in float mode with the PVC installed on the loader edge. It doesn't get to the surface but it also doesn't displace the stone. I am thinking it's the best case scenario.

What am I missing, if anything here? Edge Tamers?

Turn your rear blade around 180 deg. so it won't dig in.

 

[Mtsoxfan]

I'm in the same boat, but we get a lot of snow...
I couldn't pull the trigger on the "originals" so I found these to try and not hurt if it doesn't work. Paid $31 delivered, waiting on delivery now.

VEVOR Tractor Bucket Protector, 2pcs Ski Edge Protector, 12" Long Turf Tamer Skid Protector, 4" Width, Heavy Duty Steel Bucket Attachment for Snow Leaves Removal, Spreading Gravel, Yellow | VEVOR US

Protect your lawn and driveway with VEVOR Tractor Bucket Protector, a durable, rustproof steel attachment perfect for snow, leaves, and gravel removal.

www.vevor.com

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

I got a $100 snow blower this week on Marketplace, then made wooden skids that are wide and taller. Leaves 1" of snow, but glides along nicely.

Decided it would leave the driveway surface in better shape than the tractor

 

[IndyIan]

skid shoes on the rear blade? I use a rear blade and I was thinking of just bolting on a couple blocks of hardwood from the firewood pile to see if i would would work? Plowing on unfrozen gravel is a pain. I've also considered just angle grinding the rear blade cutting edge to a less aggressive angle.... It's junk for moving dirt anyways, so I haven't used it for that in 10 years since I got my box blade.

 

[deserteagle71]

Far as I'm concerned there is no reason to remove snow right down to dirt/gravel/pavement level. Keep your blade a couple inches above the ground and it won't dig in and you can still drive on it without getting stuck.

 

[Runner]

You can put gauge wheels on the rear blade to hold it up a little. I keep mine 1.5" off the gravel and have very little disturbance of the surface.

Also, if you're plowing with your bucket (and don't have edge tamers) you can set your bucket so the lip is about an inch off the ground and then put it in float. It will ride over the snow and you can "bump" your dump/curl function to make fine adjustments to get it to dig a little more or less.

PS: Don't be too hard on yourself, I've been trying to do it for 17 years and still can't keep the rear blade from digging it without gauge wheels.

 

[jyoutz]

Here in Virginia we are having our 2 x per decade decent snow event. I have a #8 brownstone driveway and I've never been very good at getting the snow off with my JD 1025R.

I have a rear blade, which requires constant attention to keep from gouging. I have put PVC on my loader and use it in float mode. Not so great honestly. The best luck I've had is backdragging in float mode with the PVC installed on the loader edge. It doesn't get to the surface but it also doesn't displace the stone. I am thinking it's the best case scenario.

What am I missing, if anything here? Edge Tamers?

An easy fix. Turn your rear blade around 180 degrees so the cutting edge faces backwards. The float the blade and drive forwards. This will remove snow without disturbing your gravel. If the snow is deep also hold your loader bucket 4 inches above the road to move the greater depth and follow with your reversed rear blade.

 

[ruffdog]

Turn your rear blade around 180 deg. so it won't dig in.

I NEVER use the blade in the "forward" position on gravel. Pushing snow with the wrong side of the blade won't dig in, as you say. I did make shoes for the blade which works too.

 

[SARG]

My set-up. Minimal signs of wear on the replaceable edge after 5 winters. ( even though I bought a spare )

 

[jyoutz]

I NEVER use the blade in the "forward" position on gravel. Pushing snow with the wrong side of the blade won't dig in, as you say. I did make shoes for the blade which works too.

View attachment 2126604

I’ve never had shoes work on soft gravel. They just dig in and make 2 trenches.

 

[Blue Mule]

I'm in Kentucky and we got blasted by this storm last night. Still don't have electricity. We get snow every winter. My M.O. is that I don't plow gravel. There's no need. I do plow any sections of our private road that are paved. But on the gravel I just leave it alone. It gets mashed down by traffic quickly and within a couple of days it's melting. Not worth tearing up the gravel surface. Gravel costs too much these days.

 

[ruffdog]

I’ve never had shoes work on soft gravel. They just dig in and make 2 trenches.

Well, yeah.....before the ground freezes, nothing really works good. That is when I just drive on the snow to pack it down. I really hate having to clean gravel out of my yard in the Spring. Grrr

 

[oosik]

I have a mile long gravel driveway. It is normal that I have to plow snow before the driveway has frozen up and is hard as concrete.

Turn the rear blade 180 degrees and plow as usual. This will keep the gravel in place and do a fair job of snow removal.

I have never needed shoes nor Teflon edges. My eight foot Rhino rear blade is heavy enough to remove all the snow - even reversed.

 

[jyoutz]

Well, yeah.....before the ground freezes, nothing really works good. That is when I just drive on the snow to pack it down. I really hate having to clean gravel out of my yard in the Spring. Grrr

The reversed and floated blade does work with soft unfrozen gravel.

 

[jyoutz]

I'm in Kentucky and we got blasted by this storm last night. Still don't have electricity. We get snow every winter. My M.O. is that I don't plow gravel. There's no need. I do plow any sections of our private road that are paved. But on the gravel I just leave it alone. It gets mashed down by traffic quickly and within a couple of days it's melting. Not worth tearing up the gravel surface. Gravel costs too much these days.

But allowing snow to melt into the gravel makes a mushy mess of the road.

 

[RayIN]

It's unwise to use a snowblower on a gravel driveway; Just sayin

 

[Alan W.]

I'm in Kentucky and we got blasted by this storm last night. Still don't have electricity. We get snow every winter. My M.O. is that I don't plow gravel. There's no need. I do plow any sections of our private road that are paved. But on the gravel I just leave it alone. It gets mashed down by traffic quickly and within a couple of days it's melting. Not worth tearing up the gravel surface. Gravel costs too much these days.

Sorry to hear about your power outage. Im probably a bit further south of you and ours was out about an hour. Warmed up and the rain melted most of ours.
I do usually plow my gravel drive plus a couple of my neighbors when we have enough accumulation.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

It's unwise to use a snowblower on a gravel driveway; Just sayin
View attachment 2129642

Only if you don't know how