plowing a uneven gravel driveway up hill and down really sucks!

[jyoutz]

I would not use a rear blade as the primary snow tool if I had a front blade. Too hard on the neck always looking behind to see where the blade is and make adjustments for depth.
I use my rear blade to pull away from the garage doors. Otherwise I have a front blade.
My blade hangs from a chain to “float” and has a shoe at reach end. This gives a very consistent job. I do have a hill and plough both uphill and downhill.
If you post a picture of your setup, you will get more relevant advice.

Is your road gravel? I’ve never seen a front blade that could plow snow without also plowing gravel.

 

[camshawn]

Gravel until last spring, now recycled asphalt that hasn’t been ploughed yet. There is a bit of gravel pushed off on the first plough but not a lot. I have been meaning to try a pipe on the bottom of the bade, just haven’t gotten around to it yet.
It also depends upon how frozen the ground is before the snow falls.
I have a sweeper for my combi that will take care of the gravel if there is a lot. Some springs I use it, some not. Depended upon how frozen the ground was when the snow fell.

 

[LouNY]

Do you just let it float? There is not much weight to a rear blade.

Yes, on the 3 point all it has is float, no down pressure is available.
If your blade is really light you may need to hang some weight on it, a sand bag or something.

 

[bdhsfz6]

Yeah, removing snow from gravel is a pain in the a$$ regardless of what equipment you use. Many good suggestions here which might help you but in my case, I just deal with it through practice using the FEL joystick.

I often back drag with the FEL plow in confined areas that require short runs. not much gravel is disturbed that way due to the blade angle.

Every spring, I use the York rake to drag the gravel back onto the road surface. Been doing it for almost 40 years and it isn't perfect but it's the price I pay for having to maintain a gravel road.

 

[Kubota Dave]

Yes, on the 3 point all it has is float, no down pressure is available.
If your blade is really light you may need to hang some weight on it, a sand bag or something.

Is that part of why it does a better job?

 

[jyoutz]

Is that part of why it does a better job?

Yes and the reversed blade cutting edge acts like a snow squeegee, moving snow without disturbing the gravel.

 

[Kubota Dave]

Yes and the reversed blade cutting edge acts like a snow squeegee, moving snow without disturbing the gravel.

Does the PVC pipe on the rear blade help even more?

 

[jyoutz]

Does the PVC pipe on the rear blade help even more?

IDK. Never tried it. Never needed to. The reversed blade works perfectly.

 

[Kubota Dave]

Just to clarify this is the blade that i have, i just need to turn it around and drive forward?

 

[jyoutz]

Just to clarify this is the blade that i have, i just need to turn it around and drive forward?

View attachment 2234736

Yep. But you might have to fiddle with the top link to get the correct blade position that works for you. The key is the cutting edge needs to drag behind so it operates like a squeegee. If it’s too upright it might dig in a bit. But nowhere near how it digs with the cutting edge facing forward.

 

[sandman2234]

I get amused when I read the posts about the many ways of moving snow.
David from jax

 

[dlctcg]

I get amused when I read the posts about the many ways of moving snow.
David from jax

Well if you're ever bored come on up & I will let you get all of your amusement out...

 

[stevem5215]

I brush mine off. Steiner 420 with a RS350 brush. It works great. Right down to the pavement. Fun to use too!

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

I kept the tractor parked in the warm barn and used this $100 snow blower to clear the gravel driveway this year. Yes, I had to adjust the skids and scraper to leave my gravel in the driveway, but it was a champ. Now the tractor will sit out winter.

 

[RiverHill]

I kept the tractor parked in the warm barn and used this $100 snow blower to clear the gravel driveway this year. Yes, I had to adjust the skids and scraper to leave my gravel in the driveway, but it was a champ. Now the tractor will sit out winter.View attachment 2234757View attachment 2234758

My dad got one of these when I was in high school; I think in preparation for me to go to college. That thing sure beat using a shovel.

We’ve had a bunch more snow this year than usual. We have 3/4 mile of gravel road to clear and I use a back blade on float. No extra weight. It’s done a good job pulling the snow off and leaving the gravel alone.

 

[jyoutz]

I brush mine off. Steiner 420 with a RS350 brush. It works great. Right down to the pavement. Fun to use too!

That works on pavement, not gravel.

 

[Kubota Dave]

Yep. But you might have to fiddle with the top link to get the correct blade position that works for you. The key is the cutting edge needs to drag behind so it operates like a squeegee. If it’s too upright it might dig in a bit. But nowhere near how it digs with the cutting edge facing forward.

Seems wrong and like the pivot point would be in the way stopping snow from rolling off but i will give it a try.

 

[D'oh]

Well if you're ever bored come on up & I will let you get all of your amusement out...

About 1 hour should do it

 

[jyoutz]

I kept the tractor parked in the warm barn and used this $100 snow blower to clear the gravel driveway this year. Yes, I had to adjust the skids and scraper to leave my gravel in the driveway, but it was a champ. Now the tractor will sit out winter.View attachment 2234757View attachment 2234758

That looks awfully nice for only $100

 

[jyoutz]

Seems wrong and like the pivot point would be in the way stopping snow from rolling off but i will give it a try.

You do have to angle the reversed blade to make snow roll off.