Snow back blade for snow removal

[la200o]

Hi,

I'm thinking about a back blade for my L2800 to remove snow from my long dirt/gravel driveway. Good idea or not?

Bill

 

[dodge man]

I don't know, I'm going to find out. I plan on pushing it backwards, that way you don't mash the snow down before you try and push it. I will experiment between the rear blade and the FEL and see what is best. With a gravel drive way, I've seen people recomend getting shoes for the blade. This allows you to not have the blade drag so hard on the gravel and scope it all up. I have a paved driveway and I'm hoping I don't need shoes.

 

[QueBota]

Bill,

Works OK for me, I didn't think driving through the snow to plow it would work out but I got a good deal on a back blade so I gave it a try. I leave the bucket on the front and keep it raised about 8 or 10 inches to push some of the snow in front of the tractor as I plow ahead. I mostly plow blacktop/asphalt. If you keep the angle of the back blade in a modestly agressive setting it will clean the surface bare without tearing it up. I am going to install some stall mat as a squeegee this winter to help preserve the blade, the hard surface wears it more than you would think.

I push backwards when clearance requires it but it is a pain in my neck/back

Dave

 

[smfcpacfp]

To me this sounds like the worst alternative possible short of using the old shovel, but I am sure that it would work. If you get a lot of snow it sounds really bad, if you get a little it would only be painful for a while. The pain I am talking about is looking over your shoulder to work with the snow blowing in your face.

The virtue is that is cheap, especially if you already have the blade. I assume you live in a low snow area. If you lived in a high snow area like I do, you give a lot of thought to snow removal and get the best equipment that you can afford.

I assume you are going to push like the guy above, rather that drive over the snow and pull it.

 

[StrangeRanger]

I've found that using the back blade depends on a few things. How long your driveway is, how much and how wet the snow is and how packed your gravel is. I've got a very long gravel driveway and find the blade to be a royal pain in the butt to use. If you can avoid it I would not recommend it for a gravel driveway.
j

 

[Mike_Kanzer]

I get by using a 7 foot rear blade on my L3830 to clear about 5-600 ft of gravel driveway. I turn the blade around and angle it to one side so that the convex surface is forward. This prevents the blade from digging up the gravel. It does leave about 1/2 to 1 " of packed snow on the driveway but it at least makes it passable. I also have the FEL incase I need to move a snow bank or drift.
It doesn't seem to matter that I drive over the snow first before the blade gets to it. This works okay for me but we only average about 20-30" of snow a season. If you are in a heavy snow area something more aggresive like a blower might be in order. - Mike

 

[TUG HILL ADDICT]

If used in conjunction with a FEL not a bad solution.

By itself...problematic

We average 120" of snow annually...front blower with a cab is the best solution

 

[dirtworksequip]

la200, if you are going with a rear blade on stone driveway by all means turn it around 180 degree's so it still moves the snow,but not tear up your stone. I personally prefer a landscape rake on stone driveways. It will not remove all the snow,but will kick up enough stone to give adequate vehicle traction. Sort of gives it a "groomed" look. The advantage is that you don't have to worry about plowing all your stone off your drive into the grass.

Sincerely, Dirt

I use a combination of front blade and landscape rake to take care of about 3000 feet of stone road. If the snow is deep I high blade the bulk of the snow off with the front blade and then follow up with the landscape rake.

 

[la200o]

Thanks for all the replies. I don't have a loader on my tractor, so those strategies noted above that involve an FEL won't work for me. I live in SE Michigan, where the amount of snow can vary greatly from year to year (last year we had plenty). What about just not setting the blade a little high so as not to actually hit the gravel/dirt?

Bill

 

[john_bud]

I would bolt on a plywood board to keep the tines form digging in.

jb