Snow Equipment Owning/Operating Drifts are KILLING me!

[alltherage]

We bought a cub yanmar ex2900 a couple years ago. It's been great, and the last 2 winters have been no problem overall. We live on the top of a hill in western NY though and get pounded with wind here and there. When conditions are right, the drifts can get pretty bad...4 foot high or so.

Here's our current setup...grooved tires on front and back, tires not loaded, no chains, and a 5 foot plow from an old truck that was converted to 3 point.

Here's what I see...the plow isn't very heavy so I don't cut the best with it. I've experimented with suitcase weights but I notice a loss of traction up front. I've tried putting some in the bucket too, but invariably I end up dumping them out by accident. Traction, overall, is good. It's more an issue of the plow not getting down to the ground all the way sometimes, and I end up spinning on the snow. Of course, that leads to a base buildup that, during a warmup, creates slush and ice. We have a gravel driveway, so the plow works well for 95% of the plowing situations. It's just that when it drifts, the snow gets packed in and harder to move.

Should we go with a 5' snowblower, and keep that mounted when we have a good base over the gravel? I wouldn't mind switching out the plow and blower a couple times a year. My father-in-law told me to cut the drifts with the loader. That makes sense too, but I don't wanna be out there for hours on end. I like to play on the tractors and all, but sometimes I have other things I would like to be doing! lol

 

[whistlepig]

It's pretty flat here and it drifts badly. I use a loader for snow. Sometimes it's not practical to push snow even with a loader through heavy drifts. You just have to pick up the snow and move it.

 

[Rustyiron]

The old timer's used to put up snow fence upwind and 50' away to create a dump spot just after the wind (and snow) rose over the fence. You could plow a "make do" snow fence in a similar fashion if you have the space. Those stakes need to be driven before the ground tightens up.

 

[whistlepig]

If the driveway straight as an arrow a snow fence of snow could be made. But if the driveway long and and curvy with the wind blowing almost straight up the drive way that's not practical. I quit using a blade because of the hump the blade would make on each side of the driveway. This made the driveway a trench that blown snow would heap into. The wind will teach you.

 

[Marveltone]

The first winter I had my tractor was a real learning experience. I started out using the loader and rear blade to keep things plowed. By January, the berms on the edges of the driveway were so heavy and hard, they pushed the tractor around and I could not widen anything anymore. That's when I bit the bullet and bought the rear-mounted snow-blower. No regrets whatsoever. The snow gets thrown far away and never forms a hard ridge at the edge of the drive, lessening the drifting.

It was a big investment (for me), but well worth it.

Joe

 

[2458n]

Make your drive alittle bit taller then the lawn. The snow around here is moving pretty good with 20 mph wind right now. Do scrape your ridge of snow so it is on the downwind side of your drive. The snow fence is a great product if you have prevailing winds coming from the same direction most of the time. Keeps alot of snow where it belongs and is useful to change your drifts location.

 

[alltherage]

our drive is gravel...#1's and #2's...how do you deal with that? just keep it above ground level a bit until there's a solid base?

 

[radioman]

you need a packed snow base. you say you have the truck plow on 3 pt so drag it it packs snow into the driveway. Once it sets, you can snow blow to your heart content.

 

[Pine Strip]

Cutting through this mornings hard packed drift....The right equipment makes Winter snow blowing a pleasure.

 

[NHbotanut]

I have a long driveway that also gets drifts, although nowhere near what you get. I run a 60" rear snowblower with a 6 1/2' power angle snow plow on the FEL.

I love this setup as I can plow pretty quick with the blade ( up to 4" ) anything over 4" I use the rear blower and move the snow only once. No snowbanks or big piles or mounds.

Get the blower and you won't regret it!