We got our first snow of the year (strange, it normally starts in November). Only 6" but had a chance to use the Toolcat for the first time in the snow. We don't get a lot of snow, but enough that if I don't plow it, no one can get in and out of my drive. We live on the side of a hill and you have to plow up, down, and sideways on it. The machine performed exceptionally well. No traction issues as well. Drive is gravel. Heat in the cab was a first for me. Always done it with an ATV, UTV or even skid steer with no heat. Only thing I need to work on is that rear tail swing when in 4WS. Toolcat 1, mailbox 0.
First time in the snow - wonderful experience
- Thread starter Mudninja
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ruffdog
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Looking good!
aelsnow
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Looking good, and the dog looks happy!
laurencen
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looks good, re heater, I have to crack the window a bit or its too hot, as for tail swing you get use to it, around vehicles or tight areas I use the 2 wheel steer, took out some fencing one time here
Good to see both the TC in action and your partner enjoying the work! Plus, that mailbox had it coming! If you don't mind, I'm from FL, so I didn't grow up with having to deal with snow. Moving around with the military all my adult life, it's not been an issue, either. Retiring soon to NH where snow WILL be an issue, and we haven't settled on type of driveway. How much does pushing snow affect a gravel drive? Are you able to set the plow/bucket to move the accumulation effectively while still leaving the gravel where it belongs? I'm assuming that's the case, but I don't understand how one does it. Is it a float mode thing, by feel, etc? Thanks.
MossRoad
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They are also handy for putting air hose pass-through ports in the side of the garage.
Torvy
Super Member
We lived 'in town' but on a corner lot with a gravel driveway that formed a big rectangle with the roads. We were about 4 hours due west of Minneapolis. Lots of snow.
Plowing or blowing will move gravel. Once you get better at it you essentially have an inch or two of packed snow that becomes your winter driveway. Sand slick spots. Do some fixing once winter is over. That is the fun of having a tractor, you can fix it yourself. As an adult I have had both concrete and asphalt drives in northern climates. I prefer asphalt as it is easier to repair/resurface; it is cheaper; and it heats up more quickly so the sun does some of the work. Think about the orientation of the driveway, too. Best option might be a staight, relatively flat drive that faces south from the buildings. That will give you afternoon sun to help, too. Make sure you have good drainage. If not, you could end up with sheets of ice and/or the dreaded frozen ice ruts.
Down here we don't get much snow. I am going with gravel/rock driveway. Even cheaper than asphalt and I can maintain with the tractor year-around.
laurencen
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my driveway is a couple foot compacted road base followed by a inch or so of brushed rock 3/4 inch, I do grade to mix the top surface yearly, as for clearing snow as stated you need to get a surface of packed snow, I will raise the blade a inch for the first couple times even back dragging a bucket over to firm it up, after that the blower and V blade has shoes that ride on the surface to prevent digging in but not 100% foolproof, some learning process the blade will scrape a bit of gravel up but the blower, well it will throw it many feet.
the driveway is just over half mile with a 1/4 mile loop around the house
the driveway is just over half mile with a 1/4 mile loop around the house
Cycledude
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Edge Tamers work great at preventing gouging when plowing snow off gravel or grass with a front bucket ! And it only takes about 2 minutes to mount or remove them as needed. If it wasn’t for this forum I probably wouldn’t even know they existed.
Edge Tamer
I ordered 3 four inch Edge Tamers on 11/28/2021 and received them 40 days later on 1/6/2022 , I knew when I placed the order it was going to take quite a while to get them so that was acceptable. I received an email explaining they would be shipping a new improved version That are cast of...
www.tractorbynet.com
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