How do I keep gravel out of my yard when plowing snow??

[gaheadrick]

I use a 60" front mounted blower because I have little room on the sides of my 650' driveway. The steep parts are asphalt but the rest of the drive is relatively flat gravel out to the highway. I also have a rear blade and I purchased 1.5" thick x 7" high polyethylene bar stock, drilled holes using the cutting blade to mark spacing and mounted the poly bar between the cutting blade and back blade allowing the poly blade to extend a couple inches below. I used it all last winter with some significant snowfalls and it worked great. On the asphalt I found that the running with the back poly blade down while blowing with the front blower leaves just the slightest snow/slush film which the sun removes the rest quickly. The poly blade does not damage the asphalt surface but is tough enough to withstand the wear, whether asphalt or gravel. Whenever the poly wears down enough I'll drill holes higher an remount it.

 

[adolphbell]

I clear about 250 yards and use the back of the blade. I simply spin the blade and drag it back first or I drive in reverse and let the back of the blade move the snow. While I cannot clear right down to the gravel, almost no gravel is deposited in the yard. The skid shoes I have cut channels in the drive.
If snow is very deep (over 9 or 10 inches) I use the blade in its normal position and take the snow down to about 3 inches (might take several passes); then reverse blade and finish.

 

[DKCDKC]

Got a full mile of hilly, curvy gravel drive. Fortunately it is fairly wide. for snows up to 18 inches or so, I plow out and back leaving piles that are pretty much all still on the gravel road bed. In the spring I use a blade and rake to pull it back into the center. If there is a monster snow, I plow off all but a few inches with the back blade and FEL, and do that the full width of the drive. Then I go back and shave the rest off as normal.

The real problem is a steep, north-facing hill and curve right above the house. If I don't cut it down to showing gravel, it ices and I slide - even a 4wd with chains can slide. Scary. So that hill gets extra attention. My drive does run across in front of my yard but, again, it's wide enough for me to keep the piles off the grass. It's worked for 12 years anyway.

 

[JD6430]

I plow several gravel driveways, what has worked best for me during the first few storms is to leave an inch or two of snow and then back drag the last pass, most of the time there is gravel showing but not huge amounts in the banks. I also have 4 shoes on my plow. In the end there is no good way to plow with out getting dirt on your lawn. Its winters way of getting one last punch in before summer.

 

[Russ7127]

I added a stop to the three point hitch control lever. I used the pivoting side a hasp. I fastened the long side the side panel and use the short hinged part of the hasp as a stop for Three Point Hitch lever. This allows me adjust the scraper blade high to one to two inches above the ground. If wish the scape the ground, I just flip the hinged portion of the hasp out of way.

 

[brewdog]

I used my Loader bucket with a pipe guard on the cutting edge. Didn't cost much to make and works well. Thought you might like to see some pics.

 

[gaheadrick]

Thanks for the photos...very helpful. I like the manner by which you attached/welded the pipe using side bar stock and bolting to the side of the bucket as you can clear forward and back plow without having the pipe come off.

 

[sixdogs]

I used my Loader bucket with a pipe guard on the cutting edge. Didn't cost much to make and works well. Thought you might like to see some pics.

That is a good looking setup that I'll bet works perfect.

 

[brewdog]

Thanks for the photos...very helpful. I like the manner by which you attached/welded the pipe using side bar stock and bolting to the side of the bucket as you can clear forward and back plow without having the pipe come off.

Thanks gaheadrick! Happy to hear the photos help. I wasn't sure how well it would hold up when I did it. Last winter was my Beta test. The pipe hangs on there nice and tight in both directions when plowing. Someone on TBN gave me the idea a couple years ago, so I used a 6 foot piece of pipe some 1/4" scrap pieces I had in the garage to make it. If you split the pipe in half with set of torches, the slot naturally opens up enough to slip it on the cutting edge. Then a couple taps with the small sledge and it fits like a glove.

Good luck!

 

[brewdog]

That is a good looking setup that I'll bet works perfect.

Thanks six dogs. It works very well. as long as I keep the down pressure under control it floats really well over the gravel. It was very frustrating in the spring trying to get the gravel out of the grass before the last of the snow melts and the gravel drops. This tool has saved me hours and hours of raking gravel. It's fantastic after the ground get hard and frozen.