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

[PhysAssist]

We try our best not to plow until the ground is frozen, but goven the wierd weather for the last decade or so, it has been difficult. When snow follows/ends a warm spell, sometimes you just have to plow. It helps that we have an AWD Element, and snow tires on the front wheel drive Fit, but if the snow gets more than a few inches deep we do need to plow, so we have several areas where we can plow to that aren't lawn or grassy, and we try to end our runs in thesexareas, where we can reclaim the gravel easily in the spring.

Shoes just seem to dig into the gravel unless the ground is frozen solid, and then we don't need the shoes anyway. We have the mushroom kind previously pictured.

 

[timster2]

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.

I like the hook on your bucket.

 

[brewdog]

I like the hook on your bucket.

timster2 thanks. I was inspired to make that on TBN. I use it move my brush hog around. The hook lifts the top link pin, then I lift a little and bucket rests against the front of the brush hog. It really works great to move my Brush Hog around with the front loader in my garage. I've tried loader Forks, but this seems to be the best way to move it around.

 

[oosik]

My gravel ends up on the side of the driveway or in the ditch. Sooo --- about every third year I go down the sides/ditch and grade it back onto the driven way. I know its not the best system going but with a mile long gravel drive - it works. My driveway is a constant work in progress - from potholes, ripples, soft spots etc there is always somewhere needing a little touchup. What I really need is six inches deep by twelve feet wide by 5280 feet long of crushed rock. Last quote was two years ago - quantity discount - $27,500. I can live with pushing, dragging, scraping, digging what I have for that price, forever. I lived and worked in Alaska but when I retired and moved down here I certainly didn't bring that much gold with me!! Besides, it more than just an excuse for seat time.

 

[timster2]

timster2 thanks. I was inspired to make that on TBN. I use it move my brush hog around. The hook lifts the top link pin, then I lift a little and bucket rests against the front of the brush hog. It really works great to move my Brush Hog around with the front loader in my garage. I've tried loader Forks, but this seems to be the best way to move it around.

Its nice to see someone actually build something based on a post I made a while back. When I saw the hook you made my day.:thumbsup:

 

[brewdog]

timster2,

That is great! I saw your loader bucket photo on a page with a couple hundred bucket hooks! I thought...someone had a great idea there! Thank YOU for the inspiration!

 

[bandaidmd]

Im hoping this will prevent at least a few stones from climbing into the bucket.

Its made up from scrap so its more function than beauty.

 

[Wyobuckaroo]

I have given up keeping gravel out of the yard.......
I have resigned to pushing all the snow I can into a spot that I often use for an extra parking spot.....

Good luck...

 

[PhysAssist]

I have given up keeping gravel out of the yard.......
I have resigned to pushing all the snow I can into a spot that I often use for an extra parking spot.....

Good luck...

:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

 

[irvingj]

Ditto to the "leave the first couple of storms in place" school of thought.... I now have a paved driveway, but for the 20 or so years before that I would use wife's car, a 4WD Matrix with 50-series tires, or my old '72 Blazer, to drive back & forth, up & down, to pack down the first few storms. I usually ended up with a nice, solid base as a result, about 2-3 inches thick. I used to use a walk-behind blower, but now have my tractor with a front-mount blower.:thumbsup:

Yes, it did occasionally ice up; I just kept some sand in plastic bags on hand (still do!), and hand-spread when necessary. My drive is about 250 feet, uphill to the road, steep in parts, and on a north-facing slope. I know, not good planning, but it is what it is.

The solid base worked well for me to minimize rock-picking in the spring; not 100%, but tolerable, and far better than paying a local teenage hot rod to plow it with a pick-up truck! (Can you visualize "lawn sod furrow"?:laughing