ice problems

[chuck172]

I have an 800' shale driveway that tends to ice up. One part of it is moderatly steep. What's the best, easiest, most economical way way to spread sand. I have a tractor, and a quad. How well do the atv spreaders work for this?

 

[Thomas]

Are you having the sand deliver??? if so have driver adjust tailgate chains spread as he goes,than feather/level sand to your thickness.

 

[George2615]

Where I used to work they used a PTO driven 3 pt. spreader and salt to do sidewalks. Same spreader can be used with sand and can have a 12V spreader motor instead of PTO driven. They are available at most tractor supply stores and some dealers. They work very well. I'd suggest backing up the grade while spreading to maintain traction. An ATV spreader similar to the one sold thru Northern will work very well too plus add rear weight to the ATV for traction.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/to...utm_campaign=Meyer Products&utm_content=21191

 

[msb1766]

Take a look at Fimco spreaders, they have a few options top pick from, I have there 12 Volt 3 point spreader works good.
FIMCO Dry Material Spreaders

 

[RNeumann]

The guy who plows our area uses his ATV spreader for icy spots. He uses a salt alternative.

If you go the sand route I think you will need a lot more product than an ATV can do. In that case use a tractor spreader or feather it out with your bucket.

 

[PILOON]

With any of the suggested spreaders please note that you need to use dry sand or at least sand that has a % of salt added otherwise poor performance is to be expected.
Actually if you really don't have a large area nor frequent need I's suggest pea gravel as it generally stays quite dry plus you require much less for traction.
Another advantage is pea gravel always stands proud and will not wash away.

My drive is fairly steep and we usually get 2-3 thaws plus some freezing rain and generally about 3 bags (hardware store 20 kilos) actually does me just fine.
I actually use a rubber tired walk behind fertilizer spreader and spread sort of 'salt and pepper fashion'.
(PS, I locked wheels to cancel the differential feature to get better traction otherwise on one wheel it merely skidded.)
\My drive is in the 1000 ft range.

 

[nybirdman]

If using an ATV spreader(good idea by the way)make sure all the spreader parts are plastic;salt will set up any aluminum parts quickly.Ruined one spreader this way.

 

[oosik]

I have one spot - about 200 feet - in my driveway that ices every winter. Unfortunately, its coming up out of a valley, so its also fairly steep. I've used many alternate products - all with acceptable success. Sand, sawdust, pine needles and even the wood pellets left over from my pellet stove. They will all wash away when spring arrives and that's that. The real cure is to direct the drainage away from the driveway. Been working on that for 34+ years with only limited success.

However, one of these days.................

 

[Looking4new]

If you use dry sand and have access to wood ashes, mix them, then spread on icy areas.

 

[chuck172]

How would those tow behind atv spreaders work?

 

[powerscol]

I have used my Sears tow behind fertilizer spreader (50 to 60 lb capacity) with ACE or HD Ice slicer granules with good results behind my Garden tractor (have chains for it). As long as the spreader wheel will spin everything is good.

 

[leonz]

The spreader gradually losing all its weight would not spin as well due to the load lessening in the hopper.
Filling the spreader tires with windshield washer fluid would help some with the above issue.

To maintain traction you would want to have more tongue weight by adding a solid cinderblock to a beefed up frame. Putting the block on top will only make it top heavy and it will tip over and bend the tongue of the hitch.

You would have to make a new tongue/frame for the spreader to hold the weight as the tubular steel they use will not hold up.

 

[Soldier415]

If you only need the drive sanded several times per year, would probably be cheaper and less aggravating to hire someone who plows/sands for a living to hit it when it needs it.

 

[Thomas]

If you only need the drive sanded several times per year, would probably be cheaper and less aggravating to hire someone who plows/sands for a living to hit it when it needs it.

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That's if plow/sander fellow doesn't sugar coat mostly on slope.