Irrefutable imperical proof of how to handle snow

[Willie B]

Storms can be localized. I'd have said the big heavy wet snow storms were between 1981, and 1984. CT got the worst one first, and VT got ours the following year. I haven't researched the dates. I bought the Granada in fall1981, and replaced it in early1984. The CT storm was between those dates. I bought the big Cherokee in early 1983, but didn't yet have the plow installed when VT's big storm came. That'd be 1983 or 1984. I remember being overwhelmed in a CJ5 with rear frame completely rusted away, looking 100 yards away at the Cherokee, wondering if it would handle a plow any better.

 

[George2615]

Well, the theory held true. If you have all your plows and blowers in tip top shape and on the tractor ready to go the snow you get for the rest of the season will be minimal.

Back in post 27 I felt we were done with major snow and would have minimal amount the rest of the season so I removed my plow and blower. Starting last night and continuing until 10PM tonight we are now getting slammed with snow. I had to hook up the plow again and went out at 5AM, 8AM, and 11AM. Plowed about 12-14" so far. The bad part is the driveway gravel went with it too because its no longer frozen so I'll have to rake that back later. Snow is so wet and heavy that between the tree limbs coming down over the lines and accidents the power was off from 0450-1130. Outages all over the state. We were out a little over 6 1/2 hrs. The house was starting to get a little cool around 9AM so I ran the generator till it came back on. I'll probably go plow again about 4PM so the wife won't have any problem getting in when she gets home.

 

[dnw64]

Well I have a story that proves nothing.

'15-16 I replaced my old Case 444 with a brand new Ariens 32. Used it once, on about 3" just so I could say I used it. It did snow once while we were away and my son-in-law plowed the drive for me.

'16-17 was a pretty normal winter. Used the Ariens enough that I realized I didn't want a walk-behind after all. Around February I started looking for tractors again. Even though Winter was over, I ended up deciding to buy the GC2300 in mid-March. It was delivered on 3/20. Two days later we got about 18".

'17-18 has also been a pretty normal winter (other than being colder than usual).

So there you have it. Sometimes the $$ stops the snow, sometimes it brings it...

 

[PILOON]

"So there you have it. Sometimes the $$ stops the snow, sometimes it brings it..."

LOL that is what I call INSURANCE!
The premium is inverse to the results.

That or Murphy law was invoked.

 

[Garandman]

I bought my wife a motorcycle after several weeks of warm weather and no snow in February and early March. Since I bought it, we’ve received 25” of snow.....

Walk behinds are where it’s at here in Boston. The snow near the coast is very heavy and usually wind blown. No one has too much of a driveway here, so you’d think folks would have smaller machines. No dice: everything in the neighborhood is 10hp plus. We just bought an Ariens RapidTrak with 21 lb ft of torque and their new hybrid wheel/track system. Really a great machine.

 

[onionfmr]

Well, the theory held true. If you have all your plows and blowers in tip top shape and on the tractor ready to go the snow you get for the rest of the season will be minimal.

Back in post 27 I felt we were done with major snow and would have minimal amount the rest of the season so I removed my plow and blower. Starting last night and continuing until 10PM tonight we are now getting slammed with snow. I had to hook up the plow again and went out at 5AM, 8AM, and 11AM. Plowed about 12-14" so far. The bad part is the driveway gravel went with it too because its no longer frozen so I'll have to rake that back later. Snow is so wet and heavy that between the tree limbs coming down over the lines and accidents the power was off from 0450-1130. Outages all over the state. We were out a little over 6 1/2 hrs. The house was starting to get a little cool around 9AM so I ran the generator till it came back on. I'll probably go plow again about 4PM so the wife won't have any problem getting in when she gets home.

Hey George - please keep your plow and blower on until at least June! LOL. We certainly have seen our fair share of snow the last couple of weeks! We're south of Syracuse in the hills and have had three 18" events and a couple of 7" heavy wet snow dumps.

I may be partially responsible myself for the snow. During the earlier warm-up, I started relocating equipment in my building in anticipation of spring and starting doing some work on my trails. Big mistake!

 

[George2615]

Hey George - please keep your plow and blower on until at least June! LOL. We certainly have seen our fair share of snow the last couple of weeks! We're south of Syracuse in the hills and have had three 18" events and a couple of 7" heavy wet snow dumps.

I may be partially responsible myself for the snow. During the earlier warm-up, I started relocating equipment in my building in anticipation of spring and starting doing some work on my trails. Big mistake!

I hear ya. I did prove my point about bringing more snow upon us. Blade and blower will now stay on till at least the middle to end of May so we probably won't get much more now.
I've plowed about the same in the past couple weeks. I don't mind the plowing but its just seeing all that gravel ( runner crush) piling up in the snow banks that I'll have to put back in the driveway.

 

[dnw64]

I don't know if this is a tractor-owner faux pas or what, but I'm relatively lazy and insist on a paved road and paved driveway for my self-maintained properties. I do have two rental properties with full/partial gravel drives, but I don't have to clear them so I don't care.

 

[George2615]

I don't know if this is a tractor-owner faux pas or what, but I'm relatively lazy and insist on a paved road and paved driveway for my self-maintained properties. I do have two rental properties with full/partial gravel drives, but I don't have to clear them so I don't care.

I'd love to have my driveway paved but can't justify the 18K they want to pave it. I'll just continue to re-grade the stone every year. Plus I wouldn't want to make the Hwy Dept. look bad as my road is just oil and stone. If the town can't afford blacktop neither can I.

 

[cabover4us]

I have a different perspective on buying equipment, have a 1990 Yardman walk behind snowblower and a 1985 Airens bought from a school would never think to sell them living in upstate New York. Did buy a 60" WoodMax blower for my tractor, works very well, doesn't throw over 20' but moves everything in front of it.
But until we sell this home and move south, these pieces will stay right there in the barn until needed. Not for sale. Laughing...