Just got a blacktop driveway.......

[gregsons]

I just had my gravel driveway blacktoped. I had been clearing snow with my ford 3000 and a 7 foot back blade. Is this going to be ok on the new black top? With the gravel i had chains on the tires but im thinkin I better not use them anymore. Thought/ suggeations

Thanks

 

[RoyJackson]

As far as chains, it's going to depend on which type of chains you have. If they're standard ladder type (used by road equipment), you should be OK. Frankly, I think you'll need chains more with that asphalt drive then you did with the gravel, especially if it's a sloped driveway.

As far as the rear blade, if you plow with the convex side of the blade, you might be OK. If you don't have skid shoes, you might want to add them.

You'll probably get a lot of responses suggesting a blower or front blade...might be something to consider if you have the money. If a blade, you might want to consider adding a front plow to your pick up.

 

[irvingj]

Green with envy.... I'd love to get mine blacktoped someday! Please post this winter & let us know how it works out- I'll be interested!

 

[Baby Grand]

I have both grass and blacktop drives plus a 7' rear blade. To protect the paved drive I cut a section of tire tread out of a truck tire and clamped it between the moldboard and the cutting edge to make a "squeegee" edge. The only thing I had to buy was longer plow bolts. It's not a perfect solution - the blade has a habbit of bouncing if you don't angle it - but it's cheap, never scratches the pavement and is very gentle on the grass.

-Jim

 

[westbrooklawn]

Visit plowsite.com and do some reading on poly cutting edges... they can be bolted on in place of your steel cutting edge, and eliminate scratching and gouging of blacktop, concrete, stamped concrete profiles, etc. I would try to plow without chains if possible... any spinning of wheels will leave marks regardless of chain type.

 

[VABlue]

Be careful parking the machine on your new blacktop in the dead heat of summer - might sink in a little...

 

[captaincrab55]

Visit plowsite.com and do some reading on poly cutting edges... they can be bolted on in place of your steel cutting edge, and eliminate scratching and gouging of blacktop, concrete, stamped concrete profiles, etc. I would try to plow without chains if possible... any spinning of wheels will leave marks regardless of chain type.

westbrooklawn, Thanks for the link:

http://www.plowsite.com/

 

[Storm56]

I had a paved drive around my house along with a 600 foot long gravel drive, (could not afford to pave it all), for years and just used my woods rear blade, no chains though. As I have mentioned in previous post I used the blade backwards and it did not scratch the drive or dig up the gravel. Worked fine.

 

[djradz]

I just had my gravel driveway blacktoped. I had been clearing snow with my ford 3000 and a 7 foot back blade. Is this going to be ok on the new black top? With the gravel i had chains on the tires but im thinkin I better not use them anymore. Thought/ suggeations

Thanks

Nothing special should be required for plowing snow as long as you are not reckless. I've plowed mine for nearly 20 years without issue. Yes, at times it's a little slick and chains might be nice, but thats only an issue because it's also sloped. As long as you don't gough it by tilting the blade abnormally or carelessly hang the blade over the side and catch an edge, you'll be fine. I remember the first time or two I plowed and I too was a bit concerned, but that quickly faded and I go at it now like a bat-out-...-....

I've thought about soft edges on the blade or a pipe with a slit in it, but really, it's never been necessary. I also have a small concrete section by my barn, and there I've noticed some scraping and roughing up of edges, but still never enough to do anything different.

 

[Thomas]

Congrats.
Could try w/out chains get feel.
Try and not spin tires or sharp turns,but will to bet sooner later chains shall leave marking here and there.