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.

 

[HeyNow]

I have used the Tractor Supply horse mats cut down and put between the 6 ft rear blade boards. Similar to the poster using the tire treads. My paved drive is 550 feet with a nice little hill at the end. I have R4s, not loaded and have not had any issues with slipping. I don't try to plow uphill. We had over 50 inches of snow in a short period of time last year. If the left over summer fuel wouldn't have been in my tank and gelled my fuel filter, I would have had zero problems. That much snow was a challenge though.

 

[gregsons]

Thanks for all the help Guys!!! I think ill try to use as is for the first time. Blade backwards and then if any issues i have some calf mats, i could try to cut off a strip from them. As normal its try one thing and adjust from there. oh i think ill start the winter with no chains.

Thanks again

 

[Kubota-guy1911]

You will love how fast the remaining snow melts off.

kj

 

[beenthere]

Have had blacktop drive for 6 years, and have no problem destroying it with either the snowplow, the side wing, or the tire chains.

Usually use chains only when it is ice covered. Not often, but a wet snow that leaves some slush before a quick drop in temps will leave ice. Then a big snow storm on top will leave you wanting chains.

Spinning on the blacktop with chains will leave marks on the surface. By mid summer, those marks are gone.

And the heat the blacktop absorbs in the winter is great to remove snow and ice and give a dry surface.
But can miss the bit of gravel that works to the surface from plowing the gravel drive, as it gave great traction. Really enjoy having a cleaner garage floor from not dragging in gravel dust and sand.

 

[gregsons]

I grew up with a Back top drive way and remember all the snow melting off quicky.
I got the drive way because i was tired of cleaning up the stones in the yard in the spring. i was also tired of tracting the small stones and dirt in the garage and house. i have sure noticed a differace keeping the place clean.
I do miss the stone drive way for one reason. i cant tell anymore when someone is driving up the driveway like i could before by the sound.
Guess nothing is perfect

 

[beenthere]

Add a drive alarm, that sends a signal to the house. I have two along the drive and they work great. Gives a short toot when cars pass by, and can be more prepared (put clothes on or get the gun ) for someone showing up. Run about $80 at Radio Shack.

 

[davatk]

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

Well, if you're like me, you'll be very protective of your new driveway for a while - not even wanting to park on it. :laughing: That said, after a few months you might consider getting it sealed. That will help to "bind" and protect it. Personally I've just been using the blade normally (not turned around). Yes it has put some minor scratches on driveway, but at this point I'm feeling that is just the nature of the beast after a few years. You do need to be careful in deep snow, you can accidentally plow up some of your ashpalt :ashamed: if you aren't paying attention. (yep done that). Regarding chains, just get the regular type (not V-Bar etc) and you should be OK.

Hope that helps !

 

[RalphVa]

It'll be a bit soft the first year. By next year, you'll be able to scrape it and probably even use chains without marking it up. I had a Gravely and used it with chains on the tires. Needed to until I got dual wheels and tires. My 4010 does not need chains, and it got quite a workout this winter with our record 56" of snow here in central Va. I've an FEL and back blade with it. The Frontier back blade does not mark the driveway. When flat, the FEL doesn't. I was having to use to curl it while down to get out of being stuck while dumping off to the side a couple times. Dug gouges out of the side of the driveway with the corner of the FEL doing this.

Ralph

 

[rgold1963]

I finally paved my driveway after 20 years of gravel. It's very steep and I never got stuck with chains on the truck(4WD) until the first snow on the new pavement. Chains on all 4 wheels and I still slid off where the road turns at the steepest part of the drive. Took all day to dig out the truck and I decided it was time for a snow plow. Winter before last, we had 4' of snow and I got the truck stuck a couple of times when trying to clear it. There are marks in my pavement from the chains but once you get over the "newness" factor of the perfectly paved drive, it's not such a big deal. I just picked up my first tractor last month and will be using it this year for snow removal. I have a 6' back blade and am looking for a front blade to go along with it as well. Anyone have suggestions for a QA front blade? I can tell you that I wish I had paved it years ago(much cleaner garage floor and much longer tire life!) and I wish I could get the neighbors below me to pay thier share so we could pave the entire road. I am at the end of a mile long private road and only the last 2200' are paved because no one ever seems to be able to come up with the money to do the rest. None of them own 4WD vehicles and I seem to have been elected as the only one that can do maintenance on the whole road. Pretty frustrating when I grade the road and an hour later it's already washboarded again because the neighbors can't seem to drive slow enough to keep from spinning the tires on the minivan..... Oops... off topic I guess.

Ron