Snow New Snow Today

[whiteh2o]

Picture speeks for itself. Best to all in 2009.

 

[whiteh2o]

Photoshop = no spell check.

Wishes

 

[whiteh2o]

Two more feet of snow yesterday and today (12/28). I have figured out I need some front chains. Got stuck in soft wet snow with ice under the snow. Used the FEL to slowly push the tractor back out of the ruts. I also figured out keeping the bucket full of snow while snow blowing gives added front end traction in 4WD.

If it keeps snowing this much I'm going to have to call in help (of course they will want cash) with the heavy(er) equipment (cat or skidsteer) to move things around. I'm having a hard time keeping up since the house is 50 miles up in the mountains and I'm not there 24/7.

Happy New Year!

 

[whiteh2o]

Reviewed the pros/cons about running chains on the front only.

Question please: Does anyone run rear chains on a 2615 without wheel spacers? I am very concerned about clearence. If so, what type of chains and where did you get them?

Thank you.

 

[LBrown59]

I'm having a hard time keeping up since the house is 50 miles up in the mountains and I'm not there 24/7.

Happy New Year!

What's bad is if the roads get to where you can't get up there.

 

[whiteh2o]

What's bad is if the roads get to where you can't get up there.

Most of it is a major north/south route through Idaho and it's always in good condition. The county road (pavement) is plowed past the 600 yard private lane. Snow boots get me the rest of the way in.

 

[JDeerekid]

Nice tractor and snow. We had alot of snow up until the temperatures came up to about 60 for a couple days and it down poured rain. I wish it would get really cold again to freeze up the ground and start snowing.
I noticed that you have a tooth bar on your bucket. Are you going to take that off so you dont dig up the ground???
With that snowblower you should not have a need to bring in the big guys to clear out
I dont know about running front chains on your tractor but I have heard many people do run them on there tractors. Have not heard many bad things about them just dont let the tire spin or you risk something breaking. I have thought about running chains on the front of my tractor but drive on the road to much and dont want to risk breaking something.

Good luck with all that snow and send some my way. Also love the picture but need many more.

Here are some pics and videos I made of the snow we have had so far this year. 2008-2009-tractors-snow-pics

Feel free to add your pics to this thread

 

[whiteh2o]

I noticed that you have a tooth bar on your bucket. Are you going to take that off so you dont dig up the ground???/QUOTE]

I left the tooth bar on for the snow. I bring the loader level indicator up past level so I'm not digging up the gravel/road mix and the bucket glides on the 'teeth' in 'float' and I push the snow. Leaves a little snow so I can have a base and I'm not digging up the driveway. Seems to work well except when I have two feet of wet snow.

The snowblower works well when there 'more' snow. With 4 or 5 inches seems to just 'spit' a little out. I push small snowfall with the FEL.

The other problem I had was that there is an existing house at the end of the private road. They rent it out when they are not using it. Seems the snowmobilers (renters) couldn't make it all the way down the road and pulled into mine with two feet of snow and dug ruts all the way through it with the 4x4 trucks and chains. I had words with the snowmobilers, but, they were very sorry and they really didn't have any other options to turn around. The 'property' management place has yet to return my call. I'm sure they are avoiding me like a bad bad cold. It's not going to be a friendly conversation. This is the first winter I have been there. If they want to rent it they need to clear the main private road 'past' my two acres. They have in the past, however, they do a crappy job and I just clean it up and widen the road with the blower.

Ordered chains for the front today. I have some ideas about the rear tires. Hardened self tapping 1/4" screws with 7/16" hex heads into the R4 lugs. Basically studing the rears. If I go that direction, I'll post the results.

Regards

 

[BobG_in_VA]

I gotta add a line here....I'm from back here in VA...I came out to Idaho elk hunting in the fall of '07...Section 26 in the River of No Return Wilderness (the name should give you folks an idea of what its like...). On the 1st of Oct 07 we got a foot of snow at 9500 feet..It continued to snow ever day and every night till we had almost 3 ft of snow by the 5th of Oct..(the guide said this was about what its like up there on Nov 30, not Oct 5th...)...Anyway, it was totally beautiful looking at the pics I took but totally gruelling trying to get thru it...my brother got a 5 x5 on Tuesday, I got 4 x 4 on Friday...almost got a mountain lion on Thursday....anyway, Idaho is beautiful and pristine...pls keep it that way!! BobG in VA

 

[whiteh2o]

...Idaho is beautiful and pristine...pls keep it that way!! BobG in VA

BobG....it's ugly out here...pass the word....ha...

I was born and raised here and I like to think it's still pristine. I have traveled all over the US and there are a lot of other nice places, however, I choose to stay here. We don't have dense populations, however, Boise is going and keeps on gowing. It causes strain on the "local" natural resources, however, there are still lots of protected areas. For example: We used to float (raft) the Middle Fork of the Salmon River from the head waters (River of No Return) to the Main Salmon. It's a permit only river (limited permits). They launch 7 groups a day for 7 day trips and the only way your coming out early is by medical evac. You have to pick you camp sites (hot springs galore) and everything that goes in comes out. I mean "everything" if you get my drift. Idaho has two of the deapest gorges in north America. One being the Middle Fork of The Salmon (River of No Return) and Hells Canyon.

On my property north of Boise, I have elk, deer, etc. walking through the property and now more and more wolves. Wolves have seem to have taken a toll on the game population. I don't hunt big game anymore (prefer varmits, birds, etc), but, lots of friends are up in arms about the re-introduction. I stay neutral on the subject myself, however, if one tries to eat one of our pups, it may see the end of a 12 gauge.

The little town up where my property is at is like visting a place from the 'older' west. It has a 'Trading Post' which is a hardware store and they have one of anything. The Merc, which is a small grocery store. Two watering holes. Everyone pretty much knows whos doing anything at any given time, however, I'm what you call a 'weekender' until retirement and I pretty much stay at home when I'm up there. My neighbors call me anytime they see a strange car around and I think if someone was trying to break in one of them might shoot first and ask questions later. Yes, you still see guns in the back of pickup windows, etc..ha. As a kid we used to carry our shotguns through town to the Snake River and hunt ducks. If you did that these days the swat team would be called.....ha.....

You can ride and ATV or snowmachine or hike/snowshoe (for the green people) for miles and miles directly from my house.

That being said, they are trying to develop a planned community with 520 condos and homes, big resort club house, heli pad, fishing ponds, whitewater park, tubing hill, etc. It's on the other end of the valley so I won't be impacted, however, it may change the 'face' of the little town. Heck, if I wanted to be that close to my neighbor, I would just stay here in town. It's not moving fast based upon the economy (for now), but, it will change sometime. But, you have to remember, it's only 50 miles from the largest city in Idaho. There's a lot of country here and the 1.5 million people in the entire state have room to spread out.

I'm glad you enjoyed you visit and please come back again. Just don't tell anyone else.....ha

I ordered some "ice studs" for the back wheel lugs on the tractor from a local motorcycle shop (goldmax ice screws). They come in tomorrow. I can remove them in the spring. I don't run it on pavement, so it shouldn't be a big rush even after the snow melts. We shall see how they work this weekend.

Happy New Year!