Snow Equipment Owning/Operating Pictures of your snow weapons

[LouNY]

Fun day today in the driveway we had gotten about 3-5" of snow then it rained trees and everything picked up about a 1/4" of ice then it warmed up enough to just rain,
so I waited for it to quit then went to start scraping the slush of the driveway.
It was cold enough that the driveway is still froze hard and it froze the slush about 2" thick.
Actually spun the tires with the studded euro chains a couple of times.
Then after I had scrapped the whole thing 3 or 4 times wasn't getting much more to peel up so loaded the sander and started sanding,
almost went back and put the front chains on but with the diff lock in she walked right up with a half load in the sander,
used half going down then the second half coming back up as the sander favors the left side as its sanding. So I go down on the right
side of the driveway and back up on the left and it gets it a good coat. Put it down a bit heavy today so used almost a yard of sand.
If I just give it a light coat I can get by with a good half a yard.
These nuisance storms (1-3") are as much work as a moderate storm (6-12") I have to clean my driveway for all of them or then pack down to ice
which is not nice on a hill.

 

[Rustyiron]

We got about an inch and a half of "nuisance" here Lou, sleet. It was like plowing coarse sugar but I wanted to get it off before it either consolidates into ice, or turn into slush, sure don't trust what "they" say. These days I don't even bother listening to the weather anymore, what's the use.

 

[Thomas]

Well Tuesday didn't go to plan. We were all ready for 10 to 12 inches of heavy snow. Instead we got 4" of concrete mix followed by a little rain and drizzle. But it felt like 10 to 12 moving it. Wonder what Friday will bring. Our weather man is struggling more than normal this year.

gg

That storm was double the work and with over night low temps those that didn't remove the snow going to be in for real treat.

WCAX 3 weather pretty darn close calling the weather for us also TBN'er Buppies. :thumbsup:

 

[BackRoad]

Through the night and morning it had rained/sleeted maybe 3", with temp hovering around 32*.

By mid-day it stopped and temp hit 34*.

I went out to plow off the 3" of slush mix just as the temp started to fall...and it went down fast! 4 degrees out there now!!

By the time I was done with mine and two neighbors, slush plowed when I started was frozen solid. I think if I had started 30 minutes later, it would have been a frozen mess like Mr. Lou described.

Back when I was working, I would clear snow before work, or after work, as time permitted.

Retired now, so timing is less critical...but sure need to be sensitive to temperature when it's in that freeze/thaw range!!!

 

[SylvainG]

These were my previous weapons (but will see some use, not as much though): A 1995 26" MTD Snowblower and a 2008 Polaris 800 EFI ATV with a 60" plow. All bought brand new.

They have been succeeded by this 68" Snow blower (brand new) on my 2010 (new to me) Kioti LK30.

 

[Rustyiron]

Bet you're a happy guy:thumbsup:
Nice step up.

 

[pmsmechanic]

So how is your LK30 handling a 68" snow blower? I used to think that my 4410 had lots of power for a 59" front mount. It does until you get into really heavy wet snow. Then I can use all the 4410 (35 engine) has.

I really like the looks of that blower. It's well designed.

 

[SylvainG]

Bet you're a happy guy:thumbsup:
Nice step up.

Thanks. I was a bit concerned about blowing 1000' with a the rear facing blower (the LK30 doesn't have a mid PTO) but I just swivel in my seat and my head is not even at 90 degrees. Blowing is slow enough that turning facing backward wasn't even an issue.

So how is your LK30 handling a 68" snow blower? I used to think that my 4410 had lots of power for a 59" front mount. It does until you get into really wet heavy snow. Then I can use all the 4410 has. I really like the looks of that blower. It's well designed.

The merit goes to my dealer, he's the one that suggested that blower The blower is rated for 20-30HP PTOs. My LK30 has a 23HP PTO. It didn't even notice the snow (which wasn't heavy), even while going up a 8% grade hill (for about 80 feet) or through the packed 12"+ snowbank.

 

[beenthere]

How would our snow weapons handle this recent snow in Chicago?
Monster Snowstorm Buries Chicago/ The Aftermath (1.33hrs.) - YouTube

Many shown had only some wienie plastic snow shovels and no where to put the snow.. not something I would enjoy.

 

[LouNY]

Seen more doesn't mean I look forward to it and I have equipment to handle it.

 

[Rustyiron]

 

[senecak19]

View attachment 687469

How do you like the skidsteer setup vs the your tractor setup?

 

[Hay Dude]

View attachment 687469

I like old Gal,,,,,, I mean Gehl :laughing:
They were (are) beasts

I had a pusher box on my NH backhoe back when we were doing corporate centers and a guy had one for sale that was like 110HP or some unreal number. It was a skiddy on ‘roids....

Would you do better with chains on rear tires since any type of down pressure will lift fronts? Or is the PB heavy enough to keep the fronts planted?

 

[gasman1075]

Lou,

I am in Stephentown NY long driveway ( 1100-1300 ') gentle rise to the house. I have a 59" front snow blower on my JD and a 7' scraper blade on the back. I would love to get away from sanding by hand from the back of my truck. Any thoughts ? Suggestions ?

thanks

 

[LouNY]

Lou,

I am in Stephentown NY long driveway ( 1100-1300 ') gentle rise to the house. I have a 59" front snow blower on my JD and a 7' scraper blade on the back. I would love to get away from sanding by hand from the back of my truck. Any thoughts ? Suggestions ?

thanks

Your not to far from me.
What I have used for many years have been the pickup sized sanders.
My first one I bought cheap and spent a lot of time and material repairing,
had to rebuild the entire drive and spinner box, new bearings and shafts, new apron chain and wear plate.
My second one I used on a truck for several years and this year I mounted it to a trailer.

Mine are too large for your tractor and would be a pain to fill by hand, assuming no loader with a front mount blower.
I would think your best options would be the truck receiver mount sanders they can be found with agitators to handle sand.
Do you get your sand from the town pile?
Do you have a truck that could handle one of them?
Snow ex has a good line of spreaders, most of theirs don't work the best with sand or even heavy sand salt mixes.
Meyer has the Elite line for utv's that could be trailer mounted or in a small pickup.
Insert Hopper Spreaders | Salt Spreaders | Meyer
Many of the small ones can't handle straight or mostly sand.
Also they can't be filled and left for a couple of days or the wet sand will freeze into a big solid chunk.
If you have a sand pile the tailgate series could be mounted to a 3 point rig.
This is an interesting tow behind rig, might need chains for the drive wheels;
Sand & Gravel Spreader | Iron Baltic

I sanded out of the back of a pickup for a few years,
go down to the highway shed and shovel it on,
drive home and start shovel sanding,
sometimes I'd have one of my daughters drive the truck while I slung to sand out.
Some times that could be a rough ride.

Sorry I don't have any better ideas but not knowing your equipment and budget it's hard to recommend much,
good luck.

 

[gasman1075]

Thanks the Iron Baltic is not something I had seen before. I am watching for a tailgate / utv mount sander maybe it the Spring ?

I get sand from the town barn and shovel in then shovel out....gets old but necessary.

Thanks again.

 

[LouNY]

That is were I got mine from till I started using the full sized sander then I started using too much and I was on the Town Board and it didn't seem like a good idea to keep getting the sand from the town. I get a tri axle load about every other year of sand salt mix and try and keep it tarped and the dang deer off it.

 

[RoyJackson]

If you have a sand pile the tailgate series could be mounted to a 3 point rig.

They make dedicated 3PH mounted spreaders too:
Herd Kasco Model 75?S 3-Point Wet Sand and Salt Spreader 12?? lb. Capacity
Pretty pricey, but probably no more then most PTO driven implements. Salt, unless bought in bulk, would be pretty expensive too.
Just make sure which ever one you decide on, you rinse it out thoroughly after the winter season!! Even with the plastic hoppers, there's still enough metal parts to corrode

 

[LouNY]

That is nice compact sander, I like the fact that they rate it to handle wet sand.
As soon as you mix salt into the sand it starts to suck in moisture.
Yes they do require maintenance, I wash my stainless steel unit out good then get out the used motor oil
and give the apron chain a good bath in it.
As well as greasing it a few times each season and at the end of the season.
Salt even in bulk is pricey, salted sand is also my last load was around $5 or $600.

 

[grnspot110]

2016- 2025R w/5' Frontier blade: