Plowing on gravel
- Thread starter 94BULLITT
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I also have 1300 or so feet of road and another 1000 feet or so of gravel driveway. I have never liked to plow it with my truck because of the "digging in" part of it. Instead I use a 84" bucket on my Cat 246 and move the snow that way. If we have 6" of snowfall it takes me about 1/2 hour or so to finish. I never have any problems with digging in but it sure does pack down hard and smooth....Makes for a slick ice packed surface
don white
Silver Member
I put a pipe on my edge. Welded tabs on and then just bolt it to the edge. Got to use it for the first time last week and I was real happy with it. I have around 1100 feet of driveway and 1/3 of it is hill. My hill also has 3 swales to divert water off the drive and into the ditch. The drive is 12' wider and wider is some areas. The pipe worked great but I still have to control the down pressure and work the control on the swales. Hoped I could just let it float but that pushed to many stones. My system is to angle the plow and only clear the center 8' or 9'. That way any stones just stay on the edge of the drive and not in the lawn. I did not move many stones but some did come up. I don't like the pack down the first snow system because I am on a north slope and I have had as much as 4'' of solid ice using that system. If your drive is flat then no problem.
I also have another invention. I have a stone rake for my garden tractor. I put a thick piece of rubber on the bottom edge.. Then angle it and pull it up the hill to clear as much snow as possible. That gets me down to the bare stones without moving many stones. That really helps to keep the ice off the hill. In fact if we only have 1-2 inches the rake is all I use. It is very fast operation. My problem is I must keep all snow off the hill or chop ice. I don't like chopping ice. It is not a fun afternoon.
Does anybody wax their snow plow? I used to do it all the time with the snow blowers.
I also have another invention. I have a stone rake for my garden tractor. I put a thick piece of rubber on the bottom edge.. Then angle it and pull it up the hill to clear as much snow as possible. That gets me down to the bare stones without moving many stones. That really helps to keep the ice off the hill. In fact if we only have 1-2 inches the rake is all I use. It is very fast operation. My problem is I must keep all snow off the hill or chop ice. I don't like chopping ice. It is not a fun afternoon.
Does anybody wax their snow plow? I used to do it all the time with the snow blowers.
So even with the pipe on it still cut in on float? Is this plow on the B26 you have listed in your profile?
don white
Silver Member
I guess I should add that snow plowing is way better with the pipe on the cutting edge. The pipe will still pile up some stones but it does not dig in the way the edge does. I was well worth building.
Also I really like using the plow without the pipe to level the drive. I back drag it and using the power angle I can put the gravel back onto the drive and not over the edges. I do it after a good rain when everyting is wet and loose.
Also I really like using the plow without the pipe to level the drive. I back drag it and using the power angle I can put the gravel back onto the drive and not over the edges. I do it after a good rain when everyting is wet and loose.
Red Horse
Veteran Member
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- Bolton, MA
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- Deere 655ZTrak, Deere 4720 Cab, 400 X LT 155
Guys- I don't get the pipe thing. As Don W noted, you run the risk of ending up with ice. I have an HDPE edge on my 7'Fisher- problem I have with that is it will not "cut" hardpacked snow- it's a "catch 22" situation-either you move some stone or you leave enough that at some point, depending on snow/rain cycles,you end up with a glazed surface.
Then you are into the sanding thing-by the way, for what its worth, best way I found to do that is put the bucket back on and pile sand in each end of bucket. I then drive at a good clip and "flick" the bucket-leaves sand where you need it -in the tire paths.
Then you are into the sanding thing-by the way, for what its worth, best way I found to do that is put the bucket back on and pile sand in each end of bucket. I then drive at a good clip and "flick" the bucket-leaves sand where you need it -in the tire paths.
I have some luck by using a back blade turned around and using it on the 3pt and angle it my drive is gravel and 450' roughly. I found that just getting the snow packed down and level it melts so much faster and doesn't leave the icy ridges that are a pain to drive over at least this is what works for me.
LD1
Epic Contributor
Yes, plowing snow in the winter, there are trade-offs.
There are basically 3 options you have, each person had to decide what is best for their situation.
1. Use the pipe, which will leave a hard pack layer, and can eventually turn into ice.
2. Dont use the pipe and pick up stones in the spring.
3. Use salt and have a muddy mess.
Personally, I just use the edge and push stones and snow in all. But I have several large open areas in my drive and in front of the shop. I just pile all the snow there and in the spring, I have some nice piles of gravel to doctor up the drive with:thumbsup:
I realize that when you plow a gravel driveway you are going to mess up the gravel some. I think that is allowable. My blade will cut through all of my gravel and right into the dirt with the loader in float. I am not sure the pipe trick will work cause the loader and blade weigh so much.
