Scary Plowing this AM

[check]

I bet my v-bar chains would have made it.

 

[dave1949]

I bet my v-bar chains would have made it.

I wondered the same thing. Usually I would think so but this January we some ice so thick hard that the studs on my chains didn't make much of a dent. They left little marks, sort of like ice skates would. That's not much to work with on a steep hill.

 

[The Fred]

Kubota L3940 Driveway De-icing - YouTube

I use inverted V chains on the front on R4s and my hill had 2 inches of ice. My confidence is back without them I took a couple of rides with just rear chains. About 1:30 into the video. My local NAPA store stocks them for $120 bucks. Also the key is to keep moving at least slowly so part of a chain will "dig in".

Fred, stay safe

 

[amigauser]

Sounds like no fun. I had a similar issue last year helping the neighbor on their steep asphalt driveway. As soon as the snow was scraped down the surface turned to ice. Not a lot of fun sliding down. Their driveway is only about 100 foot or so long though and I was able to drop the plow to slow the slide. No ditches or steep drop offs like in your case either (just snow banks on each side).

After I plowed yesterday's 10" it was warm enough so ice was not an immediate issue like it was last year. I should probably invest in some chains myself but the Titan Turfs have worked very well for the last six years. I believe chains are not friendly with asphalt either which is the main reason I have not purchased any for the rear tires.

 

[Gator6x4]

View attachment 359082

I went out to plow this hill that is part of our driveway this morning at 6am in the dark. It had been covered with ice the night before and we got about 7 inches of snow on top of that. The tractor has chains on the rears and the tires are loaded. I've never had any problem with traction before but this AM was much different.

I took one swipe with the 6ft rear blade on the way down the hill and up the other side of the ravine. On the way back up I completely lost traction even after I raised the rear blade and locked the differential. With 3 wheels spinning it wouldn't go anywhere! I ended up backing down the hill and took another run at it with the blade up and managed to get to the top. I turned around and made a run down the hill with the blade down. About halfway down the hill the tractor started sliding and ended up completely sideways and sliding down the hill! All I could think of was, how am I going to get this tractor off the hill after it's laying on it's side. Well, luckily it didn't tip over but I can tell you it was a wild ride and not one I want to repeat soon.

I got a 50 lb. bag of calcium chloride out and melted some of the ice after that. I hadn't had a ride like that since I used to plow the hill with the old 47 farmall cub.

Kevin

Been there on ice and it not a fun thing. The people who recently had such an experience in Atlanta GA can also identify with the feeling one gets when trying to drive or move on ice.

 

[Phil48]

Kenvin! Scary!

Since the January ice storm, our road has stayed cover with ice, extremely dangerous. My road has about the same step with a sharp turn. With studded chain on four wheels, it's a breeze (I did try the ladder chain - but going sideway where a real problem). There from Tryy, at some point you could not even stand up beside the tractor, my Sorel boots where insufficient! However, the tractor was able to climb uphill without slipping.

On the pic, you can see on the left the roof of the garage. It is the last portion of the downhill slope. I would dare engage that road with regular latter chain. Studded chain are in a class by themselves; You will be impressed, your end up having more traction than in the summer time.

Be careful - Phil

 

[check]

Here is what my v-bar chains look like:



And, yes, they are rough on pavement, but my driveways are gravel.

 

[skyhook]

Here is what my v-bar chains look like:

View attachment 359270

And, yes, they are rough on pavement, but my driveways are gravel.

Hey check, do have those on the front also?

 

[check]

Yes, I did buy them for the front, but to be perfectly honest, I have not put the chains on for the past 2 years because I now have 2 cottages and I have to drive down about 300 yards of pavement to get between them, and I did not want to experience that rough ride. Both properties are pretty level, and so I have been able to get by without them up until this point, but there is a lot more snow this year, so I may put on just the rears. (I seem to recall someone on TBN saying that is is the front chains that cause most of the "rough ride" feeling.)

So, we'll see. If we get another really heavy snow up at the cottage, I may put the rears on, and maybe just drive down the shoulder of the road where it is a little softer.

Oh, yeah, and I do put a piece of plywood down on the garage floor, on which to park the tractor when the chains are on.

 

[JJZ 109]

Ice with a little fluff on top seems to be the worst for me, not having chains on my skid steer. But luckily it's flat, fairly short driveway. I just raise the lift arms slightly to relieve some pressure to gain traction again.