Slick driveway

[NewToy]

Here in SE Ohio we have gotten the mixed bag of winter precip this past week. It started of with 2-3" of snow and then changed to freezing rain. Later that night back to snow and temps in the teens. This made my 500'+ gravel drive quite a challenge (quite steep) to navigate. I use the landscape rake to remove some snow and ice without scraping all the stone away. After a few passes it breaks it up enough and peppers the surface with lose stones allowing for some traction and faster melting. I feel much more comfortable backing up the drive until I lose traction then drop the rake and come on down travelling forward instead of starting off travelling up the hill forwards and potentially losing traction and have to try to back down a steep, icy slope. I've been there and it's no fun at all. I have R-4s unloaded on the tractor, maybe a set of chains for next year. I hate to load the tires as I mow with the tractor and I'm trying to keep the weight down as to not negatively impact the yard.

John

 

[4720 OWNER]

I like that idea, now if i could just remember which snow drift i hid the rake under...hmmmm.

 

[dirtworksequip]

NewToy, a landscape rake is the way to go with a stone driveway for snow removal as far as I am concerned. In fact the only way to go. The next time you get some ice conditions try angling your rake all the way to one side. This will aggressively help break up the ice and as you said pop up some stone to the surface for added traction. It works great............try it you will like the results. I added a piece of indoor-outdoor carpet to keep stones from ricochetting off the back of the tractor. The accumulated effect without the carpet protection is hundreds of stone chips on the rear of the tractor.

Think Spring!

Sincerely, Dirt

 

[RobS]

Dirtworks, I love that carpet idea. I use my rake for gravel drive maintenance and that should add years to my tractor's life. Thanks!

 

[scott_vt]

Dirtworks, I love that carpet idea. I use my rake for gravel drive maintenance and that should add years to my tractor's life. Thanks!

Evenin Rob,
Im with you, thats a great idea !!! I have never seen that used before, thanks for that great tip Dirt !

 

[NewToy]

Dirt, I've caught a few of those driveway stones in the back of the head as well as clanging off the tractor. I believe I have a piece of carpet around here that'll do just fine. I'll reinforce the back of my hat with it. Just kidding, your set-up might just work better than the carpet reinforced hat. Good idea!```

John

 

[jbrumberg]

I like that idea, now if i could just remember which snow drift i hid the rake under...hmmmm.

Ditto- Jay . I do have my box blade on the TPH which I have been using to rut the "driveway of ice" with the scarifiers fully extended and with the top link fully retracted. The ice is so thick now that the scarifiers are not fully penetrating through the ice but are providing more traction by virtue of the rutting (Earlier in the season when the ice was thinner the BB worked quite well at breaking up the ice and bringing up some gravel.). I have weighted R-1's and this year I have manged to lose traction on ocassion when moving snow over the ice. I may have to reconsider chains. Jay