Snow Equipment Owning/Operating Snow clearing with a SCUT.

[Camo]

I'm kicking around clearing my driveway this year with my Kubota B series 5200 4wd with turf tires. I have a 48" bucket on my FEL and a 350lb counter weight that I intend to use on my 250' concrete driveway on a hill that is reasonably steep as a driveway. A friend told me that I might as well forget using it as it won't get hardly and traction, and probably won't come back up the driveway unless I run tire chains.....But he is not the most tractor knowledgable guy at times. I am considering using a 4wd ATV with a plow instead if the tractor is a no-no. He also said that I stand a high risk of not being able to get it stoped if there is slick conditions. How do you think that the two would compare?

 

[390GT]

I clear about 400' of driveway, using our tc33da w/turf tires, no chains. I have a front blade and a fairly steep driveway. the only trouble I have is steering if the snow is to deep, then i just straighten the blade and push on. I think your tractor will do just fine. Greg

 

[irvingj]

I use a M-F GC2310 SCUT with turf tires on this driveway-- try to imagine it with 1-2 feet of snow on it (yes, it's uphill, and rather steeply at that).

I use the FEL occasionally, but mostly a front-mounted 50" snowblower, and it works very well. Going uphill the tractor's a bit light on the front end so steering control is reduced, but downhill or level ground is no problem at all. I don't even use the 4WD much. I suspect the blower is more effective than a blade as it clears its own path.

The sloped part of the drive is about 150'. The turf tires have surprised me more than once, and I haven't yet had to use the chains I bought with the tractor--

 

[RalphVa]

I doubt a 4wd ATV will do any better than your 4wd tractor. Unless you use the FEL in "float", you can easily lose steering control with the front tires. I use the brakes on my 4010 with HST to steer it if this happens.

You may need chains on your slope. I use the FEL and rear blade, but my driveway is fairly flat. Before I had the JD, I had a Gravely with its big 4' snow plow. It worked great with chains on single-sided turf tires and would push snow uphill on the roadway that my driveway goes to. I've also pushed snow uphill on that roadway with my 4010 with 4 wheel turfs.

Just before I bought my 4010, I fitted the Gravely with dual-sided ag tires and put screws into the tugs. Didn't have hardly any snow before I got the 4010 to give the dual ags with screws a trial on any ice.

I'd want to seriously try ags with screws in the lugs before using chains, because chains can be a real pain to fit, keep tight, etc. A lose piece of chain got caught on the back side of the brake equipment on the Gravely and about ripped a tire off. That's what led me to get the ags and to put screws in the lugs (just the outer edges of them).

 

[Egon]

The tractor mentioned is very similar to ours and should be able to do the job.

Our driveway has a 20 degree slope and it is cleared in the winter with a Kubota B7100 HST with turf tires. I just use the loader as the snow must be moved and piled if we get much of it.

Turf tires are probably better or at least equal to other types of tires on hard packed driveways under winter conditions. Of course the addition of chains makes for a world of difference.

Picture of one driveway shown.The upper shown driveway is not steep like the lower driveway

 

[ray66v]

This has been discussed a lot, and varying results suggest operator technique is a factor.

I plow 300' of gravel driveway with my 2310, turfs (no chains), and I have an over sized, (6 foot), plow.

Because of the slope of your drive, you could possibly use the extra traction chains provide on occasion. I would resist the temptation to assume you will need them, until you try everything else first.

On top of the pains related to installation, and breakage, they can really leave your driveway and garage floor scared.

 

[tillboy2001]

I live on a fairly steep hill with a concrete drive like you. I have a JD 4120 which is fairly similar in size to your machine....I think the 4120 may be bigger though, not sure.

Anyway, R4 industrial tires, 4x4, similar size loader/bucket as you have. Use caution and do this at your own risk of course but...here's what I do and it works well. No injuries or damaged equipment yet I start out at the TOP of the driveway and make a path DOWN the hill. This lets the gravity help move the tractor to move the snow - so traction isn't a problem. Go slow. Once you're down, go back up in the path you just cleared and then go back down again making a new path in the section you still need to clean off. After that I've got plenty of traction on the mostly clear pavement and I do the rest of the cleanup. It's important to start at the top at first. You can use your loader to stop yourself if you lose traction going down. It's nearly impossible to try to go UP the hill and push all that snow.

That works for me.

 

[tillboy2001]

P.S. I forgot you mentioned you have turf tires. I've had trouble getting back UP the hill with R4 tires after my first pass if the snow is damp and packs a little so I can't dig in to get traction on the way back up. What I do in that case is move over into the unplowed snow in the GRASS so my tires can dig down further and grab onto something to get more traction (snow on concrete is very slick and tough to climb since there's nothing for the tire to dig into once it hits the hard surface)....but since you have turf tires, you might end up getting stuck at the bottom. I'd just be careful.

 

[JoeL4330]

No ice and turfs do fine. Slope and ice suggest chains and turfs and chains like each other. Were I you, I would buy the chains for all wheels, and try without as the ride is nicer without. Some problems or a feeling of insecurity and I'd put on the front chains...easy to do if you can lift the front end with the FEL. And, then, I'd put on the rears anyway and just leave them all on through the winter. If you find you resort to putting them on this winter, then put them on in the first place next year. ...and get good chain tensioners, and use them.

 

[ByronBob]

Been doing my 650 foot driveway with turfs and no chains for years and we average 100 inches a year here. I would only mention that keeping your tractor in a good position to keep traction ability is a must. What I mean there is always make sure 2 tires are on the pavement at all times.

Going off the driveway or crooked to something like a tree leaves you less wiggle room to make adjustments. But don't think chains are critical because it isn't.

Also remember you do have the differential lock for added traction if you need it.