snow roller for XC snow

[ArlyA]

I am in the process of constructing a roller to pack snow that is used on cross country trails. I've used these for many years and built one before since they don't quite make them in a fashion we appreciate. One or two company's do build them here in the states and I'll post some photos of them in use. Let me know if you care to see how this version is assembled.

 

[oosik]

Good afternoon Arlyn - That's a real interesting implement. Are those black "wheels" specifically made for use in making a snow roller?

 

[ArlyA]

Good afternoon Arlyn - That's a real interesting implement. Are those black "wheels" specifically made for use in making a snow roller?

Well Rolf, those are just plain ol HDPE culverts cut to length.

 

[deezler]

I'd like to see how it's assembled. Do you have much weight inside the culvert piece? Solid? What is the rear rake made out of?

I dont x-ski a ton, but still like the idea of rolling/packing my trails whenever we get a good snow - because compacted snow takes a lot longer to melt! Might circle around and drive downhill on my sledding hill with it too, to keep the kids able to go sledding longer. Unfortunately down here in the southeast corner of the state, it seems we just can't expect winter temps to stay below freezing consistently anymore. If we get 3-4 weeks or more of sustained snowpack in a winter, thats doing pretty good.

 

[jonsstihl]

definitely interested too. I have a honda foreman 450 with a set of tracks and about 1 km of trails that I currently just pack down with the tracks. takes about three passes but there is always a little bit in the middle that doesn't pack down depending on the width of the trail.

 

[ArlyA]

definitely interested too. I have a honda foreman 450 with a set of tracks and about 1 km of trails that I currently just pack down with the tracks. takes about three passes but there is always a little bit in the middle that doesn't pack down depending on the width of the trail.

James, that 450 engine is not brimming with HP to get pods pushed with snow. How has it been for you???? Our machine has a 800 and we'd call it marginal ponies.

 

[ArlyA]

Here is a few photos taken so far... This is details of the side frames which holds the bearings and basically the hole thing together. I made this implement be able come apart so you can readily service the bearings or culvert, etc, etc. There will be a 2x2 1/8 angle across the rear and a 3/16 walled 2x2 across the front. The last photo show how the front and rear frame members will later be installed.

 

[ArlyA]

Here is another view but the frame is upside down. It shows the pivot mount for the pan which will eventfully be a 1/2 bolt. The frames front is the left side.

 

[ArlyA]

Here is some with the shaft installed and bearings. Do note, the frame is again, upside down. The side frames are 2 x 6" channels. In the last photos, the frame was assembled with stubs of scrap, just to see what it looks like.

 

[ruffdog]

I'd like to see how it's assembled. Do you have much weight inside the culvert piece? Solid? What is the rear rake made out of?

Yellowstone trail rollers:

Rollers | YellowstoneTrack

 

[ArlyA]

I'd like to see how it's assembled. Do you have much weight inside the culvert piece? Solid? What is the rear rake made out of?

I dont x-ski a ton, but still like the idea of rolling/packing my trails whenever we get a good snow - because compacted snow takes a lot longer to melt! Might circle around and drive downhill on my sledding hill with it too, to keep the kids able to go sledding longer. Unfortunately down here in the southeast corner of the state, it seems we just can't expect winter temps to stay below freezing consistently anymore. If we get 3-4 weeks or more of sustained snowpack in a winter, thats doing pretty good.

May I ask what you'll be towing it with?? The roller is not filled with anything, but air. It wouldn't last very long is it had a bunch of weight added to it. Having said that I will likely add a weight peg to the front of the frame, and to the compaction pan. Below is a photo of the last roller I built with its pan and weight peg as it was being built.

 

[ArlyA]

Yellowstone trail rollers:

Rollers | YellowstoneTrack

One of the rollers in my photos is a YTS product. I've been using there implements for about 20 years.

 

[deezler]

Arly, I would be towing it with my tractor. 30 HP diesel, ~3600 lbs, 4WD.

Thanks for the pics. I figured the culvert was empty inside but just wanted to make sure. You don't want to plow the snow, after all.

But in other news, how stir crazy are you going up there in the yoop with NO SNOW on the ground in DECEMBER?!? Ugh this winter is quite delayed. Really feeling bad for the ski hill operators at this point. No opening day in sight yet.

Mont Ripley—Streaming | Webcams | Michigan Technological University

 

[jonsstihl]

it's no speed demon and I haven't tried pulling a drag or roller yet but it does ok. 4th and 5th gear are useless in deep powder and I start in second gear all the time because I have the first generation pods where the sprocket is about half the diameter of the tire so speed is cut in half.

 

[ArlyA]

Here are the end caps i worked on today and are 2ft by 3/16 thick. Here you'll see 2 stacked on each other in all photos. Why not measure and cut them once?? The larger hole is for access and disassemble the roller and will have a flat bolted over it which is the nest thing to be built. Clear as mud???

 

[ArlyA]

The end caps were fully assembled today and a mock-up built afterwards.

 

[jonsstihl]

I didn't realized you had extra structure inside. I had assumed you used the culvert as a structural member.

 

[ArlyA]

I didn't realized you had extra structure inside. I had assumed you used the culvert as a structural member.

James, YTS did add install angle irons to the inside in there original design like you see I'm doing. They subsequently removed them and just used 1 ft long something into the culvert and bolt the end caps to those. No shock, they eventually break off at the bolting points. These culverts are rather poor structural members and flex much. I will use some washers on 1/4 bolts to each end of the angle irons inside the culvert and I might use 8, grade 5 bolts per member with nylon cap nuts.

I painted and finished parts today and will post photos shortly.

 

[ArlyA]

I was able to finish the inside angles today and paint a few parts. In the 1st photo, that part will be welded to the front frame member and will be towed from it after it hitch is built and installed. But what is it???

 

[ArlyA]

The internal angles were added. Not properly bolted but holes all drilled. Each memeber will have 7, grade 5, 1/4" bolts.