Snow Attachments Yes, you can plow snow with a rock rake

[sixdogs]

When I read here that someone plowed snow with a rock-landscape-rake, I wasn't so sure. Well, Ohio had maybe 20 inches of snow over two days and some drifts were five ft or so. I live on the flat and windy ground. I could bucket them all and started to but I left the eight ft rake on last fall and thought what the heck...
It did a great job and was better than a plow blade. Beats me and I am real familiar with plowing snow from living in the North for 25 years. I know snow.
The rake worked every bit as good--no, better--than the blade. I had a seven ft blade on another tractor and it did not work as well. Granted, the 8 ft rake was on a much bigger tractor but the rake did way better. Go figure.
Here's a photo of my JD 5520 and the 8 ft Woods rake. Note the new radials I purchased last fall--hated the bias Titans and got a a good price so...

 

[TMcD_in_MI]

Hey sixdogs, can you fill us in a little bit on how the rake was better?

Tom

 

[sixdogs]

Sure. Snow did not stick. Seemed to vibrate off? I used the blade on the other tractor minutes apart and the snow stuck to the blade. That's for starters.
No gouging. Rather than digging or scalping the rake slid over the surface. It distributed snow where there was none and took snow off the high spots.

Now, if I lived in the north and the ground was frozed underneath and I had a dedicated plow truck with a 7 1/2 ft Fisher plow and cozy cab I would chose that first. For my use with softish ground and snowfall that rarely happens, the rock rake worked.
Actually, if was still in the north I would use the rake for anything under maybe six or so inches of snow. At least until I was sure it worked for me or not.
that's my story--I was surprisingly impressed.

 

[dirtworksequip]

Sixdogs, I have touted the landscape rake as the most under rated snow removal implement there is, especially on stone roads. It will move most of the snow off the road plus kick up enough stone to get traction with a car or other vehicle. The exposed stone also makes for quicker melting of any snow left behind. The rake also works good for breaking up thin ice build-up on roads or driveways. By angling the rake sharply to one side it takes an aggressive bite and will rip some pretty serious ice. The landscape rake will way out perform a rear blade or FEL for snow removal on stone roads.
As far as frozen ground the rake will actually work even better. I'd rather clear snow off a stone driveway with the ground frozen than with it soft and wet.

Sincerely, Dirt

While there isn't a lot of snow in the below pic, you can see that the rake exposes enough stone for vehicle traffic to get plenty of traction. I use the rake for snow up to 5 or 6 inches. Anything over 6 inches I usually high blade with the front blade and finish up with the rake.

 

[bota7800]

Interesting thread. I just bought a JD (Woods) rake last week .

Does anyone know if the rake works on pavement? My drive is asphalt and I will undoubtedly get caught with the rake on when it snows sometime.

 

[dirtworksequip]

bota, I've never tried to use just the rake for snow on a paved driveway or road, because I use my front blade in those situations. I have used the rake to help break up ice on paved surfaces. Again........angling the rake helps it cut more aggressively into ice or packed snow. I did add a piece of indoor- outdoor carpet to my rake to prevent stone from bouncing off the back of my tractor when raking stone roads. I guess it would sweep a certain amount of snow off a paved surface.

Sincerely, Dirt