Snow plowing

[Btzj02]

I installed a set of shoes like on snow plows on mine, adjust the height so it suits you and it works great. Plus you get to weld something and that's always a good day!

A second on the shoes. Before the gravel actually freezes I adjust the top link and the shoes so the blade is 1.5 inches, (2x4 on the flat), higher than the shoes. If and when the gravel actually freezes I than reset the shoes so they are even with bottom of blade.

 

[showcrop]

It appears to be the new normal. No frost in the ground. I just put a pair of shoes on my loader bucket after plowing for 23 years without. SteveieB's shoes look like a good idea. You can buy them ready made any place that sells snow plows but you would have to come up with your own mounting bracket. I scoop the gravel off from the snowbanks on a warm day.

 

[Factotum]

Plowing snow off gravel is an art. Sometimes you're Leonardo DaVinci and sometimes you're just a guy on a tractor. Haha. Being able to let the ground freeze before plowing helps to keep the gravel on the driveway. Figuring out the best pattern and pushing most of the snow to as few spots as needed also helps with the spring clean up. It doesn't matter which blade is used, well at least not in my case. I backblade with an 8N, front blade with a JD 5310 and a plow truck. There'll be a few days of cleaning the grass of more gravel than what's on the driveway! Leaf blower works ok, it's easier than raking.

 

[Brown David]

My avatar shows my Massey Harris 50 with a 6' snow blower.

I used the blower for exactly two storms last winter then went back to plowing with my old Jeep CJ 7 and sold the blower last summer.

I thought a blower would enable me to cover less area, saving time and fuel, etc. I didn't like looking back all the time and working backwards though.

I did have mirrors rigged up but still found it unpleasant. Plowing with the Jeep is easier and faster although I have to plow more ground in order to have room to put the snow.

This winter has been very open here, I've only plowed twice so far and have only had a few days of cold weather.

Heavy rain yesterday and last night, bad flooding in nearby town and other areas.

 

[Blackhole49]

Snowplowing my gravel driveway with the 8n and a back blade, how to I prevent the blade from wanting to dig in too deep? I now have a dirt driveway and a gravel yard.

FYI: When I had a gravel drive, I tried installed a set of Western Pro plow shoes on my 6' Ford back blade on my 8n. I found they were no better than no shoes with unfrozen ground and once it was frozen didn't really help either. Just took my time until froze and cleaned gravel every spring. Best thing I did was pour 45yds of concrete 30 years ago. Now with all this climate change, I have more snow equipment than ever that I rarely use. I do clear an acre of grass, but definitely. try to let that freeze first. Here, if the ground isn't froze, the snow doesn't last long. Shame, because I do enjoy plowing.

 

[Fritz Maurer]

if you were to put the gravel down as early as possible after the last snow, you won’t have any problem in the following winter. When the frost leaves the ground the driveway traffic will work the gravel together and embed it in the comparatively soft driveway. You won’t lose any more gravel than you can gather up with a leaf rake.
For low/no traffic areas, such as turn arounds, you will need to find some means of rolling or tamping the material, or just be careful with your blade in those areas.