Snow 2305 with snow blower on gravel?

[FingerLakes]

I’m in the process of configuring a JD2305. Ultimately I’ll like to end up with 62C MMM, Rake, 200cx loader, Ballast Box, 47” - 2 stage Snow Blower and iMatch/Quick Hitch everything. However, considering how late in the season it is and guessing that deliveries will be Sept/Oct (with mounting parts), I thinking about getting the snow blower and hold off on the MMM until spring.
My question is... What has been your experience with a JD snow blower on a gravel driveway? My driveway is 800’ road-to-door and is 12’ wide on a gentle rolling slope.

 

[JDFANATIC]

Finger,

I blew 10,500 sf of gravel driveway for almost 10 years before I paved it. My dealer recommended the 46" single stage because of the gravel, suggesting that it would be less apt to go through shear pins. For that time I used it with a 425 which had full hydraulics and float. Every spring I used my York rake to reclaim displaced gravel while the ground was still frozen, but sans snow. I think my dealer was correct, but now that the drive is paved, I wonder how the 47 2-stage would work! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[Ledgemere Farm]

I use a 42" single stage on my GT 225. This will be the first winter on pavement. Before, it was 3/4 crushed gravel and I never broke a shear pin. I don't think you will have any trouble. Just make sure that you adjust the skid shoes to give the greatest height.

 

[44trxfun]

I'll chime in since this isn't really a JD-specific question. First, give a look at the archives in the attachments / snow clearing forum. I think you'll find a lot of related posts there. I've been using a rear blade until the ground freezes up, then I've had no problem using a blower on my gravel drive. (I did shear one pin, but I had dislodged a pretty good sized stone.). I see a rear blade isn't in your current arsenal, but I've found it to be a handy attachment. Good luck, and thanks for talking snow!

 

[mountain_man]

Snowblower works OK on gravel, just put the "shoes" as low as possible (go for the most distance between the blower and the ground). I agree, try to use a rear blade until the ground/gravel is frozen. The snowblower will easily blow gravel as well as snow and makes an awful noise when blowing gravel. Only time I broken a shear pin is hitting a "rock" on my neighbors driveway.

I really like the snowblower instead of the blade or bucket, because when your done, your done. You don't need to worry about where to put additional snow.

Strongly recommend a cab (even a cheap one like mine) with lights for comfort when blowing snow (even at night)!

 

[trlong]

I'll cast a vote with 44trxfun and Mountain_Man, if you can swing it, get a rear blade for winter clearing aid. However, I don't bother using it on the main drive. I only use the RB out at the end of the drive where the Town plows dirt, gravel, and rocks in a 2-3' bank of snow, blocking my drive. I figure 3-5" stones and all that gravel and dirt would not be nice to the blower.

I would not worry about shear pins. Go for the 47" 2-stage blower. Mine hasn't met a snowfall it couldn't handle. If the snow is too deep, or wet, you just have to go slower. Ofcourse, if it got really bad I'd drop the blower and put the FEL on.

When the gravel drive has not yet frozen, keep the skids set for max hieght (you can actually get away with just a slight lift of the blower if necessary, the universal on the shaft will take it). Although we did not get the snow dumps we usually do, I had no problems with 600'X24' of 3/4" crushed slate drive last winter. This Spring was the first I've not had to rake all the driveway back off my lawn from having snowplows tear it up. Also, just to see what it would do, I used the blower to cleared 3 months of snow (packed down to about 3.5') down my wood road. As long as I let the blower eat what was in front of it, slowly, it never even began to bog down. Sure was pretty to see that snow fly 50' into the woods /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Depending on your tire choice, I would seriously consider rear chains for winter use. I needed them several times last winter when the drive turned to a skating rink!

Hope the 2305 works out well for you!

P.S. (Added a pic, just to get every one in the mood. Summer can't really be nearly over, can it?)

Tom

 

[trlong]

mountain_man,

Where'd ya get that cab? And, what's it on? I can't tell from the pic what J.D. model that is. Sure you like to find one I could afford for my 4115. It would beat the h#$% out of playing frosty the snowman when the wind is in the wrong direction at -10 F. Curious minds would like to know /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Tom

 

[Dutch445]

If you want to blade for a bit, till everything freezes up, why not go with the front blade for your quick hitch? You will already have that for the snwoblower, it's a snap to change from the blade to the blower when you are ready, and with full down pressure and hyd angle, it's a good blade for pushing snow. I did the exact scenario last year, not by choice as my blower needed some reconstructive surgery, but the blade worked very well until about mid Feb, then I went to the 47" 2-stage, and had a good hard frozen driveway to work with, and the gravel throw was minimal. Actually, I pushed more gravel and sod with the blade than I thought.. but it wasn't too bad of a spring cleanup. (I started pushing snow about 60' past the driveway into a lawn area so the banks wouldn't creep so quick)
/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

where did the 90degree weather go? making people think of
snow already!!!!

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[ducati996]

I like Dutch445's idea the best because if you go the blower route, you basically have all the most expensive hardware already...it would be just the blade after that, and you can find them for relativly low cost....you can swicth back and forth throughout the winter very easily with the quick attach setup

Duc

 

[Lobo56]

The snow blower by far is the best and easiest to do for me. You don't have to deal with finding places to push the snow and with piles of snow. The quick hitch on my 2210 works great, the 47" two stage blower goes on and off in minutes. If you can buy both front blade and blower that's great, but the 47" two stage in not cheap, by the time you get the quick hitch, hydraulics, up stop and blower you’re around $3000 plus tax. Never used a single stage thrower, so I can’t say much on that, but the 47” blower can really throw the snow, light or heavy. If you set the shoes right on the blower you’ll be fine blowing gravel driveways. Blower or thrower, I would think it would depend on the amount of snow you get and if your snow is usually heavy or light snow. When I ordered my blower it took 4 ½ weeks before it was delivered to the dealer.