Snow Equipment Owning/Operating Grading snow

[tractorski]

I usually "pack down" the first couple of small snow falls with one of the trucks. Then I keep the shoes on my plow 1-1.5" off the ground while I plow.. This continually fills in the imperfections and keeps me from digging up any sod. I like to keep a layer of packed snow around 3-5" inches thick. It makes a great surface to drive on. The only problem is if we have a big rain storm and then it freezes. Fortunatly, all of our vehicles have studded tires.

 

[Thumper & Buttercup]

The first few snows I pull the blade backwards or dip the blower and use it pulling forward for the same effect. I find in the spring I will have a little slush to clean up using the blade backwards again but it cleans up nicely and works good in the winter also.

 

[dave1949]

I hear up in Ancorage, Alaska, they roll the snow down. I think most cars there use studded tires too. They used to roll the roads in many places. I've seen old photos of horse drawn snow rollers. Looked to be about 5' in diameter. Anyways, the effect should be about the same as grading the frst snows. I don't think it would work for my drive. It slopes facing south and gets a bit of melt on sunny days. I would be afraid of making a bobsled run out it.

JimmyJ and DirtNut - You're killing me with those crisp sides and smooth bottom drives.

 

[Reg]

I hear up in Ancorage, Alaska, they roll the snow down. I think most cars there use studded tires too. They used to roll the roads in many places. I've seen old photos of horse drawn snow rollers. Looked to be about 5' in diameter. Anyways, the effect should be about the same as grading the frst snows. I don't think it would work for my drive. It slopes facing south and gets a bit of melt on sunny days. I would be afraid of making a bobsled run out it.

JimmyJ and DirtNut - You're killing me with those crisp sides and smooth bottom drives.

As I said, I make R4 print pattern.
When it melts it does so in ridges and small puddles.
The ridges retain the run off, so I don't get erosion.
I think the puddles might be forming little lenses that help thaw the groundl underneath, but I haven't "studied" that (-:
It does seem that the ice disappears into the ground and doesn't run off as water.

I "have heard that" it also gets so cold in Alaska that there is TRACTION on the packed snow/ice even without studs.
Whether or not ice skates would - not that I would want to be out skating when it is THAT cold.

There are times around here that I think it would be a lot better for the town to roll the snow down so people can drive ON it instead of piling it up so people can't get out to drive on the salt slush.
THAT would take a HUGE mind set turnaround, but the aquifer would be better off for less salt and the accidents would likely be at lower speeds.

 

[iamhistory]

Dirtnut..............where in northcentral pa are u?

I'm also in the area......up pine creek.

i too get lots of seat time in the winter with the snow moving chores. our driveway is one mile long and has very steep grades on it. the snow isn't the problem, it's the ice. i once had chains on all four tires on my jeep and still slid down the hill and nearly went over the bank just trying to get to church one sunday morning.

the kubota was only minimally useful on the hills in winter until i got some ice chains......he he he......she goes now!!!! no problem with traction with those babies on.

just picked up a spreader this week. an absolute must for us.....tried shoveling cinders from the truck bed in the past, then tried using the tractor bucket, an have even paid a guy to plow and cinder which is too expensive and not practical or convenient when we need to get off the hill and he isn't available.

i went to tractor supply and picked up one of the king kutter 500 spreaders. plan on using sand this winter and see how that goes. we have to do something to try and be self sufficient b/c relying on others to help us out is no an option.

 

[Dirtnut]

I am near Fallbrook/Blossburg area.Chains are a must for me to.Luckily the east side of the mt. isnt steep so the road isnt to bad.My private road is 2 miles long i use to plow that but sold the plow truck to the neighbor so now he plows it, i just plow my drive.I have a 3pt spinner speader that i use for cinders it works great.If u plan on keeping cinders in it keep them dry and put some good washer fluid to it or it will freeze solid even if it has salt in it.
Dont know if u know this but they are building a tractor supply in Mansfield should be open soon.

 

[NSBound]

I "have heard that" it also gets so cold in Alaska that there is TRACTION on the packed snow/ice even without studs. Whether or not ice skates would - not that I would want to be out skating when it is THAT cold. There are times around here that I think it would be a lot better for the town to roll the snow down so people can drive ON it instead of piling it up so people can't get out to drive on the salt slush. THAT would take a HUGE mind set turnaround, but the aquifer would be better off for less salt and the accidents would likely be at lower speeds.

That sound like Winnipeg! I lived there for 1 winter (and THAT was one winter too many). Often if it just snowed maybe up to 6 inches they would just leave the snow on the roads and let traffic pack it down. Maybe good in theory, but it made the roads REALLY rough to drive on. I hated waking up with the warnings flashing on the TV screen every morning ``WARNING - it is -35 degrees, exposed skin will freeze within 15 seconds``.

 

[jinman]

God bless all of you who have to deal with winter's freeze and snow. It's 19 degrees here this morning and "frost" is that shiny stuff on the grass. It doesn't get "in the ground" at all here. I think the most frozen ground I've ever found is about 2" of hard soil on the surface. If you bury a pipe 12" deep here, you're good to go. Actually, we bury deep enough so driving over it doesn't disturb the pipe, not for freezing. 90% of the time we could probably get away with pipes on top of the ground, but that looks a bit tacky.

I know you all plan for the winter season and love the good things that snow and ice do for you and your soil. I enjoy listening and learning about things I'll most likely never use. I salute you for your heartiness and determination. Heck, I'd even like to see ol' Tug's farm parade on YouTube as long as I don't have to fight the weather to see it first-hand.

 

[jcmseven]

I would love to do that but my driveway is so steep we would slide into the creek if I attempted it. I have gotten some unusual looks also when landscape raking my driveway. The LR is a great tool for this need, but passersby think I am nuts when they see me using it for this purpose. It combs the lighter snow off my gravel driveway and stirs up the gravel to create some bite. My drive is about 300' long and leads to a 1 mile service road only I live on which I plow too. My wife and I both have four wheel drive so with a running start we can get up the drive, but coming down either by vehicle or foot is tough. My closest call was when my them 3720 tractor slid down the driveway sideways at 5 mph. It was on a packed surface much like that you have shown. It never got any faster but dropping the loader and the then box blade I had on back for ballast did not slow it down. It came to rest comfortably against an oak tree and the BB was the only thing that actually touched the tree. I cleaned myself and sold that tractor. Thus, I am a fan of the packed snow like this, but I think the driveway must be pretty flat to make it worthwhile.

John M