Gravel driveway, front bucket

[Borthwick]

I just read through the other thread in the snow removal sub which seems to focus on plow blades. I have a Kubota LA-203 bucket I’m working with.

I gather that ABS is the material to go with for a gravel driveway. I’m going to need a little help figuring out how to affix it to the bucket’s blade.

Give me your best ideas please.

 

[RjCorazza]

I think the best solution for a bucket on gravel is the use of bolt on skids. I have (2) Edge Tamers from R2 manufacturing that are perfect in gravel or grass.

 

[LouNY]

Before a driveway gets froze I'll often back blade with the loader bucket, or the back blade run backwards.

 

[chim]

I ran a Ford 1210 with a 5' rear blade only (didn't have a loader) for a few years while the driveway was still gravel. It worked OK, but the blade often needed to be turned "backwards" to avoid wrecking the gravel. For the next 10 years it was a B7500 with an LA302 and a rear blade. This was after blacktop and that made it a whole lot nicer.

Occasionally we'd get a deep snow when the loader was handy, but most of the time the rear blade, angled to one side, worked just fine while driving forward.

 

[gstrom99]

I ran a Ford 1210 with a 5' rear blade only (didn't have a loader) for a few years while the driveway was still gravel. It worked OK, but the blade often needed to be turned "backwards" to avoid wrecking the gravel. For the next 10 years it was a B7500 with an LA302 and a rear blade. This was after blacktop and that made it a whole lot nicer.

Occasionally we'd get a deep snow when the loader was handy, but most of the time the rear blade, angled to one side, worked just fine while driving forward.

A back blade works a ton better than a front loader bucket, for snow. Almost always flipped around, backwards.

 

[Borthwick]

I think the best solution for a bucket on gravel is the use of bolt on skids. I have (2) Edge Tamers from R2 manufacturing that are perfect in gravel or grass.
View attachment 4375210

Thank you for that suggestion. I just placed an order.

 

[nyone]

Before my gravel driveway gets frozen I'm doing more snow grooming than snow removal. I dont even want to see gravel until spring thaw. I also dont rake piles of gravel in the spring because theres no gravel moved.

Granted the last few years I moved snow about 2x a year. Flat windy driveway. Amazon still seams to get stuck in.

 

[Oaktree]

Before my gravel driveway gets frozen I'm doing more snow grooming than snow removal. I dont even want to see gravel until spring thaw. I also dont rake piles of gravel in the spring because theres no gravel moved.

Same here. First couple storms I'll just leave there so as to build up a base. Until that gets frozen solid I'll raise the lip of the bucket an inch or so to keep from it digging in.

A back blade works a ton better than a front loader bucket, for snow. Almost always flipped around, backwards.

Maybe you're a lot more flexible than I am. Can't see myself clearing the driveway backwards.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

I snow blow a gravel driveway. We do the same. Get a layer of hard pack down first. Then blow off of that. I never pick up a single rock

 

[Midniteoyl]

My driveway is sand and gravel and while I have Edge Tamers, I still just end up using the bucket as is. Just lay flat, curl the lip up about a 1/4" to make sure, place in Float, and push the hole length. The bucket fills up and becomes a plow. Haven't dug a hole yet.

 

[Green Acres Homestead]

I snow blow a gravel driveway. We do the same. Get a layer of hard pack down first. Then blow off of that. I never pick up a single rock

I do that to but steep driveways require it be scrapped to the gravel. I blow leaving 3 inches or so then use the bucket to scrape it down. Looking at getting a snow pusher.