Plowing gravel drive, skid plates? Suggestions?

Ken_CT · Nov 5, 2004

This winter will be the first time snow plowing. I have a Kubota front blade to be used on a 450' gravel drive with a slight incline and some dips. Does anyone have any suggestion and/or pics for the best way to do this. Should I use some sort of skid plates on the blade? Should the blade be in the float position, or should I try to manually compensate for the dips in the drive? Just bought insulated coveralls & cold weather gear and I'm looking forward to trying the BX in the snow, but I don't want to have all of the gravel (trap rock) shoved off to the side of the drive and onto the lawn come spring. I've noticed that rocks don't mulch very well /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif. Thanks in advance.

Junkman · Nov 5, 2004

Until the driveway material freezes, it is best to try to keep the blade off the driveway material. The shoes will help with this, but not much if the material isn't well packed. Once it is frozen, then remove the shoes and plow without any problems. I suggest that you put in some driveway markers so you know where the lawn starts and the driveway ends. I have always thought about putting some large wheels on the plow to help it from digging in, but never did it. Now I have a paved driveway and plow without shoes all season. If it is a light snow, resist the temptation to plow, because the less you mess it up early in the winter season, the better it will be during the winter months. Don't forget to spray the blade with cooking oil to help the snow to roll off of it... Pam works great...

bellweather · Nov 11, 2004

I'm with Junkman on this. I have a long gravel driveway that gets plowed by a guy with a pick-up truck. Last winter he plowed before the ground was frozen and about 2 ton of gravel ended up piled on my lawn at the far end of the driveway...plus more gravel along the sides of the driveway. Took me nearly a day to move it back with my BX22.
This year I'm going to let a base of snow pack develop by driving over the first few snowfalls (I have an AWD vehicle) before I allow a plow near my driveway. Yeah, the snow pack will get icy, but I intend to sand the driveway. I understand snow blowers are better for gravel driveways. As soon as I win the lottery, I intend to buy one for my BX.

SacandagaBrad · Nov 11, 2004

Do you have a back blade to use until the driveway freezes? I have the same situation as you do and I use the back blade turned around so it does not dig in, same as if you were back dragging with your front blade. It spreads the snow to the side without ripping up the loose material. Once it freezes, no problem with plowing or blowing.

Brad

rtvman · Nov 11, 2004

I agree with everyone here. My gravel driveway is about the same length at about 400ft and until it is frozen solid I keep the blade up or I don't plow until it does freeze solid. You can sure accumulate a lot of gravel in a hurry if it is not frozen.

Junkman · Nov 11, 2004

One more thing to remember. Once the driveway material is frozen, it will only stay frozen until the weather warms, and then the top few inches will rapidly thaw causing the same type of "early winter" plowing problems. I can remember winters when the temperatures will get up into the 60's for a week and everything starts to thaw only to freeze like a rock a few days later. This is particularly important if you develop ruts in the driveway. Be prepared to remove any problem ruts as they form so you aren't dealing with them for months afterwords. Keeping a gravel driveway smooth and snow free all winter is a delicate balance of knowing when to plow and when to leave the snow cover in place.