Snowplowing unfrozen gravel...with skid shoes or without?

[Red Horse]

Well I have wrestled with this for years. Any opinions on pros/cons of using skid shoes-circular or the square variety. Once my common drive (asphalt millings) has frozen, not an issue..but like this winter? We have gone from 13 below to days in the forties. and the frost is out of the surface quickly. I've always used a 7' Fisher with a spring loaded cutting edge. this is mounted in place of a bucket on my 400x loader. Key of course is getting the rollback angle just right-which would not be an issue if the plow was used on a truck.
Opinions?

 

[jyoutz]

For snowplowing unfrozen gravel, forget the skidshoes. They just make two trenches in the gravel. Get a set of edge tamers, and fabricate a mounting bracket for your front plow blade. Or bolt a piece of plastic lumber or pipe over the cutting edge.

 

[crashz]

It's a pain, I agree. I don't use shoes because I have mostly asphalt, but I have a section of millings now too. On that area I pick up the plow a tiny amount so that the tractor carries the weight. And by tiny, I mean 1/4" ish. It's hard to see, and repeat, and scalps a little too, but gets it done. Allows the cold to penetrate a bit more too.

 

[Thomas]

Can you tip plow blade back slightly?

I don't use shoes or skids.

 

[tacticalturnip]

For snowplowing unfrozen gravel, forget the skidshoes. They just make two trenches in the gravel. Get a set of edge tamers, and fabricate a mounting bracket for your front plow blade. Or bolt a piece of plastic lumber or pipe over the cutting edge.

This. Edge Tamers are meant to be beaten by gravel, I swear!

 

[Yander]

This. Edge Tamers are meant to be beaten by gravel, I swear!

Not following what you mean?

 

[jjeff]

Pipes cheap or free and myself and a few other folks I know swear by them from experience.

 

[tacticalturnip]

Not following what you mean?

They're wide, thick, and tough; they'll survive the constant gravel contact with ease.

They're meant to be mounted on loaders, but they can be fitted to a plow with a little skill, and make great skid shoes.

 

[Yander]

Gotya, yeah I bought a set this year and used them in about a 5" snow and I like them a lot.

 

[tacticalturnip]

Gotya, yeah I bought a set this year and used them in about a 5" snow and I like them a lot.

I've had mine for a few years now, and I can't say enough good things about them.