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

[Cycledude]

If the gravel isn’t frozen using the Fisher just won’t work very well.
Put the bucket back on and about 3 edge tamers would probably work better.
i use a 3 point rear blade and push in the opposite direction it was designed to cut, works pretty well but it sometimes still pushes some gravel.
Be thankful your not stuck with just a snowblower on unfrozen gravel.

 

[oosik]

One of the advantages when I use my 3-point mounted Rhino 950 rear blade. Soft driveway - reverse the blade and go like smoke and oakum.

 

[jyoutz]

One of the advantages when I use my 3-point mounted Rhino 950 rear blade. Soft driveway - reverse the blade and go like smoke and oakum.

Yeah. I too prefer reversing my rear blade when plowing snow on unfrozen gravel. It just seems impossible to not tear up gravel by pushing a front blade.

 

[oosik]

Your heart does a flip/flop when you look back and the uber large snow/gravel mixed pile is flowing over the TOP of the rear blade. OOPS - do a temp fix now and a permanent job when its warmer. That's when you wished you had taken the time to reverse the blade.

 

[Hay Dude]

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.

I do this, too. You just lift plow a tiny bit. The stones poke through and theres plenty of traction.

 

[deezler]

It's sure tempting to just "not plow" when you know the gravel is soft underneath the new snow, and you have 6" of less of snow. But when it eventually gets compacted into an ice sheet, that becomes a mess for timid drivers or people with lame tires.

I specifically bought a new (used) rear blade to get more angle hole choices when the blade is reversed. I would still like to upgrade to a front blade on an SSQA mount, but I know I would need some huge skids/shoes to carry to load on my gravel.

 

[JJT]

If the ground is not frozen I avoid snow blowing/plowing. We have AWD, so that first snow storm gets packed down. We've thawed out 3 times this winter, normally once the ground freezes it stays frozen until spring.

If the first storm of the year is major, I'll run the blower tipped back, leaving at least an inch of snow. Once that packs or the ground freezes I'm good to go.

It's snowing right now, but fortunately we had a few cold days that refroze the ground. Spring cannot come quick enough.....

 

[nyone]

The key to not raking gravel out of your lawn in the spring is never plow down to the road surface. Some times that means not plowing all winter..some times that means not plowing 4in of snow.

I'm sure some skid gadget works fine but so does not plowing. Getting a nice packed snow base works well on my flat driveway. If you have hills, make sure you have a good rake for the spring.

 

[jjeff]

Until your packed down driveway turns to a slushy ice covered mess in my experience.

 

[oosik]

All last night and into this AM - snow. I got 8" of new stuff. I will NOT be plowing unless I get more. It's just to easy to put the Taco Wagon in 4WD and bust a trail out to the county road. I've already done just that - this AM.

Besides - clearing all this new snow would take me around - 1.5 hours. And I just don't feel like doing it right now.

I do "it" this way for two reasons. #1 - it keeps the timid from making an attempt in some low-slung sedan. #2 - it's a waste of my time and fuel to plow when I can easily drive out. Driving thru 8" on my mile long gravel driveway is no problem with the Taco Wagon.

I guess I'm just fortunate. I seldom have anybody in a low-slung sedan try to come visit in the winter. When they do come - it's in a very capable 4WD pickup. And they have never had any problems.