When do you go out?

[Ezlivn]

and clean your drive? We're in the midst of a storm here in Downeast Maine, the wife is working, and I'm bored. We're expected to get anywhere from 1-2 feet of new snow.
So for the sake of conversation, when do you guys go out and plow? Do you wait till the whole thing is over? Do you wait till you think it's half over and do it twice?
Yeah maybe a stupid question but I'm bored and can't wait to get out and play.

 

[Wayne County Hose]

There is no right or wrong way. Bored? Well get out there, whatcha waiting for?

 

[DanD78]

If you get the itch to go play then GO PLAY. If you know you are getting that much snow and know you equipment can handle what ever you get you could wait. Around here if the wind is moving the snow you may as well stay inside unless you need to get out. Drifts knee deep or more are not uncomon with no more than a few inches of snow. If you try to move the snow back while the wind is blowing it fills in as fast as you move it and will come back even deeper if you stack snow up wind of where you are trying to clean.

If it is a nice even snow with no wind I would be playing. Just think how proud you wife will be when she sees a clean drive. (If she can get home)

Dan

 

[Gizmo2]

What size is your tractor (still the 790) and what do you use for snow removal? I made the mistake ONCE waiting for the storm to be over with that much snow to fall. I think we had 28 inches when done.

 

[Ezlivn]

Yup it's still the 790. I have the FEL only. I'm on the lookout for a rear mount blower in my future though.

 

[Thomas]

Less than foot I wait,foot plus plow twice and pray the wind doesn't blow hard...also before good dumping of snow I make sure bankets are push back.


Bet you won't be bored tomorrow.

 

[dave1949]

I went out and cleaned off the 4-5 inches we had yesterday just before dark. With the wind to be kicking up, I think I'll wait until noon Sunday to go after the rest of it.

It's going to be one of those weekends where a cab would be a very nice thing to have. I'll be getting out my bank robber stocking cap
Dave.

 

[MossRoad]

If its wet heavy snow I go out more often because its harder to move with my little tractor. Last night we had 15" of really light fluffy stuff, so I waited for it to stop and cleared it faster than 2-3" of the wet heavy stuff. I do like to do it right around sunrise because if the sun comes out it will dry the drive and walks after I plow them.

 

[JJT]

and clean your drive? We're in the midst of a storm here in Downeast Maine, the wife is working, and I'm bored. We're expected to get anywhere from 1-2 feet of new snow.
So for the sake of conversation, when do you guys go out and plow? Do you wait till the whole thing is over? Do you wait till you think it's half over and do it twice?
Yeah maybe a stupid question but I'm bored and can't wait to get out and play.

I have a read mounted snow blower. I wait until the storm is over before clearing the drive. If I need the tractor time I'll clear out the berm at the end of the drive from the snow plow.

 

[wolc123]

I always wait for the storm to finish. For 4" or less, if I got plenty of time, I use my 10 hp, Farmall Cub with front blade. For heavier snows, I use my 43 hp, JD 4120 with front loader and rear blade. I have used that on snowfalls of 4 ft or more and it gets things cleared pretty fast. The only drawback is that I like to plug it in for at least a half hour to warm the diesel engine up before starting. The little Cub with gas motor can be fired up and used right away. It does take about 5 minutes for the oil to warm up enough for the hydraulics and engine to operate smoothly however. I keep all our vehicles in the garage or barns and on a typical snowy morning, when it snowed in the night, I will just blast out thru the snow with a 4wd SUV and go to work. My wife can use a 4wd pickup rather than her usual minivan if she really needs to get out. I plug the JD diesel in as soon as I get home and clear the driveways after eating dinner, when the engine is good and warm. If a real heavy snow is predicted overnight, I will set the alarm clock about 1/2 hour earlier, and plug the blockheater in as soon as I wake up, then plow before leaving for work. Some day, I am going to run a seperate electric line out to the barn with a switch in the house or get a remote control to make the process of turning on the block heater a little easier. The last few years we have only been averaging 3-4 big snows a season so I aint in a big hurry to do that.

 

[irvingj]

I generally try to wait until the storm's over; working in a school as I do, if we get that much snow I usually have the time to do it later (snow day).

Wife's an RN, however, so some storms I get to go out at oh-dark-thirty so she can get out safely.... THEN finish later.

I'm not looking forward to tomorrow, though-- with no cab and a blower, sometimes it just doesn't pay to fight the wind! Looks like we'll get 6-10". And of course, wife needs to leave at 6:30 to get to work tomorrow, so I may get some early-morning seat time regardless.

 

[Ductape]

I go out when the mood strikes me. Not sure why you guys worry so much about wind?

 

[George2615]

I went out this morning and cleaned up about 5-6". It was still snowing but only flurries. Went back out again about 3 PM to clean up another 4-5" still with snow flurries. Will probably need to go out again in AM.

I don't plow during heavy snow because even with the headlights on, 4 ways flashing, roof beacon flashing, and reflective tape I still have to take the tractor into the road and people driving can't see me and they are not smart enough to drive slower during reduced visibility.

Be safe.

 

[dave1949]

I go out when the mood strikes me. Not sure why you guys worry so much about wind?

Now, that's just too mean Ductape May your cab be infested by snow fleas

 

[whistlepig]

I get the snow up as quick as I can. Seems if I don't the sun thaws it and then the temperature drops well below freezing for a month turning it to ice.

 

[MarkV]

Well I live in Georgia so if there is a flurry I am thinking I need to put a blade on a tractor. Guess I spend enough time listening to you guys it sounds like fun. I'll bet after a few times I might think differently.

MarkV

 

[escavader]

Like Dave said ,us MAINERS are in the middle of a 3 day event,Ihavent had the BOTA out yet was waiting til SUNDAY.The most recent forcast update says we may get another 6 to 12 ill wait,i think my blower is like 2 ft tall
Igot bored todayalso,and instead of getting inside my nice warm cab,i fired up my backup-mtd snowblower and blew the tractor path down back,I musta fell and bumped mt nogginActually hadnt run it in two years so i figured i needed to give her a workout.1/2 hour of that and ive had enough of it for another two.Funny part is what i did with the MTD walk behind takes 5 minutes with the BOTA,and im warm and dry
ALAN

 

[blueriver]

I just don't worry about it .....

 

[coobie]

and clean your drive? We're in the midst of a storm here in Downeast Maine, the wife is working, and I'm bored. We're expected to get anywhere from 1-2 feet of new snow.
So for the sake of conversation, when do you guys go out and plow? Do you wait till the whole thing is over? Do you wait till you think it's half over and do it twice?
Yeah maybe a stupid question but I'm bored and can't wait to get out and play.

I make sure the drive is clear when the wife comes home from work.LOL.coobie

 

[JB4310]

I almost always wait til it's over, but I can't remember the last time we got 2 ft!. That might get me out there to open up some lanes in between.

JB.