Snow Equipment Owning/Operating When do you start removing snow

[Lebneh]

I'm sure, like everything else it all depends on the specific situation but I am also sure that most people probably have a general rule if thumb that they operate off of.

- wait until the snow stops?
- the day after the storm ?
- when the snow hits a current number of inches ?
- when the snow changes from powder to slushy stuff?

I don't think there is a "right" answer, I am just curious how people handle it.

 

[Don87]

I like to wait til I get 4 to 5 inches then start removing it.

 

[nybirdman]

It also depends what your equiptment can handle.I got behind on the last storm...18 inches of very dense snow.My tractor weighs 7000lbs and had all it wanted with eight ft.plow on the front.I don't plow unless there is four inches or so.

 

[JerryK]

Since I use a blower..... I like clearing the drive when everything is still frozen, powder blows better than slush. I like clearing the snow when there is a definate wind direction, or no wind, swirling/constant changing direction wind is not good if you don't have a cab... I try to do it about 10:30 ish, since that is about the time the County plows my road and I can get it done out by the mailbox for the mailman [ do several neighbors boxes too ]. But everything is relative..... I have a neighbor about a mile away that blows his clean about 4 am... which I tend not to do 'cuz I have neighbors that work.. Also, since I keep my tractor in the barn, I don't like cleaning the drive too late in the day where I can't deal with the snow I bring into the barn properly before I close the barn up for the night...

 

[mpham]

We leave for work at 6 am so I get out and do it around 4:30. If the forecast is for 6 or more I try and do it once half way through the storm as if there is a break down I dont want to shovel only what I have to. I usually follow up with the drifts every night when I get home from work. We have a 100 acre field/golf course on the side of us and it can blow more snow then the storm gives.

 

[Thomas]

High measure of snow..12" + plow half storm than final clean up,mostly wait until after storm clean up if not to late in evening.

 

[G3033H]

To be honest I'd like to wait until July !!!

 

[flyingcow]

To be honest I'd like to wait until July !!!

Me too....

But I only snowblow during a storm if someone needs to get in or out. Other than that I wait until it's all over. But the unit i have is 30 inches high. Get drifts higher, but I still try to wait until it's over.

 

[MIKE R]

When ever I have the sudden urge to operate the tractor. In other terms all the time. I use the excuse I'm going to scrape it down or to clean up along to road.

 

[Henri88]

Since I use a blower..... I like clearing the drive when everything is still frozen, powder blows better than slush. I like clearing the snow when there is a definate wind direction, or no wind, swirling/constant changing direction wind is not good if you don't have a cab... I try to do it about 10:30 ish, since that is about the time the County plows my road and I can get it done out by the mailbox for the mailman [ do several neighbors boxes too ]. But everything is relative..... I have a neighbor about a mile away that blows his clean about 4 am... which I tend not to do 'cuz I have neighbors that work.. Also, since I keep my tractor in the barn, I don't like cleaning the drive too late in the day where I can't deal with the snow I bring into the barn properly before I close the barn up for the night...

Pretty much the same here. I wait till the storm is over and the town plow made a couple of pass before I start. Of course its a different story if the storm last 48 hours. :licking:

 

[RoyJackson]

I rarely wait until the snow ends (if it's predicted to be more then 6-8 inches)...normally make the first passes when it gets to 6" or so.
That's with using the FEL bucket, BTW.

 

[TimP]

I go at it as soon as it stops.

If I let it sit, people start driving on it and it packs down so tightly and freezes, that I can't get it scarped up off the asphalt.

I have had to do some double work on occasion because of blowing and drifting snow, but I still prefer to get it moved as soon as possible.

 

[Bob77064]

To be honest I'd like to wait until July !!!

Nothing like snow removal and bbq!

 

[grsthegreat]

Its really hit and miss for me. I like to remove it after it gets to at least 4" even if more is coming, so not too much builds up. That being said, if i know that its to blow thru very soon, ill wait till its all over.

If i hear the dreaded report that warm front is coming in, all the snow MUST go before it turns to slop.

If weather is due to remain cool, then i'm not so much in a hurry to get rid of it.

 

[G3033H]

Nothing like snow removal and bbq!

Ha ha ha !!! I agree you get enough people for a BBQ they can do all the shoveling !!! Happy New year !!!

 

[whistlepig]

It depends on the wind and if it's powder snow. It's pretty flat country here. If the wind is blowing hard I can spend a couple of hours of plowing and 45 minutes later it looks just the same as when I started. Sometimes worse.

 

[Pine Strip]

Talks Cheap Guys, ..... Lets see some action photos !
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQ11IczouYI&feature=youtu.be

 

[DT86]

Pine Strip, that picture looks like it belongs in some product literature. Very nice!

 

[ericher69]

b2920 hard at it 50 residential drives on this snowfall

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGa_VbKfK8I

 

[aczlan]

Our driveway gets cleared if there is an inch or more at choretime. Don't usually go out in the storm to clear unless we need to get the cars out during the storm as the B7500 w/loader can handle most any snowfall we have run across. The BX2660 w/blade is nice at my inlaws (paved driveway) but its harder to use here (we have a gravel driveway).

Aaron Z