nurkvinny Posted February 15, 2010 Report Share Posted February 15, 2010 So, back in 2005 when we moved into the "new" house in Pataskala, I realized I couldn't hand shovel 350-400' worth of gravel driveway. So, I bought a plow kit for our then-new Cub Cadet 1554 lawn tractor. The first year of plowing was horrible. No rear weights. No rear chains. Turf tires. The last couple of years, I have used chains my dad gave me and a home-made weight box I made out of an old metal toolbox that I fill with 6 old front brake rotors. It is very clear this year that the quality of the plow and the "oomph" of the Cub's engine and trans just isn't gonna cut it. It takes hours of short back and forth full speed runs at the piles to move them a couple inches. I can tell the tractor giving up and I am afraid it will be worthless by Spring time. I've had to damn near rebuilt the plow mounting brackets twice now. So... those will large country drives, what do you use to clear it? Trucks, quads, compact tractors, pay someone? I will have some different solution by next Fall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tractor Posted February 15, 2010 Report Share Posted February 15, 2010 I use this on my 1800ft driveway that routinely sees 3-5ft drifts. http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f185/EWhytsell/IMG_1770.jpg Its a `44-`49 (can't really tell) Ford 9N. Its got calcium loaded rear tires. It does a great job, but chains would still help I'm just to cheap to buy them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3.1cutlass Posted February 15, 2010 Report Share Posted February 15, 2010 Farmall 706, 6 or 7ft blade, 2/10 of a mile driveway and it is unstoppable. http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/1534/tractorkk9.png Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRocket1647545505 Posted February 15, 2010 Report Share Posted February 15, 2010 http://physweb.bgu.ac.il/GROUPS/AP/AP/sun.gif Unstoppable Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokin5s Posted February 15, 2010 Report Share Posted February 15, 2010 honestly, this is the first year that I've needed anything more than a snow shovel (we just moved out into the country...) So far, my neighbor was nice enough to help us out once, once time I shoveled the damn thing myself, and the other my father in-laws good friend came over and plowed it for us (and plowed half of our yard...) so I have a feeling we'll be widening our driveway this spring My parents did give us their snow thrower that they don't use, but having a gravel driveway, I've been affraid to use it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrtbolt64 Posted February 15, 2010 Report Share Posted February 15, 2010 Ours is only about 200ft and paved but just use a 14hp wheel horse with chains and plow. Usually takes about hour to do it. What would be nice is a quad runner with plow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xyster101 Posted February 15, 2010 Report Share Posted February 15, 2010 My parents did give us their snow thrower that they don't use, but having a gravel driveway, I've been affraid to use it. I have used a snow thrower on gravel, it works, just set the "feet" on the bottom to about 1" so it will leave some snow behind. For a large drive way you can't beat a tractor. A cheaper way might be a 4x4 quad, but you are still looking at a couple grand. You can get a great snow blower for $1,000 that will make quick work of that too. Just depends what you want to spend. You could also get an old truck for like $1,000 with a plow, but then you will have maintenance issues and it will always be broken when it snows! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HAOLE Posted February 15, 2010 Report Share Posted February 15, 2010 My drive is only about 100 ft long, but it is very steep. Even with an inch of snow, 4wd is required to get up the drive. For the first 7 years we lived here I used a lawn tractor with a blade and chains. I hated it because the chain are hard on the concrete. This year I bought a used king quad that had a blade. It works great. I just wish I had and winch on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Akula Posted February 15, 2010 Report Share Posted February 15, 2010 Steiner with a snow blade. Or a tractor with a 3 point plow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
koolrayz Posted February 15, 2010 Report Share Posted February 15, 2010 I use a 94 suzuki 250 quad with a snow plow. When the snow is really deep I have to make the first pass with the blade up. You also have to start with a really wide path on the first storm. After you have a side pile built up it wont throw it over the pile so any new snow just keeps creeping in untill it is a fairly narrow drive, which is what I have now. My drive is about 350' and there is a "T" apron where I turn left to the house or right to the shop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nurkvinny Posted February 15, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 15, 2010 When the snow is really deep I have to make the first pass with the blade up. You also have to start with a really wide path on the first storm. After you have a side pile built up it wont throw it over the pile so any new snow just keeps creeping in untill it is a fairly narrow drive, which is what I have now. This is what I have gotten myself into. During the first 8" or so, I pushed the snow about 2' past the driveway, but since I HATE seeing half my gravel in the yard each spring, I stopped there. The last couple rounds has made it so I just can't push the huge piles any further with the tractor. If we get the upper limit of what they are calling for today, I don't have anywhere left to push the snow to, besides loading up a trailer full at a time by hand and dumping it on the road (which I don't want to do). I had a chance to buy dad's old 79 plow truck this Fall for $1200 and a chance a few years back at a Ford tractor with loader and blade for $1500. I won't miss the next chance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3.1cutlass Posted February 15, 2010 Report Share Posted February 15, 2010 This is what I have gotten myself into. During the first 8" or so, I pushed the snow about 2' past the driveway, but since I HATE seeing half my gravel in the yard each spring, I stopped there. The last couple rounds has made it so I just can't push the huge piles any further with the tractor. If we get the upper limit of what they are calling for today, I don't have anywhere left to push the snow to, besides loading up a trailer full at a time by hand and dumping it on the road (which I don't want to do). I had a chance to buy dad's old 79 plow truck this Fall for $1200 and a chance a few years back at a Ford tractor with loader and blade for $1500. I won't miss the next chance. We used to plow ours with a ford 8n but they are about useless without either wheel weights or chains. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drewhop Posted February 15, 2010 Report Share Posted February 15, 2010 We use a all wheel drive Kubota with a front loader and a blade on the back. Here at work. We would be screwed without the front loader but we have several 6 foot snow piles that may not melt until June. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam1647545489 Posted February 15, 2010 Report Share Posted February 15, 2010 Vinny, shoot me your address. I am not to far from pataskala and once I get all my account done, I can come by and clean it for you. Has it been plowed at all since the last storm? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nurkvinny Posted February 15, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 15, 2010 Vinny, shoot me your address. I am not to far from pataskala and once I get all my account done, I can come by and clean it for you. Has it been plowed at all since the last storm? Sam, got your PM and that is a badass offer that I may take you up on. I actually spent a couple hours out there today and widened it up pretty well. We'll say how we're looking after I go plow the first 4" of this storm (heading out now). It's been plowed with a truck once during all of these storms (and the truck's 4L80E died in my driveway), and by me with the tractor in between. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stangsn95gt Posted February 15, 2010 Report Share Posted February 15, 2010 Ford 3930 with 3 point plow on a 1400 ft driveway. With all the snow we have had and drifting in the driveway theres a two foot wall down the sides http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k204/stangsn95gt/19748_107943322554097_1000001528920.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buck531 Posted February 15, 2010 Report Share Posted February 15, 2010 Vince is a pussy. Use a freakin' shovel . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nurkvinny Posted February 15, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 15, 2010 Vince is a pussy. Use a freakin' shovel . I bet One MILLion dollars Me > You at shoveling. I do shovel for about an hour each time doing all the sidewalks, in front of all the garage doors, the deck, porch, a dog-shitting area, etc. Plus, it really is fun to plow with the tractor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squidward Posted February 15, 2010 Report Share Posted February 15, 2010 We used to just pack ours down with the bigger trucks so we could drive on it but this year my brother bought a new quad and plow and it works great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nurkvinny Posted February 15, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 15, 2010 We used to just pack ours down with the bigger trucks so we could drive on it but this year my brother bought a new quad and plow and it works great. Ha, I thought about rolling it with the bigger yard roller I have filled with sand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TTQ B4U Posted February 15, 2010 Report Share Posted February 15, 2010 I was going to be a smart-ass and post a few links to you and others, but you beat me to it with a stand-up offer. Now that's CR Rep in the making. :thumbup: Vinny, shoot me your address. I am not to far from pataskala and once I get all my account done, I can come by and clean it for you. Has it been plowed at all since the last storm? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Bruh Posted February 15, 2010 Report Share Posted February 15, 2010 just use 4x4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nurkvinny Posted February 15, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 15, 2010 just use 4x4 Gee, thanks. That will help the 2 grandmothers who drive over twice a week to babysit, or my GP. Good news is I just realized I have two young kids who will make fine plows in a few years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TTQ B4U Posted February 15, 2010 Report Share Posted February 15, 2010 I use this on my 1800ft driveway that routinely sees 3-5ft drifts. 1800ft......you need a street sign and a county plow truck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Bruh Posted February 15, 2010 Report Share Posted February 15, 2010 Gee, thanks. That will help the 2 grandmothers who drive over twice a week to babysit, or my GP. Good news is I just realized I have two young kids who will make fine plows in a few years. ninja edit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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