Snow removal

16 years ago

We have a vacation house in Sullivan County, in NYS that we use more in the summer, spring and fall, but also on odd weekends in the winter. As we're not there often enough during the winter, the snow accumulates, melts, refreezes turns to ice etc. The driveway is 1/4 mile long, one car wide, winding with some minor slopes. The town plows snow over the front of the driveway when they clear the roads which builds up over time.

I have a Husqvarna 11hp walk behind SB, a Craftsman GT 5000 garden tractor, with chains and wheel weights for which I have a 2 stage snowblower that I never mounted (we're not up there long enough to have the time to figure out things like that because when we're up there I seem to always be mowing, weed wacking, blowing leaves, trimming branches, gathering dead wood etc.and when I've finished it's time to start all over. I'm not complaining- seat time is all good (if my wife is over my shoulder I mean work) - 10 acres, about 3 acres of mowable grass)). I also have a Kubota B2910 compact tractor (3ohp diesel) with fel- loaded tires and rear chains. The walk behind SB is useless when the snow melts and refreezes. I think the Craftsmen GT 5000 with snow blower would probably be too lightweight underpowered for a driveway that long (we bought it (on sale for less than half price) with the Craftsman GT 5000 when we first bought the house and thought the Craftsman garden tractor was more than adequate because it seemed so much larger than the JD riding mower that we use at our primary house) besides blowing snow for that long with wind blowing in all directions would not be pleasant. So I have mostly been using the Kubota with fel. But once the bucket is full the rest of the snow spews out on both sides. Then spews out again on the next run etc.

I would appreciate any suggestions for snow removal using the equipment that I already have as a basis or an implement that would "get it done". I considered an angled snow blade for the Kubota, but we have narrow shoulders with shrubs and inclines on both sides for the length of the driveway.

Thank you in advance for any and all suggestions.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (9)

deerslayer
16 years ago
You may want to consider hiring a local that owns a truck with a snow blade to keep your driveway clear. A local can keep up with the snow. It appears that you do plenty of work there as it is. Remember, it's your vacation house.

-Deerslayer
tomhoffman
16 years ago
Here, here, what deereslayer said.

Sign a annual contract with a local snow removal company and let it be their worry. They when you decide to go there it is nice an clear for you so you can enjoy yourself.
Related Discussions
Snow removal?
Q
Comments (3)
IMHO removing the snow, even carefully, could result in damage to the plants underneath. Any damage done by the snow sliding off the roof and landing on your plants has already been done and removing the snow now would only expose, at this point well insulated plants, to future freezes. Winters of 07/08 and 08/09 I got 8-9' of snow. Huge berms where it slide off the roof or where it landed from being shoveled off the roof. My shrubs suffered a few minor branch breaks but other than that they were fine. Just let it melt.
...See More
Need advice on snow removal. Deere 345 w/ 42' snowthrower or plow
Q
Comments (9)
My JD 345 is an 1988. Eastern Ontario with a lot of snow but I know Buffalo has had a few mega events. Fortunately, I think not a daily event. My JD and 42" blower does two properties (my neighbour looks after our cat in the summer if we are away and I do their snow most of the winter when they are away) that have 250' driveways plus parking. We live on a major highway with 5 lanes of traffic that snow is plowed to the ends of our driveways. I also have a Kubota BX25 diesel but the JD is the snow removal machine of choice. Chains and rear wheel weights Plus the rear tires are loaded with calcium chloride have never failed to do the job. I have not found a need for any additional weights. As a bonus, I leave the chains on all summer as we have a slope that when wet is now not a problem. NOTE: the older JD 345 have a plastic cam gear and if suddenly everything stops it may be the cause. This is quite common and you can check the hours run average for the details. Some never have the problem, mine did. About $500 parts for a completer rebuild (home style) and it runs better than new. You might also check the mods to the snowblower were a flapper is installed to improve the distance the snow and slush will be thrown. It's a good machine (older ones) with a strong frame and not like the newer ones that are a pressed metal unibody style. Mine will blow snow 2' deep without a problem. Use high test gas to avoid ethanol related problems. Brian
...See More
best snow removal for packed hard snow
Q
Comments (0)
Hi, I live in NH and did well with my snow until I had a metal roof installed. Now, when it snows, I use my snowblower to clear it and all is fine....UNTIL 24-36 hours later when the glaciers slide off my roof and create a 4 foot high pile of packed snow right in front of my garage doors. It's as wide as a double garage and probably 15 feet front to back. My Toro two stage snow blower won't cut it. I have to shovel it into piles and blow it away. Too much work for my old back. I've tossed around ideas from an ATV with a plow, to a tractor with a plow or snowblower attachment, and now it was recommended that I get a Honda hydrostatic track machine. I've read a bit about these and understand that I can tilt the machine down into the snow pile. I'm wondering if I can get some advice on this. Does anyone have any better ideas or is the Honda truly a good way to go? I can't do another year of breaking up the pack ice. The plow guy won't reliably come by when the snow slides off the roof (can't blame him) but I need a way to deal with this. Ideas and suggestions are welcome. Thank you.
...See More
Suggestions for snow removal on a paved driveway with modest slope?
Q
Comments (3)
You'll get as many opinions as there are people viewing this post. IMHO, Forget a tractor mounted unit, cost of (larger or GT) tractor+cost of wheel weights+cost of chains and finally cost of the tractor mounted snow blower. I'm guessing $4500+ for a "decent" unit. Since you're not cutting grass, tilling a garden, dragging around a garden cart, etc. the unit will sit in your garage. Finally, it snows and you discover the battery is dead, ethanol in the gas has caused fuel circuit issues, etc. etc. I'd get a walk behind, they offer electric start (plug into an electric outlet) with a back up recoil (manual) start. They're set up to start and run at below freezing temps, which tractors sometimes need a little "persuasion" to do. Ethanol gas issues can be offset by adding fuel stabilizer to the gas which will keep the ethanol under control all winter. Next spring, siphon the gas out, put it in your vehicle, run the snow blower engine dry and repeat the next fall. You can do the same thing with a tractor, however it's .75 gallon vs 5 gallons. I didn't notice, is your driveway paved or gravel? The slope mentioned would probably be easier to handle with a walk behind, going back up you might not be able to take the full width or swath, but at least half. You can get chains for a snowblower, just google tire chains. Another consideration with a tractor is weight distribution, the engine and snow blower are hanging off the front. The drive wheels which provide traction are on the back and the only weight would be you and the wheel weights, you might have to add additional "suitcase" weights back there to be able to move. With that slope, a tractor will tend to slide, particuarly if there's freezing going on. You'll find you're off the paved or graveled drive and be doing some digging and trying to find someone with a 4WD to drag it out and hope nothing gets bent or damaged in the process. I have a 1800 feet gravel drive with probably a 100 foot rise overall. Usual snow I use a 26HP GT with blade, weights and chains which does well. Occasionally we have 3-4 foot drifts in one spot and then I get out the walkbehind with drift cutters for that. You don't have a good application for either option, but I think the walkbehind would be the better, not ideal, but better option. Also, since you won't be doing your own servicing, tractors are much more expensive to service, particuarly when you consider hauling them back and forth. The good news is, now is the time to year to start looking around for something left over from last year. I got the snowblower for $350 off buyng it in June. Good luck, Ev
...See More
steve2ski
16 years ago
With all that equipment you have - how about a 4wd pickup or suv. with a blade. Or as others have said put a local contractor (snow removal) on a contract to clean out when you are there. I guess it depends on how often you are there.
johninmd
16 years ago
I don't normally reply to posts in this category, but just a observation, if you have shrubs on each side that you dont like snow pouring onto from your FEL, a angle plow will do the same thing since driveway is only one car wide. Only option there i see is to empty FEL over (beyond) the shrubs each time it fills up, taking longer of course, but the snow has to go somewhere..
On shrubs or over top them, which a angle plow wont do.
And the hard pack the road crew piles up, might as well forget anything other than a FEL for that.
Sure would be nice to be able to get to house and equipment right off, so if you aren't considering having someone else do it while you aren't there, to save money, if that is even a concern, hire someone to clear the entrance when it snows "after" the main road crews piles it up. Least the worst part of the snow removal would be done, and you could get off the main road with your car/truck.
Way i see it, with the ice build up, you leave the ice and salt or gravel it for traction after "you" plow. Or as others said, have snow cleared by someone else with each snow fall so ice doesnt form. Just not worth it trying to get melted and refrozen snow/ice off after its there.
marineguy
16 years ago
Do you really need to have the snow removed when you're not there full-time? If you're just going up for the weekend, assuming you have a decent 4wd truck, why not just drive on the snow? Throw some calcium chloride down and shovel the immediate area from the truck to the door so your wife doesn't have to walk on ice. Then go inside, start a fire and enjoy some hot cocoa with your family instead of spending your Saturday plowing snow for a house which will sit empty all week. Sounds ridiculous, but I don't mind driving my Yukon through deep snow, over ice, sand or just good old mud. But that's me. With 265/70R17 (32") BFG All-Terrain T/As it's never a problem.
That approach would work in PA. I'm not sure what part of NY you're talking about. If it's lake-effect snow, you might be driving on four feet of ice after a few weeks of not plowing. But if not, why bother? It's not like you have to clean off the driveway so your wife can get to work in her Civic or anything. And I'd imagine paying someone to plow it, while the best option in the interest of keeping the snow clear, would be pretty expensive.

A buddy of mine lived in Fairbanks for about a decade. He said most of the roads up there were not plowed. They just drove on the snow.
steve2ski
16 years ago
marineguy, good idea just driving on the packed snow, although calcuim is not the best, pretty messy, just lowers the freezing point of the snow it melts - use cat litter for traction. Alway's carry 2 20# bags in trunk in winter and a couple of bags in truck (put'm in heavy garbage bags to keep dry and ready to use when needed).
FWIW, SIL use to plow driveway's and parking lots, $80.00/hr or $40.00 min charge, for call in's, annual contracts were specific charges depending on snowfall and other requirements. A call in on a 1/4 mile 1 lane drive would be probably in the $50 to $60 range unless there was 12"+ snow with drifts of 24"+.
A poorly landscaped drive (for the weather conditions) can add money. (advertisement) Thats where my landscaping business can help the homeowner as well as the small commercial business. I make it look good as well as easy to maintain, not just the plants and beds themselves, but all functions required around them.
pappap428
16 years ago
Hi Tracktor
My neighbor up the road has a GT 5000 . He put's wheel weights and chains on his and he bought the Sears plow for the front and I've seen him push some really heavy snow out of his drivway. I think the 2 stage blower you have for yours would probably do better than his plow. I never looked but he told me the GT5000 wieghs about 900 pounds. His does really well with his setup
Pap
deerslayer
16 years ago
"the GT5000 wieghs about 900 pounds"

Maybe with your neighbor sitting on it if he's real fat! 8^)

-Deerslayer
newjerseybt
16 years ago
Another possibility is one of those blowers that fit on the front of your truck.

One problem with hiring people from out of State is knowing who is dependable and will not cause future problems. I had some neighbor ensure my driveway was always plowed but I was guaranteed additional work in the Spring such as filling wheel holes, fixing plow damage and reseeding.

I finally gave up and bought a commercial snowblower. If you want a job done right.....

Snow removal

Comments (9)

deerslayer

tomhoffman

Related Discussions

steve2ski

johninmd

marineguy

steve2ski

pappap428

deerslayer

newjerseybt

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US