Plowing snow with a loader on gravel

I had a big issue with ripping my gravel driveway up pushing snow with my loader bucket. I use a grader blade on the back turned around, and it worked ok but in deep snow it’d just get bogged down. So I came up with a simple design anyone can weld together, works like a champ!! Leaves about 1/4”- 1/2” of snow, but no more torn up driveway.
Here’s what I did- I picked up some 1/4” x2” steel stock, and cut it down to 3 pieces, the bottom section are both about 7” long, top is 5”. I also got some 3/4” round stock and cut it to 2” (width of the 1/4” stock) welded it together so that the top section is set back at an angle, with the round stock between to make a nice gradual curve to it. Other piece of straight steel acts a bit like a clamp, set up the thickness of my bucket. Drilled and tapped some holes, so when it snows I throw them on, bolt the top to clamp it in, and it’s good to go! Super easy project, and now I just get the loader “levelish”, put it on float, turn the back grader around and go to town.

There’s probably something like this on the market, but it probably costs about $500. All in, I’m at probably $40 worth of steel from the hardware store.

Hope it helps someone who’s tired of tearing their driveway up!

Nice solution. Good to see someone use his head for something besides hold ears apart.

I it’d just. So I 1/4”- 1/2”
Here’s what I did- I 1/4” x2” 7” long, top is 5”. I also got some 3/4” it to 2” 1/4” stock) welded and it’s good to go! Super
“levelish”, put it
There’s in, I’m .

who’s up!

Gottit

Give us Pictures of your bucket assembled with angled pieces.

I did a similar thing, friend had section of I what I recall was 3" diameter schedule 40 pipe and he cut a groove in it, brought it to me, I welded 3/8" thick tabs on it, spaced the same as the cutting edge bolts. Bolt on and no more torn up turf and or driveway gravel.

Here is a previous post showing what others have done by
splitting a pipe to put on his loader.
slag pipe

And I plowed for years with front bucket, front blade and rear blade and NEVER had that problem and I can just see that pipe riding uo and over the snow. And the depth shoes for rear blade also do not work. And I would not try to use the back side af a rear blade becase that as I found out does not work.

That could be worth trying!! I have been clearing my driveways with a loader for many years, and it is key to get down to bare gravel over a good portion of it. If the sun can't shine on some bare spots it will never get a chance to start melting whats left until spring. That is why the tube over the front edge could never work on sticky snow, while this probably would. The key is that this arrangement will not pack more than 1/4 inch, while a tube will pack at least half of it's diameter, which in just a few drives over it will be a skating rink.

I brought a set of Edge Tammers I think was the name. A fellow posted about them them a few winters ago on this site. Just about
the same design that you have there. I paid around a 100 bucks for them and they work real good, I used them yesterday clearing
snow around the buildings with the loader. Just clamp them on and off with a 3/4 inch wench. Since I can't weld for #$%@ it was
worth it for me.

The first several snows I pack down on stone drive and after that any snows I set bucket flat on drive and
push snow. I leave 2 to3" of packed snow on stone drive all winter.

(quoted from post at 07:49:24 01/22/19) The first several snows I pack down on stone drive and after that any snows I set bucket flat on drive and
push snow. I leave 2 to3" of packed snow on stone drive all winter.

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D Beatty, you must have a level driveway, LOL.

I tilt the front of the bucket up slightly and set it on float. Doesn't gouge and rides over any obstructions.

Nice ! Should help a lot. Back when I plowed snow with my tractor and bucket I mounted 2 snowmobile skis onto the outside edges of the snow bucket which worked very well also. Mine was only gravity down with a trip bucket. I just bolted them on with 3/8 bolts through drilled holes so they were easy to remove in summer. It would leave about 1-2 inches of snow behind but not pick up a lot of gravel. I now use an old pickup and plow which is a whole lot warmer for the operator! (me)

No it is a long gradual slope to highway.

Hi. I use my loader bucket almost all the way over in the dump
position so the top of the bucket doesn't get too close to the
ground. Then just go slow and don't let it dig in. When ground
is frozen it's much eaier. I like to have some dark spots
showing then snow melts quick. I hate compact snow turned to
ice. If that happens I scatter coarse sand on it.
If there is a lot of snow and I have to move it, I make sure I
don't dump it on the lawns so if it has a bit of gravel its easy
to clean up. Oliver BC