Hiya Folks,
This will be the first season I have plowed using an ATV. I only plan to plow my driveway vs. doing this commercially but had a few questions. Driveway is relatively level, dirt/crusher fines, and does have a crown in the center where vehicle tires don't ride. Additionally, I have tree roots in a few places that sit up maybe an inch or so above the ground. How would you recommend I set the plow height wise? I was thinking of setting the "bumpers" so the plow would be about an inch or so above the ground. Thoughts? Other tips are most appreciated.
Cheers,
cc

 

On a flat concrete driveway I set up the plow with about 1/4in of clearance. If that help any! Good luck!

 

Better safe than sorry. Should be fine to start with an inch and work your way down to what height is best. Start out slow and always use low gear. Before you know it you'll be pushing snow at lightning speed. Try and take care of bad spots before the cold weather hits to save you time/trouble.

 

For our gravel driveway, I let the first few light snowfalls accumulate on the drive and pack it down with the vehicles. This basically locks in the gravel and rocks. Afer this base layer of snow/ice is achieved, I plow the later snow off of that.

 

I like that idea, this will be my first time plowing and I to have a gravel driveway. Right now I have the guides up about and inch off the ground so I'm not in the dirt.

 

Yes, that's the way you do a gravel driveway.

Just make sure you plow back far enough for the season the first few snows. Once it turns to ice and rock solid, the windrows and piles are hard to push with the light ATV.

 

Thanks folks for the suggestions. I think I'll start where I'm at with 1" of clearance and see how it goes. Our snowfalls are kind of sketchy at times. We'll get 5' of snow in two days and within a week it'll all be melted off. Other years, like last, the fist snow stays for 4 months. Very hit or miss. So we'll see!
Thanks much,
cc

 

I wouldn't recommend that on a driveway with a hill. A nice base layer of snow/ice may be fine for the ATV, but not for the wife when she has to get out of the driveway with her car.

 

Take a permanent marker and number the rocks so you can get them back in the proper place next spring.

 

We have a 12% grade in the middle of our 1,600' driveway. I'll throw some sand on it with the front end loader after clearing the drive and it's worked well. Now if I had that grade right where we park I may rethink the base layer of ice. Remember, this technique is mostly about keeping the gravel on the driveway and out of the yard.