You can raise your plow a little when you do it, you can make a PVC pipe for your cutting edge (do a search you will find the how to), or you can backdrag it. Either way you are going to get some gravel that comes off. It will also be easier to do once it gets nice and frozen and cold out. You will have more problems in 30 degree temps when the ground hasnt frozen yet.

 

Throw on a set of plow shoes and you'll be fine.

 

Raise the plow up

 

I live on a 1/4 mile long gravel private dr. and when it comes time to plow it I always wait a few days for the neighbors to drive on it before I plow it. Gets a good base to it quick, and I usually click the up bottom 2 or 3 times for the first few times just to make sure though.

 

I plow mostly gravel drive ways and I don't use shoes. I just drop the plow all the way down and go.

 

I plow mostly gravel drive ways and I don't use shoes. I just drop the plow all the way down and go.

:laughing: thats how it should be done

I raise my plow a bit

 

Don't drink beer before you plow gravel driveways.

 

I plow mostly gravel drive ways and I don't use shoes. I just drop the plow all the way down and go.

do you get alot of rocks in your piles?

 

Don't drink beer before you plow gravel driveways.

why?

 

Yea, just bump the plow up a bit and go. You don't need to lift the plow off the ground or anything. Just drop it all the way down and float it, then give the up button a quick tap or two. Away you go.

Camden makes a good point with shoes. And it is the easiest answer, but I've had mixed results with shoes. I'm personally I'm not a big fan of them. They can be a necessity for early snows before the ground has had a chance to freeze. For a beginner, they can save your grass. And your A$$.

Here's what a couple gravel access roads look like when an RT3 go's across em with two taps to the up button.

 

Raise it up a little if the gravel is soft and put it in float if its froze. Shoes won't help if the gravel is soft, they dig in too.

 

THANKS FOR ALL THE REPLIES! I'm really interested in the whole pipe theory, can anybody really confirm that this works?

 

Here is the thread I was thinking about. They said steel pipe, not PVC pipe. My bad. http://www.plowsite.com/showthread.php?t=100111&highlight=pvc+gravel

 

do you get alot of rocks in your piles?

I get some but it's not like you get big piles in the Spring.

 

The worst is when the local kids get into your piles and throw it all over the lot. Especially the nutty ones.

The pipe thing actually works. Especially if you're going to be plowing over grass. It's not necessary tho? Kinda a bugger when you want to scrape some pavement and have to take it off? Lots of work when all you have to do is push the up button?

 

I use this technique:early in the season, especially with lighter snows I leave the gravel area go. The snow packs down and as the season goes on tightens up as temps really drop. Shoes up high on larger early snows allows the same base. This serves me two purposes, 1 it freezes up the lot and protects the gravel 2. It helps fill in ruts,holes etc. When it comes to edges/sod I always try to hit the edge with the blade parallel to the edge and lift the blade slightly to keep from chewing up the sod . Just my thoughts

 

Here are some Threads on plowing gravel.

http://www.plowsite.com/showthread.php?t=80108

http://www.plowsite.com/showthread.php?t=91165

Good Luck

 

Yes the pipe thing works great, I use steel though. Just dropped a piece of 1-1/4" sch 40 at the local fab shop to slit it lengthwise for my new blade. Last one I did with a sawzall and a shortened blade, but decided not to do it myself this time; a) sawzall didn't go real straight, b) if you want quick on/off I found you need two cuts, as the pipe springs together after the first one. Last time one 6'9" cut took out the switch in my sawzall. A grinder would work too but pretty slow, local shop has plasma, quarter- half hour of labor and I'm good to go. Will fab brackets to hold it on myself.