Our neighbor with the tractor cleared our driveway, and the TrailBlazer climbed to the top, put on its snow plow and widened the path. I am sure the Jaguar will do it fine. But from now on, once the snow starts falling, we'll plow every two hours. To mark the pavement edges, once springs arrives, I will pound .25" OD .125" wall aluminum tubes into the ground at the edges every 5'. In late fall, we will drop the marker flags into the tubes.
These make it an easy job: https://www.amazon.com/Dasco-Pro-Driveway-Marker-Reflective/dp/B01CU64RL4/ref=pd_lpo_86_bs_t_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=74CBPSYD887NVBRX2AKZ
ReplyDeleteI plowed miles of roads and residences for 20 years. Make it easy on yourself. Get a small tractor (I do not mean lawn mower, I mean a 30hp and up MFWD drive tractor with an HST transmission) and mount a power angle blade on the front, and even a better, also a blower on the back. Load the rear tires with Rim Guard (weight for ballast and traction), chain up all around, and start being serious about your snow issues.
You're thinking of using those little tiny construction markers? Won't work in a snowstorm. Not big enough, and not tall enough, to be usefully visible from a moving vehicle. Think along the lines of what the roads are marked with for snow plows, although you may not need them to be as tall. Bamboo/with pennant flags, perhaps. I'd consider using buried plastic pipe to hold them. Maybe with threaded or push-on caps to keep them clear when not being used to hold marker flags.
ReplyDeleteHmm, I suspect there may be marketed kits to do this for plow work.
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ReplyDeleteNo reason not to install them now Clayton. Yes the ground is frozen preventing you from pounding them into the ground but if you get yourself a 1/2" drill and a concrete bit you should be able to drill a hole for the markers and simply drop them in place.
ReplyDeleteThey may not remain perfectly plumb as time passes due to frost heave or hitting them with the plow blade and you may have to pull them out and re-drill and re-plant some of them but it beats not having them.
Best wishes.
John
rfb: What we have are similar about 4 feet high, with reflective discs on them. The current plow on my wife's TrailBlazer works well. Figuring out where the pavement ends is the hardest part.
ReplyDeleteJohnG: one reason to wait is that it is freaking cold out there and until the snow melts, I don't know where the pavement edges are.
I never promised you a rose garden...
ReplyDeleteI sympathize with you about the weather conditions but you asked. They don't all have to be done at one time and you're obviously not going to attempt them in the worst weather no matter how much you may need them. And I assume you already have winter weather outerwear suitable for your neck of the woods. Neatness and precision don't count here - just get them in.
A shovel pushed sideways across the driveway should tell you where the pavement ends and the grass begins, no?
Best of luck.
Might be time for a "beater with a heater truck" four wheel drive, a set of chains and maybe a snow-plow attached.
ReplyDeleteJohnG: too much effort in 10 degree weather. The tropical storm is raining away the snow right now.
ReplyDeletejon spencer: The TrailBlazer has 175K miles, 4WD, and a removable slowplow. Getting a clear set of pavement edge markers is all I really need.