Planning ahead for winter.
 

I know this isn't something you guys want to talk about right now but I'm trying to plan ahead. My new house has a black top driveway which is only about 2yrs old so I'm hesitant to run chains on my tractor but there no way the tractor will make it up the hill from the shed to the driveway without them. Should I just run a ton of weight to keep them from spinning on the black top or does anybody have any other suggestions?

So, a 2 YO driveway is about ready to be sealed in the spring anyway. I seal mine every year end of April. Any lines or marks that happen from the plow scraping it get covered up with the new sealer anyway. I have used chains on older blacktop and never really had an issue but can understand why you might be worried. In the cold the blacktop gets pretty hard tho.

Park the tractor under a tarp on the driveway during winter months or put it on the porch.

In PA, You guys get so much damn snow in certain parts of PA that I would have to agree with leaving tractor near driveway under a tarp. After a couple heavy storms you may not get your tractor to house from shed at all. Either way. In NY all the heavy town trucks run chains on asphalt. I doubt you need to worry about hurting the driveway.

I agree, he may not even get up the hill with chains on the first snowfall.

A Cub with chains isn't going to tear up the drive when it's cold and frozed. Chains on the tires in the summer heat would likely dent it up. Oh, it might leave a scuff mark if it skids, but big deal. I'd use them and not worry a bit about it. Didn't the house have a carport? Is there room under it for the tractor? I too prefer mine inside. I don't like them sitting outside, even if they're covered.

I agree with that also. Winter sucks.

I have Terra-Grip traction belts for my 147. They worked good for me last year. They don't damage pavement.

Place one at the top as suggested and one at the bottom too. :beerchug: I like my walk behind SWE945. But my next one will be smaller. Check this out!

https://www.cubcadet.com/equipment/c...tegoryId=27656

Trax! Those things hold themselves up to drive any distance and turn. No working out the arms/wrists holding down on the handles to turn around quick. Me likey!!!:beerchug::beerchug::beerchug:

The only thing I don't like about the tracks is its a pain in the ass to move them unless its running. Like mid summer when you want it out of your way but you have already drained all the gas :biggrin2: But they do seem to work better.

It's August and your talking about winter? :BB&YS: You know I hate cold and snow and this is way over the top. :BB&YS:

Move to Florida then you won't have to deal with snow. :biggrin2:

I’ve said that to you before Mister Mac. Come on down, the waters warm, and red :biggrin2:

Does the leading corner edge of the rubber strip get rounded off?

After one season, it is starting, but not enough to effect operation yet.

Loaded ( filled ) tires, extra wheel weights if you got them and chains. You'll be fine.

I have loaded 8.50's on my 125 with tri ribs up front. 4 link chains ( 2 work better ) and off I go with my QA42.

If I can get up my driveway for the first pass, everything is golden after that.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfWy8jbj_GY

If you don't have a cab, I HIGHLY recommend wearing a full face motorcycle helmet. You'll be much warmer.

I got stuck on ice one year and this is the slight make I made after literally minutes of spinning.

The guy I got my 1000 off of showed me the marks on his driveway from chains and it was noticeable. In fact, that was one of the primary reasons why he was getting rid of his 1000. I am not for sure what resurfacing would do, as I do not deal with asphalt driveways with my cubs. Is it possible to hook up a winch from Harbor Freight to the front of your cub and secure it to something solid. Of course a snow thrower with a winch would not be feasible, but if you just want to get to the top of the driveway, it will do it. Lots of good ideas, with loaded tires, additional weight, shelter cover, etc. This next year may be a little trial an error for you on this.

Cub Cadet 123

It's a driveway. Ain't your kitchen or living room floor.
Strap em on, if it does more damage than you like, park the tractor and get a bigger shovel.:biggrin2:

I use the "rubber" chains on my 1864. With a snow blower, you will need lots of rear weight. Less with a plow. The 20 year old cross rubber pieces have somewhat shredded, but still work. Although I should replace some of them. Generally the most difficulty is backing up. Smooth glare ice, forget it. I prefer to plow the snow and generally do not have any difficulty. Only twice in the past 15 years have I had to remove the plow and fit the snowblower due to deep heavy wet snow. I could not push the snow as traction was limited even with wife standing on the rear weights. Plan your paths to minimize needing to back up especially uphill.

My current chains are two link vbar so I'm going to have to order a new set of regular two link chains. I have a guy coming tonight to give me an estimate on taking some of the grade out of the yard so it's not so steep. The first pic shows roughly what the yard looks like at the end of the driveway, the vertical line represents the end of the driveway and then there about 40ft before it drops off. I can take my truck and trailer down over it but the trailer drags pretty bad. The second pic shows how I want to cut it back so it's easier to get in and out and easier to mow, it's steep enough that the 782 slides right down it in nuetral with the rear tire spinning in opposite directions.

Hopefully excavating will fix that unless there is ledge there. Then the line will be on top.

I don't think there will be much issue. The rest of the yard is fine, it's just this spot that they left to have access to the back yard and I just want to cut it down a few feet so it's not so steep.

How steep is this hill?? Love to see a pic. Its so flat where I live. Plenty of hills upstate NY but nothing really to write home about in Long Island

I don't have any good pics now but the hill is about 12ft higher than the lower yard and it drops down in the distance of about 10ft. It's just steep enough to be a little uncomfortable especially when riding a tractor up it. When I go up it in my truck I just aim it where I want to go and hope for the best cause you can't see anything but sky once you start up it.

OMG!! Yeah. I can see where that might feel a tad uncomfortable.

Whoa!:bigeyes: That is a lot of height in a short distance. What if you brought in some fill and extended a nice slow slope to the back yard which would be easier going up and down?

Otherwise get the kids some dirt bikes and start training motocross:beerchug:

Yeah! sounds like he has a natural half pipe going there!

I had thought about adding dirt to the bottom to extend it out but I would like to eventually build a shop back there and I don't want to extend the bottom of the ramp any further than it already is. Cutting back the top will yeild the same results as extending the bottom and I have another project that's going to require the dirt from this hill.

I know one thing.. Going down that hill will be the easy part :biggrin2:

Wait! How about a 2 story shop! Shop up top at upper grade level and storage down below.:bigthink:

An elevator would be nice too.

Sounds like Tim's next purchase will be an IH skid steer.

My 149 with the plow, chains and weights, was removed from snow plow duty last year. As my buddy with a plow truck, told me not worry about the snow, he would take care of driveway. No charge. At the end of the snow plowing season, I took him two cases of Bud light bottles, he started to give me hell, as He stated no charge. I stated that it was his birthday, end of conversation. :American Flag 1: