Family of 8 goes off the grid in the Pacific Northwest. Follow us on our journey as we build our new home and reclaim our lives as a family. Our property is at nearly 4500 feet elevation and we're more than 6 miles away from the nearest utility. We don't claim to know everything as we are learning along the way. Our goal is to be as self-sufficient as possible like the pioneers were. We believe that God has a special plan for our family and perhaps show others the way as well. Come join us as we learn together!
So let me answer this question yet again to explain. I appreciate you watching! This is mountain snowplowing so it's a bit different then regular roads. I have a more long-term plan than just the immediate clearing. First off, the road is sloped downhill to the left (windward side) and if I moved it all right then the cut would immediately blow back in and fill the road. Secondly, I build it up (on the downhill) so that I can accumulate enough snow to create a snow fence. What I do is come back with the bucket and push it all back about 50-70' (downhill exposed areas). That usually helps a lot in slowing down the wind (and snow) and it accumulates there instead of in the road. Of course the wind can shift around in a blizzard and all bets are off then. I hope this helps to explain as I've been doing this many years now and I've tried different methods. Thanks again!
Would love to have someone donate one for us to use. :) These are commercial units made for municipalities and they run $100-$200K (if you can find them).
Honestly with a machine that size and tire chains I'd make the first push with a straight blade, not angled, because you don't have to worry about spillover. I do it all the time with my plow truck. Also, depending on snow depth I angle the plow less to make the swath wider. The more snow the more angle. When I come to a drift I push the snow to the leeward side, piling it up on the windward side just makes the drifts worse over time.
My TYT 380 arrived this afternoon and I've been trying to install the drivers... this video has saved me hours & hours. Now working on Win 10 in a VMware VM. Can't thank you enough for posting it. 73
Very similar to what we have up here in B.C. I plowed snow as a kid on an MF 135 with a blade on the loader attachment. Love looking at the Cascade mountains!
Had to laugh at your comment about “still learning” at about 20 minutes. I’ve been a truck driver for 38 years, still learning. Trouble is, when I almost have all the answers, somebody starts changing the questions….
Yes, it's clear that it takes time when he's plowing with a shovel instead of a snow blade, but he'll probably learn when he gets older to use the right tool for the job!
Sometimes the best tool is the one you have rather than the one you don't. My offer still stands. Anyone is welcome to come up and bring there machine to help us out. I appreciate you watching.
Is that your main gate? I've noticed you don't open it all the way when you plow. and your monroe plow at one time would have had skid shoes on it , I know you said you don't have them on there cause they rip up the ground and hit the rocks ,you would think that with them on it would be better than the whole blade hitting the rocks in the road, to bad you cant modify a bucket with a blade on it ,you could then tilt the bucket back a little so it would ketch on everything ,,just a thought.
Where are you located? Here in Ohno, even in b the snow belt, we no longer get plowsble snow. By the time you walk out to your plow truck, the snow has melted.
Do you plow the road for your township or county where you live? I had operated pay loaders most of my adult life and your pay loader would have a float control built into the machine ,but without skid shoes on the blade it would just dig in ,kind of like its do now, Maybe if you're in mind to think outside the box, Arctic Sectional snow pusher blades are made for the harshest environments, they have sections that move when you hit a curb or a rock,and then spring back and keep going,I watch DIRT MONKEY FORCE on the youtube and he and ARCTIC have an understanding and him and their company test these pusher blades beyond their limits It might be something to look at in the future ,Makes plowing a bit smoother and fun,Take care
Thank you for your kind note. I plow 6 miles of mountain road without being compensated from anyone. I do this for live/safety reasons as well as to keep it open for the other property owners up here. I will definitely take a look at the Arctic plows. It's just that I'm doing this on a shoestring budget. I'm sure you can understand.
