On Feb 4, 8:42*pm, HerHusband wrote:
We have a gravel driveway, roughly 150 feet long. It's about 12 feet
wide, except for a 20x30 area in front of the garage where we park and
turn around. It has a few curves, and slopes up towards the county road.
The county keeps the main road plowed, but just getting out of our own
driveway can be a real adventure.
I've traditionally gone out and shoveled the driveway clear when we've
had snow storms. It wasn't bad when I was younger, but as I get older I
realize I won't always be able to shovel snow for hours just to run to
town. So, I'm investigating other solutions that will be easier for "an
old guy" to manage. 
Unfortunately, staying home till the snow passes
won't be an option for many years to come.
The first option seems to be a snow thrower, but I don't really like the
thought of one more piece of equipment to maintain. We can have a few
really mild winters, followed by one or two really wild ones. So, a gas
snow blower could potentially sit unused for a couple of years, just
taking up lots of space. Fighting to start a small gas engine in the cold
doesn't sound much better than shoveling snow. And the $700 and up price
tag seems high considering how often we might use it.
Considering the erratic nature of our storms, an electric model like the
Toro 1800 seems nice. No gas, no oil, no routine maintenance. I already
have 100' long heavy duty 12 gauge extension cords, and a couple of
electrical outlets along the drive. But, I hear they don't work so well
on gravel drives, or with wet deep snow. Still, the $300 price tag is
easier to manage, and it wouldn't take up so much space in the shed when
we weren't using it.
I'm also considering some sort of snow melt system. I'm hoping to install
pavers and a drainage system in front of the garage this summer anyway,
so it seems like a good time to install a melt system if I'm going to.
But again, the costs for materials seems like it would be rather
expensive. Electric seems like it would be a lot less maintenance (and we
have low electric rates) than hydronic. But, both systems seem to need
some type of paved covering (concrete, asphalt, pavers), which would
further increase costs.
So, I'd like to hear how others deal with snow that falls erratically,
but can be a big problem when it does?
Thanks,
Anthony
Hi,
I have a similar situation and I am also looking for a different/
cheaper solution. We live in Westchester County, New York. Over the
last few years the winters have been quite mild and snow has not been
that much of an issue. Our drive way is about 150 feet with a car park
bit near the garage doors. Our driverway ends onto a private road
which we share with neighbours. We all share the plow costs of this
road, but my driverway is my problem. Each time it snows it costs me
$US 75 for the driverway, car park bit and my share of the road.
Fortunately winters have been not too bad or it would get VERY
expensive.
We have an ashphalt driveway not a gravel one. Hence I think this
option may not suit your needs. I think the truck plow when it hits
your gravel driveway it will tear up the driverway. One of our
neigbours has an electric heated driverway. For mild snow and ice it
works O.K. For the really heavy snow falls I see him out there with a
snow blower because the system cannot keep up. It is somewhat
temperature and snowfall rate dependent.
The downside to having a plough guy come is that you only want him to
come AFTER the snow has finished. Hence you have a time slot when you
want to get your car out BUT your driverway is socked in. This is
especially difficult for us because we live on a hill and getting up
it to go home in snow is not possible with normal tires. So my
solution was to get snow tires. I have a Honda Civic (Front wheel
driver only) and Bridgestone Blizzack snow tires. These tires really
do the trick and I can make it up a 1:14 gradient, max building code
gradient, in 6 inches of snow. All our neighbours have AWD cars of one
sort or another. However on a really bad day, even one of those SUV
AWD got stuck, but they have the normal all-season car tires on them.
For gravel driveways alot of people like the Honda snow blowers with
tracks.
http://www.hondapowerequipment.com/snotra.asp
The main advantage is that the scoop height can be controlled
accurately. Many snowblowers simply allow the scoop to scrape the
ground. This is bad for gravel driverways because your snow blower
will scoop up all the gravel as well. In the Honda's case the weight
of the snow blower rests on the tracks, hence the scoop can be held
just above the gravel. From net experience people say the electric
start is really not worth getting because it is so easy to start
anyway, and you need a nearby plug to power the starter. I was really
considering getting one of these to lower the snow clearance costs.
Maintenance wise I find the Honda products to be pretty good. I use
Stabil in the fuel of my Honda lawn mower, and it always starts, no
problems.
I think the only downside on the Honda snow blower is the cost, these
puppies are listed at about $US 2,400.
Let us know what your final solution is and maybe I will do the same.
Warmest regards, Mike.