Dealing with icy driveway

[Tooljunkie]

So coming home,right turn into my yard at a crawl and my 92 gmc want to kiss a tree on the way in. Seems my family members and most everyone else insist on spinning the wheels to pull out. Its slicker than goose snot. Cant stop when approaching roadway. 3 out of our 4 vehicles have excellent winter tires.

Salt, sand mix not an option. Dont want salt on driveway. Is gravel , just dont like it.
Option? Grab my old harrow i use for landscaping and toss some weight on it and drag a bunch of circles. Slow but approach is much less treacherous.

Too bad i didint build my harley rake yet, would make quick work of it.

Tearing up ice is difficult at any time.

Would like to see what orhers do to solve this problem.

 

[sheepfarmer]

Well, elegant it ain't but I have a really slopy driveway, and one could slide down the drive, across the road, through the neighbor's fence, gain speed, and go right into the river. I often can't even stand up on the ice and wish for my ice skates to get the mail. So I have taken manure and bedding from the stalls when I clean them and sprinkle it where it is needed. If not too much it disappears by spring. Works well on the barn bank which is grass!

 

[D2Cat]

Might sprinkle ashes from your stove. Gives traction and if some embers are hot it will melt some open spots.

 

[Grouse Feathers]

I have 20 feet of concrete in front of the garage and then a 90 degree turn onto gravel. I back my truck into the garage so ice can be a problem. Last year I found I could remove the ice from the gravel part of the driveway using the fel with the Piranha Tooth Bar on the bucket.

 

[skeets]

10-4 on the stove ashes they seem to draw the heat of the sun and melts little holes in the ice, and adds some traction,, like sheepfarmer says it aint pretty but it works for me

 

[pendoreille]

I will second the Piranha Tooth Bar. When ice gets compact and thick I back drag with the PTB and cut grooves in the ice...have not fallen on my rear since I have had it, knock on wood. I have also used wood shavings and they work well but they like to stick to your feet and end up in the house.

 

[boz1989]

Has anyone tried a landscape rake? Seems to chew up Gravel. I just got one and was wondering if it would work. At the farm if it got that icy we would hook up the disk and drag it around.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

I use a spring tooth harrow when it gets out of hand.

A safer alternative to salt is Magnesium chloride, it's a fertilizer so it won't hurt the grass or plants and it doesn't burn dogs feet like salt does.
We use that on the walkways and entry ways to the house.

 

[Grouse Feathers]

Well at least tracking in wood chips or ashes would be less odoriferous then sheep manure. On the other hand sliding into a cold river would definitely be worse then stepping in a little sheep poo.(definitely a s... eating grin in this case)

 

[Tooljunkie]

Pellet stove ashes amount to very little, dont think much to saving them up.
Thought wood pellets, but they do better in pellet stove.
Driveway narrow east west direction surrounded by trees and brush. Never sees daylight.

 

[RCW]

Might sprinkle ashes from your stove. Gives traction and if some embers are hot it will melt some open spots.

Did it for years - works great!!

Also use granulated limestone in 50 lb bags.. Farmers use it on the barn floor to make it less slick for the cows coming in. Works great, but tracks into the house.

 

[Russell King]

In Texas we just wait a day or two and the ice melts.
Not too helpful unless you want to move South!


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[Diydave]

Was up in so central PA, today, every steep corner of a road, has a barrel of sand/cinders, a rubber cover, wif a shovel handle sticking out...

 

[Corney]

Why not just spread a little winter sand which here is about a 3/8" minus gravel?

In the spring it just becomes part of the gravel driveway.

 

[jmsteel]

I went to studed tires for the winter months in 2009 and never looked back. I have a set on the two cars and the truck now but you don't want to spin your tires as you'll rip out the studs. With an inch of glare ice I know I can make it to the main Hwy as long as I take it easy.


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[coachgeo]

I went to studed tires for the winter months in 2009 and never looked back. ...

Many areas do not allow studded tires. Hefty fine for running them. Causes too much damage to the roads w/out ice is the claimed issue.

 

[Tooljunkie]

No doubt studded tires are the answer, but my driveway also is the access to my shop, also my place of business, if i didnt do anything, that big spruce would be like the blarney stone, everybody would be kissing it on the way in. Bad for business.

 

[pendoreille]

We had a winter storm predicted....it kind of fizzled. Now I have a driveway that is a sloppy mess. Not enough snow to plow but too much not to. Good excuse to put a little glow in the tractor and push some slop about. Oh what fun!

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Tooljunkie,
With the business your doing from home, you really need to up your game a little to protect your ass-ets, Sand and Magnesium chloride will make it safe to travel.

 

[olthumpa]

Tooljunkie,
With the business your doing from home, you really need to up your game a little to protect your ass-ets, Sand and Magnesium chloride will make it safe to travel.

Cleaning up sand is easier and cheaper than cleaning up lawsuits.