Sidewalk Woes

[River Hill]

I finally figured out my sidewalk distance. I have 3.4 miles of sidewalks. As I am writing this my sidewalks have about a 1/2 inch of ice on them from the freezing rain we received in MD. It is mostly all loose as we applied MAG flakes to the walks. The problem is we need to go and scrape all of the walks soon.

I really need to find a more efficent way to clean the sidewalks. I was thinking of a ATV or a large snowblower. I don't know if I should post this in DeIcers or not. I guess I could get a ATV with a spray type setup for situations like this.

I guess my question is how would you handle this many miles of walks. We don't get enough snow here in MD to justify a Trackless, but I am almost willing to try anything. I don't know much about the liquid DeIcers, but maybe I should always pretreat?

[Lawngodfather]

Always pretreat those walks, I got killed this winter on some properties were as the mng co said to hold off, but the bill superseeded the intial price it would of been, so from now on, they leave it up to me.

I am looking into liquid for next year.

Just spray them vrs spreading material by hand, and spray them to melt the ice. Much easir on the back I hope.

[River Hill]

When you say to spray them what do you mean? Using a product like Caliber? Do you know if you can spray once there is a coating. For example we get lots of 1" to 2" snows, can I spray directly on that? If I pretreat would I need to shovel or plow with a ATV? I guess I would need to sprayers. 1 backpack type for steps and areas leading to doors and on on the back of the atv for the perimiter areas.

[BRL]

Well I already gave my vote for setting up an ATV. With 3 miles I'd say that's worth the effort. As far as the deicing situation, do a search of "liquid" in the Deicing Forum, as there are several threads there with lots of good info to help you get started with that option.

[mdb landscaping]

you have a few options from what i use on sidewalks, and what i see other people using. first off, id recommend a bobcat or quad......they will definately help you get your walks done a lot quicker. i also see a lot of people using machines like john deeres, hustlers and kubotas(any front pto machine) using blowers, plows and brooms on them to clear walks. i personally think the bobcat is the best all around tool , unless your gonna be clearing the walks real frequently. cause if you get a 8 inch snowfall, an atv is really gonna struggle in wet slop, and the mower units will struggle.

[Clean Cut Lawns]

lets add to this.

[NJ Plowman]

Purchasing a bobcat or ATV is big bucks. The bobcat is the way to go if you have the budget, but if you don't, try this:
We purchased a John Deere model 60 lawn tractor for $300.00. These units (and the model 70) were made from 1967 until around 1969. Then we purchased a John Deere model 32 snowblower for an additional $150.00. The combo works fantastic and the entire unit cost under $500.00. We even came across a model 40 snowplow blade setup at a flea market for $100.00 and we can now switch between the blower and the blade. The model 60's are old, but they are built like brick @#$%houses! They are also extremely easy to maintain and service.

[Snowboy]

Originally posted by NJ Plowman
John Deere model 60 lawn tractor for $300.00. These units (and the model 70) are old, but they are built like brick @#$%houses! They are also extremely easy to maintain and service.

Yikes thats a big tractor.. dont want to get in its way. Forget about plowing a walkway do the parking lot. The walkway must be realy wide. 54" is the norm here. Funny i have never came across a brick s*it house. Yeeeeeeeeeeee Haaaaaaaaaaw..

[Lawngodfather]

Originally posted by Lawngodfather
I am looking into liquid for next year.

Just spray them vrs spreading material by hand, and spray them to melt the ice. Much easir on the back I hope. Still havent used liquid pre treat.

Also several storms have been rain chaning to sleet then snow in an hour or less.

So pretreat was not possable

[itsgottobegreen]

Yikes thats a big tractor.. dont want to get in its way. Forget about plowing a walkway do the parking lot. The walkway must be realy wide. 54" is the norm here. Funny i have never came across a brick s*it house. Yeeeeeeeeeeee Haaaaaaaaaaw..

This is a JD 60 lawn tractor with plow and blower

[jkretzer]

i used my quad for years on my driveway and it is almost unstoppable, i have a set of chains for the rear tires and a blade on the front, and it is only 2 wd, i also put a 100lb bag of sand on the back rack. it wont do much in ice, but not much will other than pretreats or the ol fashion chip away at it method

[Staley52]

that is why I have my 1967 cubcadet 102 I have a blower and blade for the front and am trying to build a blade for the rear, I also have a rear tiller, plow hydraulic lift, and I only have maybe $1000 in it. I installed front and rear work lights and I am finishing up led clearance lights that flash so that seeing and being seen is not a problem now all I need is a cozy cab

[looseduce]

well i have 3 machines i use. first one is a bobcat 753. which i use mostly in the city to clear walkways that arent wide enough for a truck.i also stack and load snow with it.i paid around 12500 for it.second i bought a johndeere SABRE brand 1948 same as the scotts brand they use to make.i bought a single stage 42 inch snowthower for it works great shes a real bear.i also used it to do city walkways and some smaller driveways. i paid about 5400 for the setup.this year i bought an older johndeere 420 garden tractor witch came with a 60 inch plow and snowthrower and a cab.i also bought a FEL for it as you can see in the picture look past the lawn mower in the pic. without the loader i bought the tractor for 1200..thats right just 1200