How to spread gravel evenly.

[600SL]

Hello

I'm looking to find out the best way to level out the gravel on my driveway. It seams after the winter the gravel is gone in some areas and piled deep in others.


Does anyone know of a good way to even out the top layer.

 

[sixty4]

We used to have an old metal section of fence (chain link ) that was tied onto a small tractor. Back and forth a few times will level it right off.

 

[The Cobbler]

to do properly you need to scarify the stone to a depth of 4 or 5 " and re level & compact. If you simply fill the holes they will tear out again in very short time

 

[WhiffySpark]

A good dump truck driver with a coal shoot

Harley rake

Or even a competent bobcat operator

 

[steve308]

www.drpower.com (grader) (about $1300.00)
www.northerntool.com (grader) (about $200.00) Item# 365342

 

[LCD]

Use a black top Lute which is designed to level paving material, works like a champ for what you need done.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000A2KI50/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Mr.A]

I have a small tow behind York Rake, did my 250' gravel drive today. Works well with just a few passes.

 

[Bondo]

Hello

I'm looking to find out the best way to level out the gravel on my driveway. It seams after the winter the gravel is gone in some areas and piled deep in others.


Does anyone know of a good way to even out the top layer.

Ayuh,.... How big is the driveway,..??

Whatcha got for toys to do the job with,....

Small areas,... a shovel, 'n an iron rake,....

Big, 'n Long,... a 4-wheeler, a chain, 'n a chunk of I-beam can do wonders,....

 

[tractordude]

A nice old heavy pallet with some weight on it, pull it behind a garden tractor.
Grab a few beers for the ride

 

[Jackfre]

I use the box blade on my tractor and a Rachet Rake on the bucket. Then rent a vibrating roller to set it.

 

[Hephaestus29]

Shovel & a rake.

 

[Farmall 1066]

Box scraper or Speed-Mover. If it gets bad enough, Cat #12 Auto Patrol.

 

[TonkaJoe]

Whatever method you choose just make sure to do it properly.. Cut out the potholes rather than just filling them like most people do. That's a temporary fix and simply pounds back out overtime. Rip the area and reset the gravel.

 

[600SL]

Hey thanks for the replies. I have tried a regular rake and no good. The blacktop loot looks like it will do the job, but I would prefer something I can pull on my garden tractor. I have ~ 400' of driveway. The chain link fence and I beam also sound nice if I could find a piece. And I wish I would have known about the pallet because I just tossed a few.

I will be on the lookout for pallets.

 

[Heavymetalmechanic]

It's a pain but breaking up the potholes makes a huge differance, as does properly compacting everything afterwards. If possible rent/borrow the biggest roller packer you can. Is there anything you can do about the grade/drainage? A decent crown on the driveway can help a lot.

 

[toplessHO]

It's a pain but breaking up the potholes makes a huge differance, as does properly compacting everything afterwards. If possible rent/borrow the biggest roller packer you can. Is there anything you can do about the grade/drainage? A decent crown on the driveway can help a lot.

we have dirt and gravel roads here and county engineering has said to slope not crown.

 

[TonkaJoe]

we have dirt and gravel roads here and county engineering has said to slope not crown.

''County engineering'' maybe that's why our back roads are in such rough shape? lol

600SL-
Crowning roads to the standard 1-4% is the best achieved drainage, gravel roads no matter where will need to eventually have the gravel re-machined with fines to create good compaction. Crowning the road with a standard ''A'' style slope you should have 1/2'' of rise for every 1' of width from the center or the drive..

As far as sloping vs Crowning goes it really all depends on water flow, if you are in a very hill like terrain where water flows in one direction then an in-slope or out-slope would be best suited, where a crowned road would be best suited in a more general application where proper ditching and drainage is available.

One last thing.. Compaction is key, without a solid base or proper compaction you'll be right back to square one in no time. I could go on about this stuff all day as I work in mining/road building.. but it's better to read for yourself, Hope this link gives you some insight to what you are looking for!. http://www.dirtandgravel.psu.edu/resources/documents/crown_cs.pdf

 

[6768rogues]

At home I drag a pallet behind my mower. At my farm I drag a length of chain link fence with a pallet on top of it.

 

[Kevin54]

When I had a gravel drive, I used to have a section of railroad track. I put two eyebolts in it and dragged it around with my truck to level things, then raked out what was at the end. I sure wish I had that rail now.

Depending on how bad it is, and how compacted it is, possibly even run a tiller through the gravel to loosen it, then rake it out. But surely there should be someone around with a blade on a tractor, a box pan, or someone close that has a skidsteer to knock things down and back to level. Or consider adding more stone to the compacted areas where the tires are constantly driving and compacting it, and just add a skim coat of stone to the high spot to make it uniform looking.

Another thing to do.....pick up quite a few bags of concrete mix (a couple of bucks a bag) and after you have everything situated, then spread the concrete bags out over the driveway stone. It just binds things down tighter.

And if you are lucky enough to live in an area that has crushed limestone, ask for a load of stone with extra limestone dust. The "fines" will compact really tight.

 

[Spareparts]

One of my older neighbors had an old set of bed springs and a couple RR ties on them to drag his drive with. He had an old 12hp Wheel Horse tractor that he pulled it with, worked great.

 

[TractorJeff]

Like the guys said! You need to tear it all up to work the gravel back into the fill! Dragging pallets and bed springs up and down it will only fill the potholes with stone which will pound back out!
My neighbor has about 400 feet of driveway with a turn around near the house. They are once a month dragging theirs as the gravel pounds out of the holes. I figure "whatever" as it gives his wife something to do!
I run my CAT up and down mine as the 2 inch grousers chew up the fill and crush stones. Then put a little tilt and angle on the blade, go up, turn around to go back down the other side!
Drive down with the truck, rake out any imperfections to prevent puddles, then drive the truck up and down it, moving over a little each time to compact it!
Good for another year!

 

[bileshake]

I drag a steel harrow around with no weight on it. it chews the tough spots and grades the loose stuff just nice.

 

[Gojeremy]

chain link fence with a pallet on top of it.

The added weight will smooth it with no problem.

 

[jvitez]

First, what equipment do you have now?

Second, what equipment would you be willing to buy?

Lot's of good advice so far, but all could be moot depending on these two questions.

 

[TonkaJoe]

To rip the drive ( depending on how compacted your subgrade is) you'd need a steel scarifier.. they make models that are weighted and tow behind. Moving aggregate, any type of steel blade... skid steer, tractor, etc as long as you are able to pull material towards the center of the driveway, and fill in low spots . For compaction, rent yourself a 2 or 3 ton Single drum vibratory roller...

 

[RandyL]

Old bed springs pulled with garden tractor or quad... I've done this for years, but he pallet sounds like it should work also...either are free with the old springs a bit harder to find now days.

I have heavier equip but is not needed to relocate gravel. Dragging looks real nice when done.

 

[zable9]

Thx for the ref

''County engineering'' maybe that's why our back roads are in such rough shape? lol

600SL-
Crowning roads to the standard 1-4% is the best achieved drainage, gravel roads no matter where will need to eventually have the gravel re-machined with fines to create good compaction. Crowning the road with a standard ''A'' style slope you should have 1/2'' of rise for every 1' of width from the center or the drive..

As far as sloping vs Crowning goes it really all depends on water flow, if you are in a very hill like terrain where water flows in one direction then an in-slope or out-slope would be best suited, where a crowned road would be best suited in a more general application where proper ditching and drainage is available.

One last thing.. Compaction is key, without a solid base or proper compaction you'll be right back to square one in no time. I could go on about this stuff all day as I work in mining/road building.. but it's better to read for yourself, Hope this link gives you some insight to what you are looking for!. http://www.dirtandgravel.psu.edu/resources/documents/crown_cs.pdf