Best Implement to Maintain/Groom Driveway

[MikeTipton]

I have a BX24 and gravel driveway. What would be the single best implement to maintain and groom the driveway? And how would you do it?

Thanks,

Mike T.

 

[keving]

I use my rake and set it to an angle to bring the stone back on the driveway. Make a pass or two on each side and then I set it back to the normal position and make a final pass right down the middle spreading the gravel out without removing all the crown. I do this at a pretty quick pace. I also do this often to keep weeds from growing and it seems easier the more I do it. Good luck!

 

[Snatchface]

I also have a BX and bought the DR Power Grader. Worked really well. First I ran down the driveway with the bucket down to scrape off the grassy hump in the middle, then I made several passes with the grader. Driveway looks like new after probably in excess of 20-30 years without maintenance. I would recommend the 48" model for a driveway since it is easier to manuever with it.

 

[RonMar]

I use a chain harrow to drag mine...

 

[weldingisfun]

I have a BX24 and gravel driveway. What would be the single best implement to maintain and groom the driveway? And how would you do it?

Thanks,

Mike T.

How long is your driveway?
If it isn't too long the DR Power Grader is really good. I just so happen to have one for sale too. My road is just too long for it. I bought a Road Boss and don't need the DR any longer.

 

[schmism]

by groom you mean move the surface gravel around?

i love my rear blade... allowing me to pull loose gravel from the edges back to the middle etc.

 

[Woody_NH]

I have a BX24 and gravel driveway. What would be the single best implement to maintain and groom the driveway? And how would you do it?

Thanks,

Mike T.

I agree with Keving, if only one implement, get a landscape rake. I find that gauge wheels help a lot with getting even results and setting the crown.
I also have a tilt blade that I use for the ditch line and for making water bars to channel water off the driveway.

 

[MikeTipton]

I have a landscape rake. Any more suggestions on how to get the most use out of it? Do I just walk into my local farm supply and ask for gauge wheel?

Mike T.

 

[lhfarm]

After years of using a back blade, I just purchased a 7' rake. For me, it does a better job than the back blade. I was sold after the first use. My drive is 1400 feet and rises 250' in that distance.

I have a landscape rake. Any more suggestions on how to get the most use out of it? Do I just walk into my local farm supply and ask for gauge wheel?

Mike T.

Mike - do a serach and you will find lots of discussions about gauge wheels - including the very high prices. There are several threads about building your own, which I plan to do. I asked the dealer where I purchased my rake and he had never heard of guage wheels on a rake. Went to the LandPride dealer and even he had to look them up. The LandPride price was just about what I paid for my generic rake.

 

[Woody_NH]

I have a landscape rake. Any more suggestions on how to get the most use out of it? Do I just walk into my local farm supply and ask for gauge wheel?

Mike T.

Mike,

Gauge wheels were an option on my land pride rake, see:
Land Pride LR15 Landscape Rakes
You can also get an optional grader blade for the rake however I have a separate rear tilt blade:
Land Pride RBT15 Series Rear Blades

I don't know if your rake can easily accommodate wheels. Gauge wheels allow for precise setting of the depth of the cut as well as side to side tilt.

I live in snow country so each spring I use the rake to repair the gravel drive after winter plowing. First I pull the material back in from the sides with the rake angled inward and the outside gauge wheel set for a deeper cut. As I make two or three passes in each direction, I move toward the center of the driveway. The result is a cleaned out shoulder and a pronounced crown. I finish with a very light straight cut down the center to ease the crown a bit.

I then use the tilt blade to reform any water bars that the snow plow or rake had flattened. On occasion the ditch line needs cleaning out and if so, I would have used the tilt blade for that prior to the above raking.