Front-End Loader How does a FEL rate for grading a driveway?

   / How does a FEL rate for grading a driveway? #1  

Lumberdink

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Aug 28, 2011
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Location
Billtown PA
Looking to knock the crown down and level up some washed out areas with a near-future purchase (compact). Can the FEL loader do it moving forward or would it dig in too much? Drag it angled down and backward? Just trying to assess the FULL cost of what it's going to take to get things done around here in terms of tractor/implements/attachments. :confused:
 
   / How does a FEL rate for grading a driveway? #2  
I think you'd have a good deal of trouble doing this with a FEL, especially on a compact tractor. How big is the driveway? A box blade, back blade (with hydraulic controls especially) or land-plane will be much, much easier.
 
   / How does a FEL rate for grading a driveway? #3  
You can do some with back-draggin with the heel of the bucket, in the way of filling in holes and moving gravel from high spots to low spots, but it is slow and limited. I maintain a small (about 100 foot) gravel driveway with nothing but the bucket. but if it is very long you will want to look into one of these:

How To Video Demos - Implements & Attachments

A lot of guys also use boxblades. But it requires more skill from what I understand.

James K0UA
 
   / How does a FEL rate for grading a driveway? #4  
The tractor and FEL are a great first step and you can do a lot of work with them. But you will need some impliments to make good and efficient use of your investment. For the biggest bang for your buck work your most sought after impliment(s) into the tractor deal.
If you look at all the driveway info posted here on TBN you will not find many who use only thier FEL. But if you go that route it will give you a better understanding of what you need.
Good luck buying your new equipment
 
   / How does a FEL rate for grading a driveway? #5  
Restoring a gravel driveway is much easier using a box blade w/ rippers or a grading scraper, but you can use just a FEL to knock down the crown, just like you would with a small skid steer.

Drive forward using the bucket to cut down the crown until the tractor starts to bog down a bit, then back up and spread the bucket load on each "track" on the edges of the driveway, overlapping the gravel in the center to create a slight crown. Then back-drag each side of the gravel to smooth it out. If the drive has too much crown for your liking, you can back-drag the center to get it the way that you want it. Once the grading is done, recompact the driveway by wheel rolling the driveway with the tractor.

Remember that you need to get below poor drainage areas, potholes and washboard, or they will return fairly quickly. That's where the rippers on a box blade or grading scraper shine.
 
   / How does a FEL rate for grading a driveway? #6  
IMHO.... FEL is a waste of time and energy for this!

Box Scraper!
 
   / How does a FEL rate for grading a driveway? #7  
I have a 2.5 mile road/driveway that I have to maintain. I HAVE intimate knowledge of this feat and I will echo what others have said. Box scraper with rippers is the only way to Go. FEL would be a waste of time.
 
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   / How does a FEL rate for grading a driveway? #8  
Box blade! :cool2:
 
   / How does a FEL rate for grading a driveway?
  • Thread Starter
#9  
Yeah, driveway is 1/3 mile long. I had a dozer in here a year ago to get it angled so water runs off into a ditch along the side of the mountain. I've had a few loads of (base) gravel spread on it since but now we are getting a bit of a crown between the tracks and water runs down the tracks. I welded up a 4' x 4' drag with steel tubing and rebar and I can put two 25lb weight plates on it and pull it behind my ATV. It helps, but I really can't direct the gravel very well. My Pop has a small Kubota that came with a 4' blade that he's rarely used. I think it's a 3 point setup, so it may be compatible with whatever I ultimately buy. I don't have a lot of room here and no outbuilding, so I'm trying to avoid ending up with a collection of implements sitting behind my house that I may only use once a year. I think my local Kubota dealer has a lot of stuff I could rent. Thanks!
 
   / How does a FEL rate for grading a driveway? #10  
A box blade sized to the tractor is a good implement to have. Besides it's usefulness as what it intended for it also makes for a fairly compact piece of ballast for your fel work. I leave mine on all the time other than when i need something else.
 
 
 
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