Dahammer72
New member
- Joined
- Apr 13, 2009
- Messages
- 3
Hi, guys. I'd like to get some input on a driveway problem I have. The driveway is almost 2 years old and is about 600 long. The soil is heavy clay. I call it wax, as it sticks to everything it touches like glue when it's wet. When it's dry, you need a jackhammer to make a dent in it. The driveway was established by simply spreading about a 6" layer of crushed limestone (w/fines) on top of the existing compacted soil. Since that time, I placed probably another 4 or so of 1/2 clean limestone on top. Most of the driveway is fine and holds up fairly well. However, I have about a 100' section that is giving me lots of problems. It rutted out badly through the winter. Ruts probably got 12" or more deep in places. I went in with a tractor and blade, leveled it up, set the crowns back, and then had a 18 wheeler load of 3/4" clean limestone spread over top of it. That was last month and all that rock is gone and I'm back to a muddy clay surface on top. So now, I need to find a solution instead of just keeping on throwing money at it.
What I had in mind at first was to just have some large crushed limestone (say 3") hauled in and drive on that for awhile and then go over it with smaller crushed limestone (w/fines) this fall before winter sets in. But I'm not so sure that's the best way to do it. If you think about it, the large clean rock allows water to penetrate it to the clay subsoil which turns to muck when wet. And if it's wet, seems to me that the limestone will just get pushed right down into it and I'd end up back in the same spot all over again. Prehaps it would be better to put down a large crushed limestone with the fines, which would help seal off the clay I'd think. Then spread clean rock on top once it's set up. That's basically what I did to start with, but I didn't use large rock. Which way works the best?
Also, I should note that the driveway as is will stand up to automobile traffic as is, other than it having a muddy surface on bad area when wet. My problem has more to do with the fact that I'm driving a 30 ton truck (tandem weighs in at 21.5 ton) in and out once every day. I back the truck down the driveway with the push and tag axles raised, so it gets the full 21.5 ton tandem once a day.
Whatever I put on it, I need to be able to work it with a tractor and straight blade, so I don't want to go too big. But at the same time I need it to hold the truck up, which obviously the smaller stone isn't doing. Thanks.
What I had in mind at first was to just have some large crushed limestone (say 3") hauled in and drive on that for awhile and then go over it with smaller crushed limestone (w/fines) this fall before winter sets in. But I'm not so sure that's the best way to do it. If you think about it, the large clean rock allows water to penetrate it to the clay subsoil which turns to muck when wet. And if it's wet, seems to me that the limestone will just get pushed right down into it and I'd end up back in the same spot all over again. Prehaps it would be better to put down a large crushed limestone with the fines, which would help seal off the clay I'd think. Then spread clean rock on top once it's set up. That's basically what I did to start with, but I didn't use large rock. Which way works the best?
Also, I should note that the driveway as is will stand up to automobile traffic as is, other than it having a muddy surface on bad area when wet. My problem has more to do with the fact that I'm driving a 30 ton truck (tandem weighs in at 21.5 ton) in and out once every day. I back the truck down the driveway with the push and tag axles raised, so it gets the full 21.5 ton tandem once a day.
Whatever I put on it, I need to be able to work it with a tractor and straight blade, so I don't want to go too big. But at the same time I need it to hold the truck up, which obviously the smaller stone isn't doing. Thanks.
