Where do I get gravel for driveway?

[clovergamecock]

Hi all!

I have a 900ft driveway that is in need of more rock. I have several areas with pot holes that keep coming back. I have talked to the origional builder of the driveway and he said I needed the bigger rock and not crush and run. I would need 3 truck loads at $400 per load and then his labor. So if I go that route I am sure it will be close to if not over $1500 which I think is to much. Can anyone help me with a few questions?

What kind of gravel would you all recommend?
Where do I go to get it and eliminate the middle man?
Any idea what a truck load would cost in South Carolina?

I have a Kubota L2800 that I would think could handle this job. My driveway does not flood and I don't live in an area that gets an unusual amount of rain so washing has not been a problem just reappearing poy holes.


Thanks
Wade

 

[moored4]

Hi all!

I have a 900ft driveway that is in need of more rock. I have several areas with pot holes that keep coming back. I have talked to the origional builder of the driveway and he said I needed the bigger rock and not crush and run. I would need 3 truck loads at $400 per load and then his labor. So if I go that route I am sure it will be close to if not over $1500 which I think is to much. Can anyone help me with a few questions?

What kind of gravel would you all recommend?
Where do I go to get it and eliminate the middle man?
Any idea what a truck load would cost in South Carolina?

I have a Kubota L2800 that I would think could handle this job. My driveway does not flood and I don't live in an area that gets an unusual amount of rain so washing has not been a problem just reappearing poy holes.


Thanks
Wade

Invest in a land plane or simular piece of equipment to work the exsisting road then top it wit new crushed rock! I'm not from your area but a load of rock would be about $400.00 or less as you said in your 1st paragraph.

 

[raptor749]

Wade , welcome and I agree with a land plane / grader . Then check phone book for some one like Vulcan Materials , ect. know don't what rock companies you have up there , they normally have trucks or companys that will deliver to you. good luck.

 

[Gittyup]

With a land plane or boxblade you may find you don't need a lot of new gravel. I'd also spread myself to save money. Should be easy with your tractor. $400 a load is about right, at least around here. You can go to the quarry yourself and maybe save some money. But, you'd have to make several trips to equal what a full size dump can carry and depending on how close you are, the fuel costs and time could be too much. Then again, maybe all you realy need is a few pick up loads to top off after resurfacing.

 

[MikeInEburg]

I just bought 40 ton of 2B stone at $14.50 per ton. I agree that you need larger stone in the potholes to provide the necessary structure.
Mike

 

[clovergamecock]

Thanks guys I do have a box blade for my tractor. What would I need to do with it for working the exsisting driveway? I am pretty sure I will need more gravel as I am seeing the base clay in spots.

Thanks
Wade

 

[clemsonfor]

The $400 a load rock sounds like the price the rock truck charges, i dont think he is making money there, the money to him would be labor. I would go to say i think there #3s (call them GP#3's here, but there still a big stone) or something, #4s are a bit big for a car drive. Just know this the bigger the rocks the harder they are on your tires they cut chunks outta the tread, not a big deal unless your one of those "looks" people.

As a forester i know a bit about rock and road construction and what works. I would get a tractor and boxblade and try to work the rock back up as well as to fill the holes.

As far as where to get rock, call most concrete companies, they have rock trucks many times, or you can look in the phonebook for Quarries. Most will either have their own trucks or if they dont a major contractor that hauls for them. But that $400 is in the ball park for rock. Remember deisel fuel is $4/gallon in your area and the trucks get 5mpg!!

 

[clovergamecock]

The $400 a load rock sounds like the price the rock truck charges, i dont think he is making money there, the money to him would be labor. I would go to say i think there #3s or something, #4s are a bit big for a car drive. Just know this the bigger the rocks the harder they are on your tires they cut chunks outta the tread, not a big deal unless your one of those "looks" people.

As a forester i know a bit about rock and road construction and what works. I would get a tractor and boxblade and try to work the rock back up as well as to fill the holes.

As far as where to get rock, call most concrete companies, they have rock trucks many times, or you can look in the phonebook for Quarries. Most will either have their own trucks or if they dont a major contractor that hauls for them. But that $400 is in the ball park for rock. Remember deisel fuel is $4/gallon in your area and the trucks get 5mpg!!

Thanks ClemsonFor! Glad I didn't tell you I was a Gamecock before you replied...:thumbsup:

Do I need to angle the box blade???

Wade

 

[Creamer]

Welcome! There should be a variety of rock/gravel companies in your area. #72 is usually a good size for driveways but that somewhat depends on what the issue is. #72 is good if you have a good base and you just need to build it up because it is not draining properly and therefore getting softspots that become potholes. If the problem is not a good base you will need larger stone to create a base that need to be packed in. This can be done with putting the stone done and having it packed in or, if you are more patient, putting the stone down and driving on it for six months to get it set. then go over it with smaller rock like #72. $3-400 per tri-ax load is normal. the shorter the distance they have to haul it the better.

Gravel trucks are pretty good at getting it spread evenly and, if you get a good driver, you cannot even tell where one load stops and the next load starts. It will probably need some leveling though and how to do this depends on the condition after the truck driver is done. The leveling plane is the best tool but not a lot of people have one. Back blades can work but they tend to go and down with the tractor with the up and down motion amplified by the tractor pivoting around the back axle. So if you are not very careful you can easily make it much worse quickly. i have a 1200' long drive and had seven loads of rock delivered and the driver did so sell I smoothed it a little with the hand landscape rake and it has been wonderful. How smooth they lay it down all depends on the driver though! I got lucky!

 

[teg]

The first thing you need to do is read threads about fixing potholes and the road bed. The land plane is only good if you have a good road bed and lots of top gravel. Would never work on my road because I have large rocks.

The price for the gravel does sound like it's at cost. If you have a spongy area, big rock *might* work but you need to figure out why it's spongy... is water standing in the area and have no place to run off? Is there a spring in the road? Is the road higher then the area next to the road (or do you have a proper ditch?)

Don't work on the road in the wet season... You'll make a mess. Do you have photos of the area? Once you have a good *dirt* road, the gravel haulers around here will spread the gravel out as he drops it (and is much faster that way too).