grading drive way

[TerryR]

Skytime,

You never say what your road is like. Is it nearly flat and straight like the photo posted by Brian above, or steep with several sharp turns like mine? It make a big difference in the tools you need.

On my drive retrieving the gravel thrown into the ditch by traffic and plowing snow is an essential part of maintenance. So is maintaining the crown on the straight parts and the banking on the curves. I find a rear blade (and some experience using it) works very well, and find no use for a box blade or landplane.

Terry

 

[jenkinsph]

Like Brian I have all of the implements mentioned both large and small. Depending on what needs to be done they all have their advantages so there is no best one to have.

Terry brings up some valid points about conditions vs. usefulness, if you have a lot of curves and ditching a rear blade is essential. For longer straight runs smoothing the surface a landplane grader blade wins hands down. Your conditions and needs may vary.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Like Brian I have all of the implements mentioned both large and small. Depending on what needs to be done they all have their advantages so there is no best one to have.

Terry brings up some valid points about conditions vs. usefulness, if you have a lot of curves and ditching a rear blade is essential. For longer straight runs smoothing the surface a landplane grader blade wins hands down. Your conditions and needs may vary.

EXACTLY, that is the reason to have different types of implements.

I typically show the straight portion of our road because it is maintained a bit more than the rest because it is shared with 3 neighbors and that is what I have pictures of. Although it looks like it is flat, it actually has a 6"-8" crown in it and I have only had to re-crown it once in the past 13 years. It is made of decomposed granite and easily supports the weight of my brothers semi and the trash truck every week. Rain or shine, doesn't make much difference.

 

[crazyal]

I would also say get a land plane/ grading scraper. If you watch Craig's list or just keep your eyes open you can often find used box blades and rear blades for sale. I've never seen a used GS for sale. I use my GS on hilly twisty gravel road with excellent success. I like having rippers though, others don't seam to need them. Over the years I've reworked several areas that always formed potholes by ripping up the dirt and smoothing it back out.

 

[Deere 2520]

Back blade for loose material.
Box scraper for moving material
Landplane for grading

 

[econometrics]

Back blade for loose material.
Box scraper for moving material
Landplane for grading

This.

I follow a similar attachment use. Landplane for more "general maintenance", box blade to spread new material, and rear blade to pull up material from the ditch to regain the crown.

I don't have a landplane yet. I have used my box blade for "gen. maint" thus far. It does the job, but it's more cumbersome than a landplane, IMO. You can put a landplane down and drive. I am not comfortable doing that with the BB as it can fill up with material quickly and really start digging on you. I like how the LP lets material flow over the blades when it accumulates.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

This.

I follow a similar attachment use. Landplane for more "general maintenance", box blade to spread new material, and rear blade to pull up material from the ditch to regain the crown.

I don't have a landplane yet. I have used my box blade for "gen. maint" thus far. It does the job, but it's more cumbersome than a landplane, IMO. You can put a landplane down and drive. I am not comfortable doing that with the BB as it can fill up with material quickly and really start digging on you. I like how the LP lets material flow over the blades when it accumulates.

Moisture content has a lot to do with how well it actually does that.