Gravel road install- diy with no spread by dump truck?

[drunderw]

I'm getting 20 tons of crusher run delivered and they only drop off in one location- sounds like they don't drive down the dirt road and let the gravel out. I've never installed a drive and we will be having construction of our new home. There's a dirt road there now that is packed just needs leveling with a box blade. Should I wait on the gravel and have someone that can drive and spread it as they dump it? No one I've called so far does that. Otherwise I'll be using my loader on my Yanmar 3110d and a box blade to dump and spread. Thanks for any advice you can give!

 

[Shaneard]

Why won't they spread it? Is it not level? Has it rained a lot recently? Around here you get the choice of dumped or spread.

 

[Gunny]

I'd definitely find a trucking company that would tailgate it out. That's a lot of gravel to move, place and level with an FEL and a box blade. It would be worth it, even if they did charge a bit more for tailgating.

 

[Bentru]

Even if you could get someone with a belly-bump they could spread it out a ways.

 

[RNeumann]

20 tons isn't that much to do. Have the first dump at or near the top or house and the second about 1/2 way to the road. The box holds more than the bucket so you won't use the bucket much. If you can get at least a hydraulic top link things will be much easier. Otherwise set the box about 1/4"-1/2" from cutting while going forward. Back into pile, bury and fill box, then drag and spread as you go.
Once everything is prepped with an edge along your driveway and smooth, spreading this should be a nice little project that will take less than a day to spread.
Btw- I would rarely have the dump and spread routine done. Far to many variables and in my area the drivers were an unknown as well. I'm not saying it doesn't have a place. Just with a little drive like this it isn't saving much.

You will also want some size in the material delivered. Typically it's 5/8" or 3/4" minus. I'm not sure what your plant is calling crusher and I don't think all 1/4" minus is best for a road.

 

[Deere Dude]

If someone is fair at dumping and spreading, go with him. I don't know why they can't do it and give you a nice 4" gravel road.

I had an old geezer, kind of like the folks on TBN, bring a load of gravel to spread. He went from the house and started spreading and stopped by the end of the driveway kept on dumping until the truck was empty, which was about 12-15 yards. That drive was between to huge hedges and had no other driveway.

I was sitting with a big pile of gravel in the middle of the driveway and had a 14 HP harden tractor with a home-made front blade and 2 shovels to take care of it.. I was ugly with that situation and all he could do is shrug his shoulders.

I never got him or that company again and when I found a deliveryman that was good at unloading I made sure I got that company and specific driver or I wouldn't take any gravel.

 

[davesl708]

Sounds like you need to talk to them a little more. They only deliver to one location does not mean they won't spread it at that location.
If the bed is solid most drivers will spread for you. Not much extra for them to do it.

 

[zmountaineer]

If it's already packed and an established road then I would go with 1.5" crush and run. Unestablished road go with 3" the first time. We just built a house and had to have 7, 25 ton loads dropped on the driveway and it's still soft in one spot on a steep section. It's been graded a few times as well. I have yet to come across a driver not willing to tailgate it. I would say wait for him to show up, give him a $20 bill and he'll do it. If you tell him you want it 2 inches it will come out closer to 4 and hope for a wet day to pack it.

Photos of virgin dozed driveway with first layer of gravel tailgated.

 

[RNeumann]

With 175 tons and a small machine the driver and tailgate spread would be far more important. I could see OP making calls, spending time and or paying more for a driver to tailgate this when the reality is the amount he's talking about won't take long to spread......it may take less time than the calls and less fuel than the price difference.

 

[CADplans]

EVERY delivery driver I have ever used,, (at least 20) thought I was crazy if I wanted some material in a pile.
They almost refused to not spread it,, as they knew they could do it better than I could with a tractor,,,

I just had three loads delivered,,, the third was a pile,,, so we could put a freight container on it,,,
The guy reluctantly dumped it,, then my SIL had fun,,, his first load of gravel.