How to grade a road that has "ripples"

[Steppenwolfe]

I maintain about 1500' of private road and although it is in fairly good shape, I still can't eliminate the ripples that I get after raking it. Much of the road is a 14 percent grade and my small scut and york rake doesn't eliminate the washboard ripples. I believe one of my problems is that by rake can't float and as the scut rises so does the rake. I do have gage wheels but they help.

The road is crowned and has side ditches that work well in rain storms. It's just the darn ripples.

So I have a rear blade(used in winter to remove snow), a york rake and the ratchet rake.

Your ideas are appreciated.

Land plane... It will smooth that out like an ironing board.

 

[oosik]

I agree with Steppenwolfe - my Land Pride GS2584 with shanks does a great job on one 100' stretch of my mile long gravel driveway. Drop the shanks far enough so they dig about 1 1/2" below the bottom of the unit and go over the rutted area several times. Digs and smooths all at the same time. In order for any repair to "hold" for any period of time - I have to scarify the area so the dragged in soil will blend and bond with the compacted soils.

 

[BoFuller]

We all know what a LPGS is -

View attachment 570348

I didn稚 know what a LPGS was and I even have one - LOL

 

[airbiscuit]

So, what is the list of CUT Implement abbreviations?

FEL - Front End Loader
MMM - Mid Mount Mower
RB - Rear Blade
BB- Box Blade
LPGS-Land Plane/Grader Scraper
PHD - Post Hole Digger (I didn't know that one)
TLB - Tractor loader/Backhoe

What am I missing

 

[ovrszd]

So, what is the list of CUT Implement abbreviations?

FEL - Front End Loader
MMM - Mid Mount Mower
RB - Rear Blade
BB- Box Blade
LPGS-Land Plane/Grader Scraper
PHD - Post Hole Digger (I didn't know that one)
TLBH - Tractor loader/Backhoe

What am I missing

You were doing so good.

TLB is tractor/Loader/Backhoe.

 

[SPYDERLK]

I maintain about 1500' of private road and although it is in fairly good shape, I still can't eliminate the ripples that I get after raking it. Much of the road is a 14 percent grade and my small scut and york rake doesn't eliminate the washboard ripples. I believe one of my problems is that by rake can't float and as the scut rises so does the rake. I do have gage wheels but they help.

The road is crowned and has side ditches that work well in rain storms. It's just the darn ripples.

So I have a rear blade(used in winter to remove snow), a york rake and the ratchet rake.

Your ideas are appreciated.

Pixguy - surely your road is not a 14% grade. I don't know of many cars that will navigate a grade such as that.

Anyhow - you must use an implement that will totally float independent of your tractor. I can think of two such implements - land plane grading scraper or just a plain old drag. We all know what a LPGS is - here is a pic of a very effective drag I made out of some 4x4's, some big old spikes and some plywood. If you make a home made drag - eliminate the spikes and see how it works. If it needs to be even more aggressive - drag a length of chain link fence behind your home made drag. OK - I drag this abortion with my ATV - rope halter - one set of spikes in front - the other set in the rear. It works fantastic to smooth, bust clods and otherwise level out freshly broken land. Minus the spikes it should clear up your washboard right pronto. Pile on bags of sand if you need added weight.

Now - go make some dust!!!


View attachment 570348

Yes, and I obviously am showing my ignorance of that. :ashamed:

14% is 5.6 degrees. Not steep at all.

 

[GrumpyJoe]

Love my LPGS. Does a great job.

 

[ovrszd]

14% is 5.6 degrees. Not steep at all.

Very common to make that mistake.

 

[CalG]

Love my LPGS. Does a great job. View attachment 571087

Whatever the tool, you still need to cut down to the bottom of the ripple.

Do that, and it really doesn't matter what tool one uses. (restoration of the aggregate top surface is another issue)

 

[dragoneggs]

We dealt with ripples or washboard as we call it... for years on our 1000ft shared (steep in parts) gravel driveway. Yearly, we hired a local guy with a serious grader and roller who added crushed after cutting and rolling. This summer we finally figured how to solve the problem. We paved it! :cool2: