Grading Gravel Road Maintenance

[SPYDERLK]

Washboarding is caused by changes in vehicle speed. Most times increased speed. Although sometimes decreased speed. Has nothing to do with constant speed.

No. It is caused by quick transitory changes in wheel speed/RPM. This happens readily when encountering a bump, worsens with vehicle speed even if constant, and is more pronounced with stiff tires and suspensions.

 

[ovrszd]

No. It is caused by quick transitory changes in wheel speed/RPM. This happens readily when encountering a bump, worsens with vehicle speed even if constant, and is more pronounced with stiff tires and suspensions.

Ok, you win.

 

[RUSTBUCKET BRONCO]

Ok, you win.

haha :confused3:

 

[ovrszd]

haha :confused3:

Things vary by locale. So I'll add my caveat.

In my part of Missouri, washboards only appear in areas where vehicle speed changes. I never have washboards in areas where vehicle speed is constant. The washboards appear when the driver tries of change speed or overcome an obstacle such as a steep hill, which again requires a change of speed. Entering/exiting a sharp curve. Climbing/descending a steep hill. Entering/exiting an intersection.

Chugholes or potholes in roads are caused by poor drainage. I've never saw washboards adjacent to a chughole.

But that's in Missouri. :confused3:

 

[joeyd]

Things vary by locale. So I'll add my caveat.

In my part of Missouri, washboards only appear in areas where vehicle speed changes. I never have washboards in areas where vehicle speed is constant. The washboards appear when the driver tries of change speed or overcome an obstacle such as a steep hill, which again requires a change of speed. Entering/exiting a sharp curve. Climbing/descending a steep hill. Entering/exiting an intersection.

Chugholes or potholes in roads are caused by poor drainage. I've never saw washboards adjacent to a chughole.

But that's in Missouri. :confused3:

The same criteria for washboard in Idaho too!

 

[ovrszd]

The same criteria for washboard in Idaho too!

How's your weather up there?? Winter set in yet?? We've been in the 50s for the last three days now.

 

[SSweetland]

I'm still a newbie on grading, what I have learned so far is,
I use a 6' Grader/Scraper blade attachment,
I angle it to pull extra material to the crown (About 30º),
In some areas of our road, crown is not effective and I angle the road to drain off one side instead of both
It appears some wash boarding comes from sheeting action of top material from base material
Potholes return unless you can get all the way to the bottom of them while grading,
If I grade while dry, the road gets really bad really fast, if I grade right after a rain, it stays good a long time and I can see where water is not getting off the road
After I grade the road, I turn my blade backwards and smooth out the ridges left as well as drop my bucket to semi-compact the loose material

Our road is about 3/4 mile long. We have about 20 people on our private road. Not all respect the fact it is a gravel road and drive like it is a baja track. I have been grading it almost 3 years. Before I started, road was not crested at all, water ran across the road making road snakes, ruts would form and hold water. We recovered the road in asphalt grind last year.

Still a ton to learn, maybe not doing it all correct at this point, but is a major improvement since we moved in. The guy who used to maintain the road no longer will help with it, but is happy about the fact someone else is, he is also one who brings in heavy trucks, and lives most of the way down the road.

If I am doing something wrong, please let me know

 

[ovrszd]

I'm still a newbie on grading, what I have learned so far is,
I use a 6' Grader/Scraper blade attachment,
I angle it to pull extra material to the crown (About 30º),
In some areas of our road, crown is not effective and I angle the road to drain off one side instead of both
It appears some wash boarding comes from sheeting action of top material from base material
Potholes return unless you can get all the way to the bottom of them while grading,
If I grade while dry, the road gets really bad really fast, if I grade right after a rain, it stays good a long time and I can see where water is not getting off the road
After I grade the road, I turn my blade backwards and smooth out the ridges left as well as drop my bucket to semi-compact the loose material

Our road is about 3/4 mile long. We have about 20 people on our private road. Not all respect the fact it is a gravel road and drive like it is a baja track. I have been grading it almost 3 years. Before I started, road was not crested at all, water ran across the road making road snakes, ruts would form and hold water. We recovered the road in asphalt grind last year.

Still a ton to learn, maybe not doing it all correct at this point, but is a major improvement since we moved in. The guy who used to maintain the road no longer will help with it, but is happy about the fact someone else is, he is also one who brings in heavy trucks, and lives most of the way down the road.

If I am doing something wrong, please let me know

I think you are doing everything right.

Timing in regards to weather and moisture conditions is critical. Sometimes you get lucky. Sometimes not.

 

[joeyd]

How's your weather up there?? Winter set in yet?? We've been in the 50s for the last three days now.

Still waiting on winter. It should be in the 40's today with some moisture but no snow. I'm holding off on changing to studs on the truck and chains on the tractor until we get some accumulation in the forecast.

 

[SSweetland]

I think you are doing everything right.

Timing in regards to weather and moisture conditions is critical. Sometimes you get lucky. Sometimes not.

I did notice that pretty quick. The biggest thing I seen about grading a dry road is all the fine dust blows away instead of locking in the rock. Our road has some hills, a low water crossing (that has a concrete pad), some areas just need more material. The asphalt grind made a good difference, but I also seen that I needed to make sure the bed was near form before, so I spent a few days getting a crown before the materials came.

Decided to reply after reading many of your posts, so thanks for the validation. It feels great to have made an accomplishment