Box Scraper Box scraper for gravel driveway, teeth or not?

[petebert]

Looking at cheap used box scrapers to maintain a gravel driveway. So far I've just been using a back blade on it. Someone I was talking to said the teeth make ruts you don't want. That's why you see them flipped upside down a lot of times. Thing is my driveway is starting to have large rocks come to the surface and it really sucks when you hit them while plowing snow. Wondering if I would want the teeth on it to try and pop the rocks out as I go along.

 

[Notforhire]

Personally I like having the tines there to pop out rocks. Any ruts the teeth make will soon be smoothed over by the cutting edge.

 

[MattEverest]

You use the times (scarfires) when you need to break up hard pack. Then put them in the up position when you are using the blade to do the fine tuning/grading.

 

[oosik]

I have scarifiers on both my LPGS & ROBB. Mandatory - to penetrate my driveway in the summer. The following blade(s) will smooth over any ruts.

 

[JJT]

I think you need more top material. I have ~6" of crusher run on top of a 8"-10" base of bank run cobble, (fist sized stones). I never see the cobble stones work to the top, (my 800' driveway is 30 years old). Every spring I use the teeth on my box scraper to scarify the driveway to remove any potholes, after 10 passes or so, I'll raise the teeth and do the finish work, (another 10 passes or so). Every other year I add a couple of tri-axle loads of crusher run.

 

[Dclerici1]

I would agree with JJT. Looks like your down to the sub-base, add 6” of 1” base rock on top and use the scraper blade to level. The base should be moist when you work with it.

 

[Thomas]

I'd remove what rock I could than as other said 6" hard pack,tailgate spread smooth with box blade.

 

[petebert]

That rock is just one example, I've got multiples around the driveway now. If I'm going to be adding a new top layer should I just leave the rocks in place? Also would you do any pre-prep before they put it down? As in, should I run a box blade over it before they put it down or do I allow the new material to fill in the un-eveness?

 

[old and tired]

I would not disturb the sub-base. Just add a top layers of crusher run.

 

[Mat4644]

I would not disturb the sub-base. Just add a top layers of crusher run.

I agree, looks solid and time to top off. If the big rocks work up then remove. My lane looks similar and is like concrete when dry. I wait until after a big rain and do maintenance. You'd be surprised how easy it is at that point.