Anyone ever mount a level to there box blade for grading out roads?

[MechanicalGuy]

If a level is what you want I think you could just rig a post on the BB and then hang a stiff rope or metal wire with a weight on the bottom that could swing. It would be much easier to see and vibrations and the jarring from hitting rocks isn't going to damage it. Personally I think you are quickly going to learn how to read the road and not need it. The water is going to run down hill and any ruts will indicate which way that is. While making a road and if you want to change which way the water will run it could be useful. Once your road is made you will just be maintaining it and I don't think you will use it.

Maybe so, but so far it's been overwelming. As far as watching rain patterns, I've done a lot of that. It will be dry season soon, and we won't get rain for months. I'll be working the roads for long times without any confirmation of what I'm doing, so I think a level will be appreciated.

 

[Smokeydog]

Majority of my driveway is like your photo, a step cut into the bank. Have to slope the road bed and my slope looks more than yours. Got to get the water off the road before it can make a stream. Frequent cutouts on the downhill side to divert water away from road. I grade to remove the crown caused by driving on it. Very little of of driveway can I crown or slope to both sides.
An all weathers driveway and sees a heavy truck from time to time is going to need more rock.

 

[MechanicalGuy]

Majority of my driveway is like your photo, a step cut into the bank. Have to slope the road bed and my slope looks more than yours. Got to get the water off the road before it can make a stream. Frequent cutouts on the downhill side to divert water away from road. I grade to remove the crown caused by driving on it. Very little of of driveway can I crown or slope to both sides.
An all weathers driveway and sees a heavy truck from time to time is going to need more rock.

The slope doesn't show good in the photo, but it's too steep to drive a truck and trailer full of home materials up without some super traction tires.



FIL's Ford 250 couldn't get a 45hp tractor on a trailer up this hill.

 

[/pine]

Maybe so, but so far it's been overwelming. As far as watching rain patterns, I've done a lot of that. It will be dry season soon, and we won't get rain for months. I'll be working the roads for long times without any confirmation of what I'm doing, so I think a level will be appreciated.

FWIW...
Depending on the type of topping gravel you are working with...it is generally most effective to work roads when there is a decent moisture content...IMO the wetter the better for gravel like granite crusher run...working with dry material tends to separate the fines from the larger gravel and you can end up with areas of nothing but lose gravel that can quickly migrate...

 

[MechanicalGuy]

FWIW...
Depending on the type of topping gravel you are working with...it is generally most effective to work roads when there is a decent moisture content...IMO the wetter the better for gravel like granite crusher run...working with dry material tends to separate the fines from the larger gravel and you can end up with areas of nothing but lose gravel that can quickly migrate...

There is no gravel on any road as of right now. The rocks you see in the picture are all natural. There won't be gravel on most of the road for the near future.

Will moisture still have an effect on my grading?

 

[CoyPatton]

Will moisture still have an effect on my grading?

If the rock seen in the photo is all natural, then it appears that you have a red clay/rick base.
The simple answer to the above question is YES!
But if it is red clay, more is not better! A light rain fall will be fine to work behind. A heavy rainfall will cause any type of clay base to ball up. If it is bake hard and dry, you will only move what is loose on the top.
Gravel soon would improve the traction in my opinion, even slightly damp clay can be slicker than a greased pig.

 

[Sonny580]

Had a tilt-o-meter in my motorgrader ---- never watched it ----grade by eye and never look back.

 

[MechanicalGuy]

If the rock seen in the photo is all natural, then it appears that you have a red clay/rick base.
The simple answer to the above question is YES!
But if it is red clay, more is not better! A light rain fall will be fine to work behind. A heavy rainfall will cause any type of clay base to ball up. If it is bake hard and dry, you will only move what is loose on the top.
Gravel soon would improve the traction in my opinion, even slightly damp clay can be slicker than a greased pig.

Yeah a quarter inch of rain and the surface is un-navigable. It's slick as grease. We'll have to figure some things out for sure. There are hills and we're making a little cottage up on top of one of them.

 

[MechanicalGuy]

So thanks to the suggestions itt, I decided one on the dash of the tractor and one on the implement would be helpful. I hope the one on the implement can last out in the sun. I have my doubts.

 

[Peter 315]

So thanks to the suggestions itt, I decided one on the dash of the tractor and one on the implement would be helpful. I hope the one on the implement can last out in the sun. I have my doubts.

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Make a cover for it when your not using it.........