Best Attachment for Grading Gravel Driveway

[AGTtactical]

In this case the rear blade is best and like I mentioned earlier the most versatile implement for road work, but also probably the hardest to really master. You can order a variety of them with skids or rear gauge wheels that will really help it stay at a more level plane with grading. You can also get side plates with most to make the move material similar to a box blade.
What size tractor are you using? I might have overlooked that.Here is my Land Pride RBT4096 pulling ditches on our drive.

Thanks! An L6060 (no cab), 62 hp. Decided to get 3 remotes...all valves are double acting with float detent option, and TNT. All Kubota installed.

 

[Texasmark]

I guess I'm talking about a land pride type hootus, not a blade/box blade, not a harrow; digs rocks/finds up and they pass over an angled bar and fall. Saw one in action and if I had the need for that service, it would be the implement without question.

 

[TractorGuy]

I use a 6' landscape rake.

Another vote for the landscape rake. I use a 5 footer with gauge wheels to maintain our crushed concrete road.

Cover that gravel with good quality crushed concrete and you won't go back.

 

[Gordon Gould]

You have a pretty road, but not much of a crown from what I can see in this one photo. I'm not being critical...it just seems pretty flat/level straight across. Nothing wrong with that if that's the way you like it...except water will lay in the road instead of running off. Our house site is up a mountain, so we need a better crown to keep water running off the road instead of down the road. A really good crown solves most maintenance issues, especially with a solid rock base.

I do like my road the way it is - thank you. After all the main purpose of maintenance is to shape it so the water runs off w/o erosion and doesn't pool on the road. In my thinking there are a lot of good reasons why not to have a crown. As you noticed some parts of my road are flat - but they are not level. They are canted to one side so all the water goes to the down hill side. They are usually on a portion that is fairly level or w/o much grade change and the up hill side ditch is minimal because of ledge. Other places I have a normal crown. Especially on hills where you need to shed the water faster. I don't normally get those pot holes from pooled water except right after the winter thaw and mud season which is a northern thing you may not be familiar with.



gg

 

[AGTtactical]

That road looks perfect Gordon! I can see your crown better in this pic too. Very nicely done sides too....good drainage, not too steep, no wash outs, no ditches, can mow it. Well done!

 

[ruffdog]

There are many variables on which driveway and tools are best. The amount of moisture and temperatures, the type and amount of the traffic, the speed of that traffic, drainage ability of the road material and surrounding subsoil, amount of runoff, available gravel types, elevation and grade to name a few. All a person can do is try to pick a situation that closely matches their own and use those suggestions.

 

[AGTtactical]

There are many variables on which driveway and tools are best. The amount of moisture and temperatures, the type and amount of the traffic, the speed of that traffic, drainage ability of the road material and surrounding subsoil, amount of runoff, available gravel types, elevation and grade to name a few. All a person can do is try to pick a situation that closely matches their own and use those suggestions.

Master of the obvious...

 

[/pine]

Master of the obvious...

LoL...if there were such a thing most of the threads on TBN would only be a few replies long...i.e., there would be no need for 20+ replies about an old grade school math riddle that the only riddle is in the verbiage...

 

[zzvyb6]

Concrete truck and 4 assistants. 14.6 full loads. 4" thick x 11' wide. Priceless.

 

[AGTtactical]

Concrete truck and 4 assistants. 14.6 full loads. 4" thick x 11' wide. Priceless.

How many cubic yards in those trucks?

Like many here, I'd rather have a gravel driveway. Not everyone likes concrete. And these days, gravel is often considered an upgrade to concrete, especially in high end homes. View attachment 572951 On really long driveways like you find on many farms here, using concrete would just be silly, not priceless.

 

[zmountaineer]

I use a power rake (Harley rake).

 

[Smokeydog]

Used grader blade, yardbox and EA land plane on 1/2 mile driveway with 350’ elevation change. The EA land plane is by far the best for driveway maintenance. Good videos on Everything Attachments website.

 

[thoner7]

Actually my road packs pretty hard - probably as hard as yours. The finish material is a mixture of crushed ledge products from 3/4" down to stone dust. All the angular edges and sizes lock together very well after being wet and compacted. My after grading pictures look like loose material because the landplane cuts and remixes the top layer of the road surface. Here is an in process picture

View attachment 572857

I also have lots of road to maintain. I have a rear blade, box blade, and land plane. The landplane gets used the most by far. I have no trouble maintaining the crown with it but use the rear blade to build or rebuild an overly worn crown. I use the box blade the least - almost never, for road maintenance except for a severe washout. For new road construction it is great.

gg

Gordon,

I've seen pictures of your land plane at work, but have you done any write up on how you built it? If not, what about some up close pictures? I'd like to build one but have questions. I'm curious how high or flush the scrapers are and what that flap looking thing at the back is?

 

[AGTtactical]

Thanks for all the great advice fellas. Sounds like I'm getting a Land Pride Grading Scraper (aka land plane) GS2572 or GS2584 for my 72" wide L6060 to maintain my road which is covered with #34 rock. GS25 Series Grading Scrapers | Land Pride

Will also get an EA Land Shark 96" rake for my raking work, and it should be more than adequate to pull any spilled rock back into the road, where the GS2584 can smooth everything out. If I find I really need a rear blade, I can buy one for it. I don't have any ditches or need to make them, and no snow here, so I think a rake will be more than sufficient. Land Shark Hydraulic Landscape Rake Demo - YouTube