Best time for gravel?

patrick_g · Feb 14, 2010

Egon said:
There may be times when the bigger truck with all the right gear will be well worth the extra cost in speed and convince and no hassle with overloaded equipment, failed tires Etc.

Egon, has this expression made it to your part of Canada?

"...like stepping over the dollars to pick up a dime"

Pat

Egon · Feb 14, 2010

"...like stepping over the dollars to pick up a dime"

I'm still waiting for a Dollar to step over!

Soil Cement is usually used as a base and then covered with something a little more impermeable as it is prone to transverse cracks.

jinman · Feb 14, 2010

patrick_g said:
You can DIY but you will not pay yourself much for your time and labor.

Pat

And with all the water we have in the gravel pits around here, some of them are nearly impossible to get into and out of. I would consider using my dump trailer to haul compost or manure, but a load of rock is best hauled by the guys with the right equipment; especially around here where there are so many of them.

Bob Ha said he was only 30 miles from the crusher. Around this area, there are huge crushers that will overcharge the little guy just to keep them away. I've found the best way is to look in the phone book for rock haulers and let them work you into their schedule. They also generally know which crusher has the best rock at any given time. In many instances, they'll pick up spillage at concrete plants. This makes a very good road base if it is available.

In this area, two names of crushers come to mind as good sources of materials. My favorite to call directly for delivery is Chico Limestone Incorporated (940-683-4996 in Bridgeport and 940-644-2323 in Chico). Many independent haulers also use Pioneer Aggregate out of Bridgeport, TX (817-430-1962). These are the crushers and not the independent haulers. I have found Hanson and TXI to be too big to fool with a little guy. They both sell crushed rock by the trainload.

Bob Ha: You mentioned a 24 yd truck to do your hauling. That's a good truck, but the truck itself requires a better than average road to haul on and they are really cautious about where they dump because they need very level ground. A bobtail dump truck pulling a pup trailer can haul just as much and there is a lot more rubber on the ground. They can also dump on slight inclines and are generally very good at spreading the gravel for you if you ask them to do that. Remember for either one that wet stone or roadbase is very heavy. Your quantity of stone will vary greatly depending on whether it is wet or dry. Generally, the bobtail and the pup will haul up to around 7 tons each in my experience.

CurlyDave · Feb 14, 2010

I am expecting to just get a single axle dump.. and they tell me it holds 2.6 yards...(my little tacoma is only rated for 6500 lb towing.)

Radar:

The 2.6 yards on that single axle dump is the volume of light material it will hold. Think construction debris, brush, something like that. It will not safely carry 2.6 yards of rock.

Check the gross weight rating of the trailer. Probably in the 5000 lb. range, possibly 6000 lb. (but I doubt it). The trailer itself will be on the order of 1500 lb., so you can safely carry ~3500 lb, which is only going to be about 1 yard of rock per trip.

In CA, the quarry can get into legal trouble if they overload that trailer for you, but I have seen them do it many times. It is your responsibility to make certain that you are not overweight.

If you really want to do it yourself, see what the local rental yard wants for a dump truck. You can probably get everything you need done in one morning with even the smallest dump truck, and be safe.

If I had a place to put the extra materials, I would consider getting someone to deliver a full truckload of each of the materials you want.

I have a 10,000 lb. gross capacity (8000 lbs. net) lo-boy trailer and if I need more than 2-3 trips I will get a full truckload delivered.