Box Blade

[nobody]

My driveway is app. 200 yds long. It has a good base and crown. Trees that are planted beside it are large and some of the limbs are hanging down thus preventing dump trucks from spreading gravel I need. I can cut the limbs which I don't want to do or buy a FEL for my tractor(TC30) to spread the gravel. This is about the only use I would have for the FEL and gravel would just go down once a year. Renting is not an option because the nearest place is 50 miles away. Anyway can a box blade do the work or will I need a FEL. All I really am looking for is a way to spread the gravel.I could get someone to do it for me but I really don't like to ask them or to borrow their tractor.
Thanks

 

[nobody]

My driveway is app. 200 yds long. It has a good base and crown. Trees that are planted beside it are large and some of the limbs are hanging down thus preventing dump trucks from spreading gravel I need. I can cut the limbs which I don't want to do or buy a FEL for my tractor(TC30) to spread the gravel. This is about the only use I would have for the FEL and gravel would just go down once a year. Renting is not an option because the nearest place is 50 miles away. Anyway can a box blade do the work or will I need a FEL. All I really am looking for is a way to spread the gravel.I could get someone to do it for me but I really don't like to ask them or to borrow their tractor.
Thanks

 

[N80]

I think a box blade would work better than an FEL but I bet just a basic rear blade would work even better since it can be tilted and angled. The box blade would be better for moving a lot of gravel but the rear blade would be better for shaping and crowning.

 

[N80]

I think a box blade would work better than an FEL but I bet just a basic rear blade would work even better since it can be tilted and angled. The box blade would be better for moving a lot of gravel but the rear blade would be better for shaping and crowning.

 

[Highbeam]

The problem is not so much the act of smoothing and spreading but more of bringing the gravel from a pile to the 200 yard road. You need a loader to scoop gravel from the pile and then spread it. You can do a pretty good job of spreading the gravel evenly with the bucket but to keep your good crown and to avoid creating holes, you'll want something like a boxblade, landscape rake, or rear blade to distribute the gravel. You say gravel once per year which to me means that you are interested in a nice drive. I would spend the money and buy a landscape rake.

 

[Highbeam]

The problem is not so much the act of smoothing and spreading but more of bringing the gravel from a pile to the 200 yard road. You need a loader to scoop gravel from the pile and then spread it. You can do a pretty good job of spreading the gravel evenly with the bucket but to keep your good crown and to avoid creating holes, you'll want something like a boxblade, landscape rake, or rear blade to distribute the gravel. You say gravel once per year which to me means that you are interested in a nice drive. I would spend the money and buy a landscape rake.

 

[nobody]

I do want to keep a nice drive. really all i need is to keep gravel on it. It is the kind that has a patch of grass growing in the middle and gravel paths on each side for the car. It has been there for 25 to 30 years so it is hard packed but needs gravel. All I really want is to be able to spread the gravel the length of the drive way then i take a hand rake and pull the gravel off the middle.

 

[nobody]

I do want to keep a nice drive. really all i need is to keep gravel on it. It is the kind that has a patch of grass growing in the middle and gravel paths on each side for the car. It has been there for 25 to 30 years so it is hard packed but needs gravel. All I really want is to be able to spread the gravel the length of the drive way then i take a hand rake and pull the gravel off the middle.

 

[BB_TX]

As Highbeam said, the FEL would make getting the gravel spread the lenght of the driveway easier and faster. But if the truck dumped a load of gravel at the start of your drive, you could drag it boxfull by boxfull the length of the drive dropping it a little at a time as you go. Definitely slower, but once a year would not be too bad.

 

[BB_TX]

As Highbeam said, the FEL would make getting the gravel spread the lenght of the driveway easier and faster. But if the truck dumped a load of gravel at the start of your drive, you could drag it boxfull by boxfull the length of the drive dropping it a little at a time as you go. Definitely slower, but once a year would not be too bad.

 

[BobReeves]

Before I bought my Ford 3000 I spread 3 truck loads of gravel with the neighbors MF 135 and Box blade. Went rather well, the BB will work fine.

Just back into the pile, actually up it, drop the BB and drag it off. Don't think a rear blade would work very well as the gravel would just spill out the ends.

 

[BobReeves]

Before I bought my Ford 3000 I spread 3 truck loads of gravel with the neighbors MF 135 and Box blade. Went rather well, the BB will work fine.

Just back into the pile, actually up it, drop the BB and drag it off. Don't think a rear blade would work very well as the gravel would just spill out the ends.

 

[Tdog]

Nobody,

I'm not an expert by any means, but a box blade will do the trick - - it will take some practice on your part to get it right.

However, your statement about the tree limbs triggered a problem I had a couple of years ago. We had a medical emergency [actually a couple of them] & the ambulance had a tough time getting down my drive. The EMT's told me they just made it, & they doubted a fire truck could have gotten through. Even though a drive looks great with overhanging tree limbs, you might consider the minimum clearance needed to get emergency personnel to your house if needed.

Jack

 

[Tdog]

Nobody,

I'm not an expert by any means, but a box blade will do the trick - - it will take some practice on your part to get it right.

However, your statement about the tree limbs triggered a problem I had a couple of years ago. We had a medical emergency [actually a couple of them] & the ambulance had a tough time getting down my drive. The EMT's told me they just made it, & they doubted a fire truck could have gotten through. Even though a drive looks great with overhanging tree limbs, you might consider the minimum clearance needed to get emergency personnel to your house if needed.

Jack

 

[N80]

I spent a whole day limbing the trees on the driveway onto my property because the 18 wheelers that delivered my cabin needed the clearance and so did the gravel truck. I didn't have to clear any higher than what I could reach from the ground with a pole trimmer. I also suspect that a road that gets a little sunshine stays a little less muddy too.

 

[N80]

I spent a whole day limbing the trees on the driveway onto my property because the 18 wheelers that delivered my cabin needed the clearance and so did the gravel truck. I didn't have to clear any higher than what I could reach from the ground with a pole trimmer. I also suspect that a road that gets a little sunshine stays a little less muddy too.

 

[InlineDieselFan]

As I learn more about using my tractor I could give a more educated and learned response.

HAVE YOU THOUGHT about your local fire department or EMS agency being able to get down you road, our city pavement queens are 11'10," for the engine, and aid cars are 10' 6."

Just something to think about, I myself would cut the limbs.

steve

 

[InlineDieselFan]

As I learn more about using my tractor I could give a more educated and learned response.

HAVE YOU THOUGHT about your local fire department or EMS agency being able to get down you road, our city pavement queens are 11'10," for the engine, and aid cars are 10' 6."

Just something to think about, I myself would cut the limbs.

steve

 

[nobody]

Thanks for the replies. I will prob cut some of the limbs but to get a full raised dump truck bed down the drive way I would have to cut most of the limbs. I live in a very small town and our fire truck and ambulance can get in now. They are not very big. The Schwans truck can get in and out without trouble /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif I think I will try the box blade.
again thanks

Also, what size boxblade should I get. I have a tc30.

 

[nobody]

Thanks for the replies. I will prob cut some of the limbs but to get a full raised dump truck bed down the drive way I would have to cut most of the limbs. I live in a very small town and our fire truck and ambulance can get in now. They are not very big. The Schwans truck can get in and out without trouble /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif I think I will try the box blade.
again thanks

Also, what size boxblade should I get. I have a tc30.