BX2230 and driveway maintenance

[MarshallTractor]

First of all, I'm not even sure what the best tool is for maintaining a gravel driveway (my first). It's 1200 ft long and has some serious elevation changes. Second, can a BX2230 effectively use this tool to do the types of things I'll need to do.

With the snow and rain this winter, the ruts are getting a little deeper and the gravel has moved off to the side. When the ground dries out, will the BX (or one like it, MF GC2300, etc) be able to scrape the ground flat or put a crown on it again? I know it will be able to grade out the gravel, but what about preparing the foundation?

If I went with a larger tractor, my big fear would be a higher center of gravity.

Thanks.

 

[MarshallTractor]

My first post has a picture of the driveway looking up the hill towards the house from the swale about midway along the driveway. This post is from the same viewpoint, but looking back towards the start of the driveway.

Also, the driveway looks better than this now of course. Just wanted you guys to get a sense of the grade. Am I crazy to think about maintaining this?

Thanks again.

 

[Bob_In_MN]

The best tool (my opinion) is the box scraper with adjustable scarifers (sp?). I maintain my 500 foot driveway (no hill) with the box scraper. It takes a couple of passes every few weeks to keep it rut free.

I'll defer to other BX owners to decide what width box scraper. I run a 5 foot scraper on my JD 4010, but many on this site think that's a foot (or at least 6 inches) too wide for my tractor. Bottom line on width is you at least need to cover your tire tracks.

Good Luck

Bob

 

[Knight9]

Well in my opinion, a BXanything might be a little too small for regular maintenance of a driveway of that size. Assuming you use a 48" box blade on the BX, that will be a LOT of passes and a lot of seat time (which could be a good thing /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif). The BX series are tough and can do a lot of good work, it will just be a little slow going.

If you are planning on doing anything else with the 12 acres you have... especially the wooded parts...I'd plan on a larger unit. Probably more like the B series at least.

Just my $0.02

Kevin

 

[44trxfun]

In my opinion, the primary key to your driveway maintenance is not your tractor, but your drainage. That looks like a long, steep (from water's perspective) driveway. Well located, installed, and maintained driveable dips, cross drains or relief culverts with a ditch system will manage your water to dissipate it off to the side, greatly reducing your erosion. (You might have to install some energy dissipation at the outfalls, depending on your spacing.)

That said, I think BXish implements are too light to do an effective job in addition to the fact that it would take many passes to achieve the results.

You've essentially got a forest road. You might consider asking your local state forester for some assistance.

 

[BXMMCC]

You say gravel but the pix look like a dirt road?

Maybe you added gravel after the pix were taken? If so, I'd say no problem with a BX anything. My gravel road is slightly shorter - about a 1000 ft. Look at Junkman's king of the hill thread - I don't think you'll have any problems with bar tires.