Driveway maintenance

[mdhunter]

Hello,
I have about a mile long driveway that is currently white rock/limestone. Currently I maintain it with a box blade. Works OK, but Im not totally happy with it. Have been looking at land planes. Most of what I read says these work well for gravel roads ( I know they do as I know the maintainer of our county road uses one). But, im curious if anyone has any experience with bigger rock. Most of the pieces of rock on my road are about 1.5 inches. Thanks in advance

 

[mddorange]

:welcome:
To the TBN forum MD. You came to the right place to get answers.

If you had your location in your profile, we might be able to give better help.

While land planes may do a better job, they also require more training to do it correctly.

 

[shooterdon]

:welcome:
To the TBN forum MD. You came to the right place to get answers.

If you had your location in your profile, we might be able to give better help.

While land planes may do a better job, they also require more training to do it correctly.

Strange....I was led to believe a land plane was essentially idiot proof and that a box blade takes a learning curve. Will subscribe to this thread to gain insight

 

[UpstateSC_Papi]

Strange....I was led to believe a land plane was essentially idiot proof and that a box blade takes a learning curve. Will subscribe to this thread to gain insight

Thought the same so subscribing also.

And welcome mdhunter!!

 

[mdhunter]

Location Updated

 

[CMV]

I'm pretty happy with the results of my BB on crusher run/ABC and down to pea gravel. Last time I got next size up which was about size of lemons. Thought that would be better for a a few bad erosion areas and the ground might not swallow them up as quick.... For that, they work, but I can't smooth them to a point I'd even call "fair" with BB or dragging bucket. So at least for me there's a limit to stone size somewhere past which BB results go downhill fast...

 

[/pine]

I'm pretty happy with the results of my BB on crusher run/ABC and down to pea gravel. Last time I got next size up which was about size of lemons. Thought that would be better for a a few bad erosion areas and the ground might not swallow them up as quick.... For that, they work, but I can't smooth them to a point I'd even call "fair" with BB or dragging bucket. So at least for me there's a limit to stone size somewhere past which BB results go downhill fast...

Here...what you described as lemon size we call # 4's...to get them smoothed they need a top coat of crusher run (etc.) # 57's which are from about .75" to 1.5" will work on flat areas for getting it smooth but they won't pack down like something with more fines in it like C.R....

 

[Redlands Okie]

1.5 inch rock would not be considered large as far as the use of most land plains.

 

[oosik]

I have a mile long gravel driveway. I use: in this order - - Rhino 950 rear blade, 96", 1050# - - Land Pride LPGS GS2584, 84", 720# - -Bush Hog 72 ROBB, 72", 710#.

By far and away - the LPGS is the easiest land engagement implement to learn/use. Hook it to the 3-point - drop and adjust to level with the top link - drag it. Its good for smoothing thing out and filling MINOR pot holes. LPGS will not move material horizontally either forward or back OR right or left for any great distance. It can drag material a SHORT distance to fill a pot hole that has been properly scarified first. LPGS has a fairly limited use - won't clear snow - only move material short distances - won't clear and maintain road side ditching - will not crown driveway but it CAN eliminate the crown.

For driveway maintenance I use my rear blade, summer & winter, about 99% of the time. It takes longer to learn how to use it well but it is the universal multi-tool. Cleans out roadside ditching- will build and maintain driveway crown, clears snow in the winter, move material for some distances to fill and smooth potholes.

If you need to dig, smooth and move material - - box blade or in my case roll over box blade(ROBB). I wouldn't use it to clean out driveway ditches nor to move snow but it can fill potholes and build and maintain driveway crown.

BTW - 1.5" rock - - I'd use my Rhino rear blade. Its a tad to big for the LPGS to handle.

 

[jd870]

if you buy a land plane,make sure you get one with ripper shanks.it works well for loosening up the existing material.