Got overly enthusiastic and now all my...

[Industrial Toys]

The Harley rake is probably the best tool for moving the material back onto the roadway. It's like an electric planer. One pass is like fifty passes with a stationary tool. But, the Harley tends to leave a slight washboard effect and I'm not sure why.

 

[repete]

Once I established the crown to the driveway the only think that touches it is the landscape rake.

 

[Beaux Duke]

Yes, either a Landscape Rake or a Rear/Angle Blade. I prefer a Landscape Rake for gravel.

Buy sufficiently wide so the implement covers your tire width WHEN IT IS IN ITS ANGLED OPERATING POSITION. Usually this is about 12" wider than rear tire spread.

In all ground contact work, weight is your friend.

Dang, I have a rake but I have always called it a root rake. And it has several positions. Looking at the space between the tines I did not think it would be of much use in gravel. I will have to give it a try. How much overlap do you suggest? By that I mean should the end of the rake be even with the edge of the gravel or should I let the end of the rake extend out into the grassy area of the road by a foot or so?

Thanks to everyone for your suggestions and tips!

 

[Beaux Duke]

Repete you would probably think the way we build roads down here is crazy. We typically avoid crowns as it serves as a dam and holds water back instead of letting it drain. My neighbor 2 houses down spent a lot of money building his driveway the correct way. I went and watched for a while. The guy did great work. The road was perfect. 2 big rains later and he has a huge area holding water on one side. I live in a swampy area and the natural drainage can often cause problems.
I have no ditches and when I keep the road flat, water drains and I have no problems. If I let the crown build up, I get wet spots that are quickly widened and deepened by truck traffic.
Depending on the amount of rain I get my drainage will go in 2 different directions. A light rain drains east to west while a really heavy rain channels runoff towards me and goes north south. Fortunately I have no elevation to speak of so I do not have to deal with washed out areas

 

[repete]

Repete you would probably think the way we build roads down here is crazy. We typically avoid crowns as it serves as a dam and holds water back instead of letting it drain. My neighbor 2 houses down spent a lot of money building his driveway the correct way. I went and watched for a while. The guy did great work. The road was perfect. 2 big rains later and he has a huge area holding water on one side. I live in a swampy area and the natural drainage can often cause problems.
I have no ditches and when I keep the road flat, water drains and I have no problems. If I let the crown build up, I get wet spots that are quickly widened and deepened by truck traffic.
Depending on the amount of rain I get my drainage will go in 2 different directions. A light rain drains east to west while a really heavy rain channels runoff towards me and goes north south. Fortunately I have no elevation to speak of so I do not have to deal with washed out areas

When I built my road it went through a wetland and had to use road fabric due to the mud. I had to use a dozer to cut down about 18" on either side so I could mow it and the grade pretty much follows the crown angle to the ditch. I cover about 2000' of level lowlands and about 1000' climbing up maybe 200' to the house. The delivery folks say I have the nicest 3000' rock driveway in the area. Not a chuckhole in it.

 

[Beaux Duke]

When I built my road it went through a wetland and had to use road fabric due to the mud. I had to use a dozer to cut down about 18" on either side so I could mow it and the grade pretty much follows the crown angle to the ditch. I cover about 2000' of level lowlands and about 1000' climbing up maybe 200' to the house. The delivery folks say I have the nicest 3000' rock driveway in the area. Not a chuckhole in it.

Your house has an elevation of 200 feet?? Must be nice. We’ve had rain the last 3 days so I’m sinking to my ankles when I walk in the yard. I’ve got to drive hours to get to “the high ground”

 

[ccsial]

I also use a landscape rake for my 3/8 mile road that goes to my cabin. Works well for me.

 

[The Fred]

Top and tilt works very well to crown your road with a box blade or a land plane.

I use both on mine and by simply tilting the blade it pulls gravel into the center of the road. I am surprised nobody mentioned this.

The top link can be angled forward or back to smooth the road as a final step, then a roller if you have access to one.

I use a cheap 6 foot box blade and it does a darn nice job on my drive.

Regards, Fred