Grading gravel road grading

[lhfarm]

Has anyone tried gauge wheels? After I added those to my landscape rake I found I didn't need to practice. The wheels keep it from digging in and I just drive. I probably should have put the wheels on my rear blade instead of getting the rake, but he rake really does a nice job and is never too aggressive. I was amazed at how smooth I got them. Some guys are artists with tractors but not me.

If I left my rear blade in float it would dig right down to through the gravel and into the dirt. I guess my trails are not packed down that well.

I've tried a rear blade, box blade and finally a landscape rake. But it wasn't until I added gauge wheels that I was able to get the results I wanted. You can see some pictures at http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/build-yourself/108102-my-version-skunkwerxs-gauge-wheels.html. I disconnect the top link and let the rake act like a grader. I had a real washboard section that is now nice and smooth.

I'm going to add receiver hitches to both the RB and BB so I can use the gauge wheels on them too.

 

[bmiker]

I use a box blade a lot for driveways & landscaping. When you get those humps the best thing to do is use your scarfies set just deep enough to cut the high places. You can angle your box to get the right angle so they want dig in to much. Then it will be easy to smooth the gravel up tilt your blade back so the rear of the drags and doesn't cut. You will be suprised how well it will pack the gravel.

 

[Lockport]

I just did mine with a 5' BB (no scarifies). It was kind of tricky as I had a big hump essentially and a couple spots in the tire tracks that would puddle, out toward the road, and, were getting bad. Ripping the hump down the middle and then push in reverse to backfill my low spots, I just began grading it back and forth, lifting the blade when passing low spots to drop some of the congealing gravel back into it and lifting it right up to leave it behind then reverse to it back to any low spots again. It took a bit of time, but I must say I was elated with the result. The BX has no down pressure as well so in a way it floats, although any 400lbs + implement is going to drag a handful of stuff along.

Practice, practice, practice.....or maybe gauge wheels!

 

[JerryG]

Like has been suggested, get some gage wheels for your box blade. They will make it easy to level your drive. If you don't want to buy or make the gage wheels, then the next option is to let the box down to where it doesn't quite touch the ground except the highest spots. Just keep going over it and lowering your box a little at a time. You will get it level by doing it this way but it will take a lot longer than it would have taken with gage wheels but it is lot less expensive.