Min tractor size for repairing long gravel driveway with potholes?

[jeff9366]

I'm not too concerned about blade width/passes, biggest concern is simply being able to pull Box Blade rippers without losing traction.
Would a Kubota BX subbompact be sufficient or would a compact B be necessary?

The fundamental importance of TRACTOR WEIGHT eludes many tractor shoppers. Within subcompact and compact tractor categories, a significant tractor capability increase requires a bare tractor weight increase of 50%.

Kubota BX tractors and B tractors are approximately the same weight. The most important difference is wheel/tires size, which also determines ground clearance. The BX and B tractors are the only Kubota models having mid-PTOs as standard equipment, which you may want to power a front snow blower.


It seems like a lawn tractor would handle the snow blowing.

Lawn tractors are usually 2-WD. If your snow is not too heavy, a plow or snow box moves moderate snow faster than a snow blower, is a cheaper acquisition and does not require the wrangle of connecting a PTO, always a messy task.

YouTube VIDEOS: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=tractor+snow+box


The former owner had a New Holland TC33.

Respect the former owner's experience.
Consider the Kubota L3301/L3901 and or L4701 and L3560 all equipped with optional 4-WD. Fill the rear tires with freeze proof liquid.
Tractors of 2,800 to 3,700 pounds bare tractor weight are commonly used on three to ten acre residential and hobby farm properties.

 

[mikester]

Time is money.

The minimum tractor is no tractor at all. Use a garden rake and a shovel. Your time is free.

The previous owner had the right idea if you don't like wasting time doing menial jobs around your property. The bigger your machine, the more you can do in a shorter amount of time.

 

[wsc9tt]

I just want to say when you are looking at gravel driveway maintenance you might want to consider a land leveler (aka grading scraper) in addition to a box blade. It is way easier to use and gets outstanding results.

The relatively short blades on the scraper collect material quickly and then the small stuff floats and pours over the top of the rear blade in a nice even layer. When you hit a dip or pothole the larger stones which stay at the bottom of the blades drop into the holes. My driveway has never been this smooth.

Of course, I am not sure I have seen one of these smaller than 6ft so it will take a heavier tractor.

 

[rScotty]

I just use an 8 foot grader blade with end caps. It's nice, but does take a larger tractor than we are talking about here.
That land leveler just above this post also looks like it would do a nice job - but he has a 50 hp tractor.

Min. size?? I would say about any 30 hp tractor will pull a large enough implement to reasonably smooth the driveway by doing multiple passes. Smaller than that might not pull a wide enough implement to do an acceptably even & neat job.

If it's just a question of moving gravel around, any tractor will do that. It's just a matter of how many passes it will take, and realizing that the smaller the tractor & implement, the greater the chance that each pass won't necessarily match the one before.

But something that the OP mentioned back in the original question has me confused. He says he is concerned about having the power to pull rippers. Why? Is it common to pull rippers on a driveway? Why would you do that? Am I missing something?
rScotty

 

[Tr3kker]

I just bought 20 acres and I’m building a 600’ gravel drive with a L2501 Kubota tractor with a 5’ box blade and I have a 6’ rotary mower. Do I wish I had a bigger tractor or even a skid steer? Hell yeah! But I won’t always be in construction mode and someday I will just be maintaining. At times the L2501 struggles, especially in rocky ground (I’ve ordered a Piranha tooth bar), but it just takes me longer to do something that it would take a larger tractor. I don’t make any money with my tractor, so that certainly influenced my decision to stay around 25HP. I also wanted a smaller, more nimble tractor for building forest trails.

 

[Egon]

Gravel driveway, potholes = rippers to loosen it all up so the aggregate can be mixed and compacted.

So, I would say, the hp required would be dictated by how many rippers down you want to pull. Perhaps 30 to 40 hp??

 

[dodge man]

I haven’t used a box blade to grade gravel but have used a rear blade. I had a Kubota BX with a 5’ rear blade that was fairly light weight. The blade was fairly light weight and just tended to skip along and not really dig in. A BX is considered a subcompact and mine was 23hp.

I now own a JD 2025r. I have a 6’ rear blade on it. I don’t know if it’s because the tractor is heavier or the rear blade is heavier or both but the blade works much better at digging in and grading gravel. It is considered a compact tractor and is 25 hp.

You could get the job done with a subcompact but I would recommend larger. What other uses do you have? What is your budget?

 

[jeff9366]

L3901 gear drive for sale:

2020 Kubota L3901 Gear Drive For Sale - 4WD

Bought last June with FEL, canopy, and bucket level indicator. AG tires - widened and fluid filled. Always garaged when not in use. Tractor currently has 131 hours. Excellent condition. Tractor is located in Pulaski Tennessee. Just bought a larger tractor and is being delivered tomorrow, so I no...

www.tractorbynet.com

 

[TractorGuy]

50 HP cab tractor with a 8' blade.

 

[LouNY]

I'm a bit north of Albany.
The size tractor you want will depend purely on how long you wish to take to clear snow and then to maintain the driveway.
Your slope will require horsepower and traction to move gravel back up it as it migrates downhill.
Snow plowing will require HP to get done in a reasonable amount of time.
Also if you have to plow before going to work and then plow again after work,
a cab would be a very welcome option.
Your grade will require chains when a wet snow hits it or an ice storm.