Packing/sealing a gravel road after 'resurfacing' / land plane

[Dadnatron]

I have about 1/2 mile gravel road which takes a beating. I'm going to redo it with fabric and gravel, but I want to figure out a way to pack it as smoothly as possible, after I'm through with a land plane. A lot of the road is on a north facing hill, and it tends to wash out, even though I plan on raising and crowning it, I'd like to pack it in, as when I leave it loose, it is gone in 2-3 weeks.

Typically, I get my F350 out and drive up and down the driveway as many times as it takes to track in everything, but it always drives me crazy, as it seems like there should be a better alternative. I'm not going to buy a vibratory packer, although that would be what I'd actually like. I've looked at skid steer vibratory packers, but they are ridiculously expensive $15-20K. I've looked at tractor tow pneumatic 'Wobbly type - trailers' which would work VERY well... but new, they are same price and used... they are all in Canada, that I find, and by the time they are shipped to me, they are once again pushing the $$$ up to $12-15K and are 'well worn' by the looks of them.

Matt, from YT channel 'Diesel Creek' had a couple old Vibratory units, ran off a diesel motor but towed by a tractor or something. That would work... but I haven't been unable to find ANY at ANY price... so I know I'm looking in the wrong spot. I don't want a project. I want a packed road.

Thoughts? I'd like to get away from driving up and down my driveway if I can.

 

[Tomtint]

Similar situation.. I have. 2/3 mile road that last year we put millings down on. Well.. it came out fantastic, but now everyone drives 60mp( on ot and it has deteriorated in the last year..along with rain storms of 2-4” a day have not helped. A road near is was recently milled and i got 20 something loads dropped off on my property for nothing, They are pretty chunky.. so I have been looking for a used roller. Plenty of them for 3-4k around but they are 1-1.5 ton and no vibrate.. So im still looking. In another thread i posted that i went to a Ritchie auction.. there was 2 Cat roller with vibe.. 4500 and 5500 hours on the clocks.. couldnt start them to test them and they sold for 6500.00 plus 10% plus 6.25% sales tax… Thats just nuts..

 

[Midniteoyl]

I have about 1/2 mile gravel road which takes a beating. I'm going to redo it with fabric and gravel, but I want to figure out a way to pack it as smoothly as possible, after I'm through with a land plane. A lot of the road is on a north facing hill, and it tends to wash out, even though I plan on raising and crowning it, I'd like to pack it in, as when I leave it loose, it is gone in 2-3 weeks.

Typically, I get my F350 out and drive up and down the driveway as many times as it takes to track in everything, but it always drives me crazy, as it seems like there should be a better alternative. I'm not going to buy a vibratory packer, although that would be what I'd actually like. I've looked at skid steer vibratory packers, but they are ridiculously expensive $15-20K. I've looked at tractor tow pneumatic 'Wobbly type - trailers' which would work VERY well... but new, they are same price and used... they are all in Canada, that I find, and by the time they are shipped to me, they are once again pushing the $$$ up to $12-15K and are 'well worn' by the looks of them.

Matt, from YT channel 'Diesel Creek' had a couple old Vibratory units, ran off a diesel motor but towed by a tractor or something. That would work... but I haven't been unable to find ANY at ANY price... so I know I'm looking in the wrong spot. I don't want a project. I want a packed road.

Thoughts? I'd like to get away from driving up and down my driveway if I can.

You can rent them.. https://www.bigrentz.com/equipment-rentals/compaction-equipment

 

[Tomtint]

I had looked into renting one.. They are 600.00 plus tax per day here.. No 1/2 day rental option..

So throwing 640.00 at a one day thing.. I’d rather wait for a 4k roller to pop up and know that I’d use it 6-7x and own it for the cots of a rental.

 

[Dadnatron]

You can rent them.. https://www.bigrentz.com/equipment-rentals/compaction-equipment

This is something I'd use several times a year. Rental is not an option for my needs.

 

[oldnslo]

Do you need the vibratory version or would a straight heavy roller get the job done? Just wondering since driving your pickup has been working in the past.

 

[bmaverick]

I had looked into renting one.. They are 600.00 plus tax per day here.. No 1/2 day rental option..

So throwing 640.00 at a one day thing.. I’d rather wait for a 4k roller to pop up and know that I’d use it 6-7x and own it for the cots of a rental.

Here is a rebuilt one listed on 20-wheels. A John Deere.

My neighbor has an 8N and a small wheel-roller too.

Be sure to find a machine that does STONE. Not all can do stone.

In the 20-wheels site, do a search on WHEEL ROLLER and see if something is near you.

Galion 3 Wheel Asphalt/stone Roller, W/ Rebuilt J. D. Diesel, Hydrostatic Drive

 

[chim]

I had a chance to work with millings on a driveway a few years ago. We rented a vibratory ride-on roller for the day. I wouldn't want to bother rolling with a non-vibratory roller. This driveway had some slope to it and going uphill wasn't easy.

 

[scootr]

We use a water truck. Add moisture to the material and wheel roll with a full truck.
The road maintenance eternal problem is the smoother you make it the faster your neighbors will drive and the fast the washboard will return

 

[LouNY]

You don't say what the slope on your driveway is, but one caution to be aware of.
Steel rollers of any type have pi** poor traction and will take off like a sled on stone.

Edited to add;
This type would work well,
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