Protecting the asphalt

[Jay4200]

I'm wondering what others have done to prevent loaders from digging into driveways while using a backhoe. (BX24 tractor, here)

Uh, keep the loader up in the air? Rocket-science 101.

Stabilizers are going to slide around, so the plywood idea is a good one, and will assure no damage. Keep your loader in the air - I hardly ever use mine unless I am really tearing into something nasty, simply because it trashes the ground so bad. Just go easy and don't be a meatball with your backhoe.

JayC

 

[Tompet]

The flip over street pads you refer to work really well on concrete, asphalt or any hard surface. I agree completely with CurleyDave's advice for added protection.
tp

 

[RayCo]

Thanks to all for the advice, except for Jay4200. I think I'll make every effort to just stay off the driveway after reading this. I can get to most places without being on it; it'll just be a bit awkward and/or inefficient. But, that certainly beats wrecking the driveway, so no problem.

 

[SARG]

I have to remind myself all through the summer that our $15k driveway is just "glued" together gravel....... helps me stay off it with the heavy stuff.

 

[RayCo]

I have to remind myself all through the summer that our $15k driveway is just "glued" together gravel....... helps me stay off it with the heavy stuff.

Out of curiosity, how long is your driveway? We did not get our entire driveway paved, as we just couldn't afford it, since it was a whimsical decision to get it paved when we were offered $1.65/square foot. We got about 6,000 square feet done and have about 2500 left to do that goes out to the road, and is shared with a neighbor.

 

[Jay4200]

Thanks to all for the advice, except for Jay4200.

I think my advice to you was the best offered here. I didn't realize 'just don't drive on it' was a viable option, or I would've suggested that.

If you took offense to 'meatball', sorry - it's an industry term. Refers to someone using "hamfisted" operation techniques, which might beat up your lil' tractor when it is not additionally stabilized by the FEL.

JayC

 

[RayCo]

I think my advice to you was the best offered here. I didn't realize 'just don't drive on it' was a viable option, or I would've suggested that.

If you took offense to 'meatball', sorry - it's an industry term. Refers to someone using "hamfisted" operation techniques, which might beat up your lil' tractor when it is not additionally stabilized by the FEL.

JayC

Nah, it was the rocket science comment actually. But certainly no big deal, and my jab was in light-hearted jest.

 

[SARG]

Out of curiosity, how long is your driveway? We did not get our entire driveway paved, as we just couldn't afford it, since it was a whimsical decision to get it paved when we were offered $1.65/square foot. We got about 6,000 square feet done and have about 2500 left to do that goes out to the road, and is shared with a neighbor.

I do not recall the square footage but believe most of the cost was in machine time and geo textile material ...the 18" of crusher run ...and then the bindercoat and topcoat.

They had to remove our first blacktop driveway that was put in 25 years ago by local gypsies that in places was actually on sand.

80% of a "good" asphalt driveway ... that will last ... is in the prep work.