scraper blade question...

[StevenPaul]

wife is planning a Christmas party this Sunday, driveway is 1000 feet long, wet, dirt/mud with very minimal gravel, and there are spots where people could get stuck, plus there's a circular area I started with a plow attachment (my bright idea, sheeesh, what an idiot) is rutty and a mess. Is there ANYBODY out there that has a quick idea for making a makeshift scraper blade of some sort. We have some miscellaneous scrap around the yard, yet nothing that I think would be sturdy or strong enough for a scraper blade. I know it's asking a lot and I think I might be gettin a scraper blade for Christmas but I need something real quick and temporary for this weekend. I know there's gotta be some creative "McGyver" ideas out there some where.

I have a 2010 JD that runs pretty darn good for its age, I also have a 3ph piece that we found on the property(see picture)

thanks any and all help!
Steve

 

[StevenPaul]

the driveway

 

[StevenPaul]

my bright idea for a circular drive

 

[StevenPaul]

oh yeah, it would help if the idea was easy and cheap. I'm not asking to much am I? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Woodsman_Pete]

If you think that Santa is bringing you a blade for Christmas, why not just make some kind of drag for now. A piece of old beam or c-channel, two equal lengths of 3/8" chain, a couple of bolts and a shackle. if its not heavy enough throw some cement blocks on it. I would think that this would level out your ruts and smooth things up until you get your blade and can do some grading to keep the water from laying.

 

[Gumby6]

Cheap, Quick, and little to build it with??? You are looking for McGyver! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

If you need is to just get the drive a little flatter, perhaps one of the homemade "chain link drag" so many have made here on the TBN would work.

Here is a link to Making a chain link drag thread.

Mainly a piece of chain link fence streched rigid (flat) with sufficient weight so as to do some work. With little gravel to work with, and depending on weather conditions, all you can hope for is a flatter surface. Without some way to compact the soil, your still in for problems.

 

[EddieWalker]

So you got two days to fix the drive. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

When you say that people can get stuck, is it mud, or are the ruts really deap?

Putting dirt into mudholes usually results in just another mudhole. Those things take time to dry out, or an aweful lot of material.

My guess is you don't have enought time to do it right, and could just as likely make things worse before they get better.

The drag idea is a good one and will smooth things out quite a bit. The heavier the drag, the better it will do. I have an oak log that I use with some cyclone fence behind it that works well. And for the serious stuff I use a pair of very heavy fork lift forks. They cut right through the high spots something nice. Problem with them is they are so heavy that my 35 hp tractor has trouble pulling them when they get a hold of something solid.

Do what you can, but have your tractor handy with a tow strap to pull out your friends if they get stuck. Plan for the worse, and then you'll be ready for it.

Eddie

 

[StevenPaul]

the drag seems like my best bet, and I agree, I don't have enough time to do it right. Would a chain link fence wrapped around a pretty heavy log work. Does the fence "have" to be stretched out? At any rate, thanks for the ideas, it does give me something quick, cheap, and easy. I knew McGyver was lurking around in here somewhere.

The getting stuck problem will most likely be "city folk" comin in and swervin to miss the pot holes and hittin the muddy slick area. We call it "LaKathy's tar pits" for when we first got the property it was about the same conditions and my wife got stuck in our dually, hahaha! I still don't let her forget about that.

thanks again!
Steve

 

[Gumby6]

Your in SC I'm in NC (mountains). I can get a large dump of road base gravel (has findings, rock dust) still in it as it is unwashed. This stuff packs great and it is only about 200 a load delivered. The driver will distribute it along the road while dumping, a pretty good system they have. You would need 2 trucks to do a decent job on a drive your length, but you can have them concentrate in your worst areas.

I have a good grade to my drive and if I didn't keep on top of things, it could get bad in a hurry. This stuff works wonders. Once you have a good bed, just regular maintenance like with the drag or a box blade is all that is needed.

 

[RonMar]

A drag will smooth it out, but the mudholes will still be mudholes without putting a load of gravel in them. Perhaps you can get a small load dropped off by tomorrow and just fill in the worst spots. Good luck.