Spreading gravel.

[EdKing]

Hello,
I plan on getting a load or two of gravel delieverd so I can fix the driveway to my barn. I have a FEL,
a rear blade, a boxblade, and a homemade chainlink fence harrow. I was wondering on which implement and what techniques work best to spread the gravel on the drive.

Thanks in advance,

Ed King

 

[wichiwichi]

I have good luck with the boxblade, then using the fel for the smoothing finish.

 

[Rch]

EdKing, this may not apply to your situation. My gravel hauler can spread his load as he dumps over 50 to 200'. It's an all or nothing deal and depends on the size of the dump truck and the length of the drive. I'll have one load spread and the 2nd one dumped in a pile. I don't know though, could be less tractor-time /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[Thomas]

Ask the driver to tail gate spread it.
If your going to have the 2 loads dump,than try useing the fel to rought it out follow by the box rear blade,than the finishing touches w/the chainlink fence.
If you got the time practice w/all of the attachments.

 

[EdKing]

wichiwichi, do you run the box blade up a little to let the gravel trickle out the back ? Then float the FEL for smoothing ?

Rch <font color=blue>I don't know though, could be less tractor-time </font color=blue>/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
I kinda thought the same thing. I'm not sure how much gravel I'll need, and I kinda like the idea of spreading it out my self.

Thomas <font color=blue>If you got the time practice w/all of the attachments. </font color=blue>
I've got the time right now, as it is not a pressing project. Also if I have it dumped in a pile I can use the excess for a few other projects.

I'm new to the boxblade, mine has a fixed back. What is the easiest way to get it to spread evenly ?

Thanks for the replies,

Ed King

 

[Boondox]

Ed, While I'm typically loathe to pass up an opportunity to use every implement I have, for spreading gravel in my driveway (an annual task for me) I simply fill the FEL and dump it as I drive backwards. By the end of my first load of gravel I had the heel and wrist action down so I could drive backwards quickly (in M range) and curl the bucket down leaving a perfect inch deep layer of gravel. Didn't have a bit of smoothing to do when I was done!

Pete

 

[EdKing]

Pete, That's what I was thinking, but I'm still a newbie with the FEL (although I'm getting pretty good with the backhoe). I figured to try it that way, but I'm sure I'll need to spread it out to even it up. Until I get the hang of it, I'll be leaving different size piles up and down the drive.

Ed King

 

[bky]

I spread gravel 3-4 trucks twice a year and it sure is a lot easer if the driver tailgates it just my opinion

 

[frank_f15]

have the driver tailgate it, u can always smothe it out after he is done. those drivers are pretty good.

 

[EdKing]

Well, it seems the general concensus is to have the driver tailgate it.
Thanks every one for the replies,

Ed King

 

[Golfgar4]

I would agree with the others that the driver should be able to spread it. A good driver can even lay it out at the thickness you want. When I was in college, I worked for a road building construction company. We had a dump truck driver everyone called Fruit Loops (the name's a WHOLE other story/w3tcompact/icons/hmm.gif). But if the grader operator wanted a mat of gravel at 1 1/4", Fruit Loops could do it, and he'd pull a wheelie the whole time too /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif!. And he was driving a big tri-axle dump/w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif/w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif. It never ceased to impress me.

 

[EdKing]

Gary,
Well, you got my interest now, What is the fruit loop story ?/w3tcompact/icons/hmm.gif

Ed King

 

[Golfgar4]

Well, I should just leave it at the fact that the guy was one of those characters that would do anything, anytime. He didn't care who was around or what they thought. But since you asked, here's one story....

We were grading for a new parking lot. I was operating a compaction roller and was working at the far side from where Fruit Loops was laying rock. He was proud of the fact that once he started his run, he'd never need to stop. So it caught my attention when I noticed him stop in the middle of the run (which totally pissed off the grader operator 'cause of the huge pile of rock that was left /w3tcompact/icons/mad.gif). He was bobbing up and down in the cab of the truck, and then he jumped out and ran in front of the truck and threw something into the gravel and kicked a bunch of gravel around. Then he got back in the truck and drove away. Later when we had a chance for a break, I asked him what he was he doing when he'd stopped. He shrugged his shoulders and said..."Ya know how sometimes you have to "pass gas" (language cleaned up so that Muhammad doesn't get mad at me!/w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif) and you kinda push to help it out? Well, it WASN'T gas. So, I removed my undies and tossed them into the gravel. Who'll know - we're gonna pave over it anyway! /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif/w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif

So now, every time I drive past that parking lot I start laughing/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif. That story is one of the few that I could tell about him. I'll just say that Fruit Loops was, without a doubt, the most colorful character I've ever known - and I was in the Navy/w3tcompact/icons/eyes.gif!

 

[wichiwichi]

I keep the box blade up so it lets the gravel slowly trickle out. Then with the fel I use the front edge of the blade, in reverse and downward pressure. Smooths just like concrete.

 

[njrqs]

Ha

I got 3x15m3 loads of gravel for my driveway, and after reading similar posts a while ago, asked for a truck with tailgate chains.

Trucks rock up - Chains - Nah we don't have them !!!

So guess what - I was left with my little 18hp 2wd bota with only a rear blade - And 3 very large piles of gravel.

So I did what all real men would do - Go out and have a go. That only lasted for about a hour until I called in my freindly local excavator driver who spread it for me !!!

Cheers

 

[EdKing]

Well, I guess I asked for it/w3tcompact/icons/eyes.gif, thanks for the story, I got a pretty good belly laugh /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Ed King

 

[EdKing]

Thanks, I'll give that a try when I get the gravel delievered, looks like it's going to be awhile, have to wait for it to dry out again.

Ed King

 

[MReeter]

Ed,Everyone has their own way.I let the truck spread the rock where he can.I use my rear blade and turn it around backwards,driving foward.This simply drags the rock and does a good job of leveling.

 

[EdKing]

I guess I'll play around and see what works. At least it will mean lots of seat time./w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

 

[ecard]

Just to add my $0.02.

I had 43 tons of #2 stone delivered two weeks ago. The hill I am spreading it on was not conducive for the triaxle to spread, so I had him dump both loads near my garage because I plan to use the left over for a parking pad.

I loaded up the back blade (don't have a boxblade /w3tcompact/icons/sad.gif ) and started to spread. I have a TC33D and a 60" bucket. I could get the bucket overflowing without a toothbar /w3tcompact/icons/sad.gif . Needless to say I was very light on the trips down the hill. But I was able to master the bucket to get a very even spread and would lay the back blade down to smooth the ridges. I spread most of it in about 2 days.

Now the only bad part is my 2wd S10 spins out in the middle due to the grade. I have got to figure out how to get up and down without 4wd - any ideas on making the surface harder?

I will try to post some pictures.

Eric