Grading Gravel Road Maintenance

[SPYDERLK]

Much also has to do with the amount of traffic and if drivers are aware enough to drive in a manner that preserves the roadway. I drive, and instruct visitors to dive at the very edge of the driveway, helping to keep vegetation at bay. I just shake my head when I see someone just drive through the biggest pothole! I guess someone has to make work for the mechanics and grader operators.

Yes. Use of special tools is unnecessary if you make every incidental trip of any vehicle on the driveway a maintenance run by driving as you describe. Always straddle the low spots. Drive slowly in the rain. Go out the day after a soaking rain and make several trips with a smooth tired vehicle driving the high spots and maybe hand rake a little gravel from adjacent high areas into notable low spots. Sprinkle a little extra gravel -- bucket width right down the middle -- in problem areas as they are observed. Make one or two trips through it slowly with a chain drag to blend. Intense maintenance will never become necessary unless faced with high travel by the clueless.

 

[Industrial Toys]

That's not the way the car/truck Ads imply we should be driving. Pedal to the metal, try and get as much suspension travel as possible and whenever possible, practice your drifting technique when coming to a stop.

 

[Scrambler82]

Well lets see:
- The Washboarding affect on a dirt road is caused by speeds above a certain MPH.
- The Washboarding Affect slows me down so I'm guessing here, but in itself the Washboarding Affect eliminates itself by slowing people down... wouldn't you think that !?! NOT !

On the road I am talking about, the Washboarding Affect FEELS like it has very small spacing between the raises, how can someone traveling at "X" speed cause this effect ? (Please, I am having trouble with this idea, not calling it wrong, I just don't understand and would appreciate someone knowledge to straighten me out) !

On one road that I like to travel, with the Washboarding Affect, I see vehicles literally FLYING while traveling along the road. As stated, some people think they are racing in Baja, what gives with that.
Along this same road people have posted signs stating to please help with the dust and drive slowly but to no avail people still fly low !

I have to ask or state again and please comment, "A Box Blade, Gannon, doesn't make the Washboard Affect" ?

Thx/Ltr

 

[deezler]

^ Washboarding is a kinda complex process. Basically someone driving too fast makes their suspension react more to normal small dips and bumps in the road surface. The return reaction to this undulation exerts amplified pressure against the road surface, which displaces material. When enough people follow this pattern, small washboards get bigger and bigger. And sadly no, they don't fix themselves, ever. It's basically a natural frequency response of the average vehicle suspension systems.

Some cool reading to be found if you want to get nerdy about it.

 

[Industrial Toys]

So I wasn't just imagining the cause. It had to be, because it was always after a pothole or bump. What threw me, was the width of the washboard. One would think it was just where most wheels travel, but it's often a very wide uniform pattern, as if made by a bouncing moudboard.

Those washboards can put a heavy sprung, light in the azz pickup in the ditch!

 

[Scrambler82]

^ Washboarding is a kinda complex process. Basically someone driving too fast makes their suspension react more to normal small dips and bumps in the road surface. The return reaction to this undulation exerts amplified pressure against the road surface, which displaces material. When enough people follow this pattern, small washboards get bigger and bigger. And sadly no, they don't fix themselves, ever. It's basically a natural frequency response of the average vehicle suspension systems.

Some cool reading to be found if you want to get nerdy about it.

So I wasn't just imagining the cause. It had to be, because it was always after a pothole or bump. What threw me, was the width of the washboard. One would think it was just where most wheels travel, but it's often a very wide uniform pattern, as if made by a bouncing moudboard.

Those washboards can put a heavy sprung, light in the azz pickup in the ditch!

OK, I understand the theory, sort of like wheel hop, BUT... when the road is almost flat, no pot holes, and washboarding for 100 yards or more, is this still caused by traffic ?

I'm not trying to be a PITA, I just want to understand my situation with THE road.
I dot want to try and educate myself with a Box Blade and find I am making something worse.

Thanks for the info, I'm becoming educated in the finer art of Road Work.

 

[bcp]

Trying to use a box blade on a badly washboarded road will be hard. The tractor will be rocking backwards and forwards, or both ends going up and down at the same time. The blade may only hit the tops or bottoms of the washboard. unless in float. A LPGS will do much better work.

If I had to use a box blade, I think I would put angle iron skids on the sides, long enough to span at least a couple of washboard tops, then let it float.

Bruce

 

[ovrszd]

Well lets see:
- The Washboarding affect on a dirt road is caused by speeds above a certain MPH.
- The Washboarding Affect slows me down so I'm guessing here, but in itself the Washboarding Affect eliminates itself by slowing people down... wouldn't you think that !?! NOT !

On the road I am talking about, the Washboarding Affect FEELS like it has very small spacing between the raises, how can someone traveling at "X" speed cause this effect ? (Please, I am having trouble with this idea, not calling it wrong, I just don't understand and would appreciate someone knowledge to straighten me out) !

On one road that I like to travel, with the Washboarding Affect, I see vehicles literally FLYING while traveling along the road. As stated, some people think they are racing in Baja, what gives with that.
Along this same road people have posted signs stating to please help with the dust and drive slowly but to no avail people still fly low !

I have to ask or state again and please comment, "A Box Blade, Gannon, doesn't make the Washboard Affect" ?

Thx/Ltr

Washboarding is not caused by mph.

 

[ovrszd]

OK, I understand the theory, sort of like wheel hop, BUT... when the road is almost flat, no pot holes, and washboarding for 100 yards or more, is this still caused by traffic ?

I'm not trying to be a PITA, I just want to understand my situation with THE road.
I dot want to try and educate myself with a Box Blade and find I am making something worse.

Thanks for the info, I'm becoming educated in the finer art of Road Work.

Washboarding is caused by changes in vehicle speed. Most times increased speed. Although sometimes decreased speed. Has nothing to do with constant speed. A 2wd vehicle will always washboard a road worse than an AWD vehicle. A vehicle with worn out rear shocks will always washboard a road worse than a vehicle with good shocks.

The wave length is caused by drivers trying to avoid the worst spots and moving laterally across the roadbed. If not treated, they will develop all the way across the roadbed.

A BB will remove washboarding. But it will take a lot of repetitions and patience.

A plane grader will fix the problem much quicker.

Whatever device is used benefits from a longer distance front to back.

This theory is why a road grader works so well. The effective wheelbase of a road grader is around 25ft with the blade suspended in the middle more or less. A couple passes over a severely washboarded area and they are gone.

 

[/pine]

To cut the ridges of a wash boarded lane use about any grading implement that ANGLES...i.e, rear blade, landscape rake...just about anything that ANGLES will make short work of washboards...the key is cutting against the ridges not with them...

 

[SPYDERLK]

Washboarding is caused by changes in vehicle speed. Most times increased speed. Although sometimes decreased speed. Has nothing to do with constant speed.

No. It is caused by quick transitory changes in wheel speed/RPM. This happens readily when encountering a bump, worsens with vehicle speed even if constant, and is more pronounced with stiff tires and suspensions.

 

[ovrszd]

No. It is caused by quick transitory changes in wheel speed/RPM. This happens readily when encountering a bump, worsens with vehicle speed even if constant, and is more pronounced with stiff tires and suspensions.

Ok, you win.

 

[RUSTBUCKET BRONCO]

Ok, you win.

haha :confused3:

 

[ovrszd]

haha :confused3:

Things vary by locale. So I'll add my caveat.

In my part of Missouri, washboards only appear in areas where vehicle speed changes. I never have washboards in areas where vehicle speed is constant. The washboards appear when the driver tries of change speed or overcome an obstacle such as a steep hill, which again requires a change of speed. Entering/exiting a sharp curve. Climbing/descending a steep hill. Entering/exiting an intersection.

Chugholes or potholes in roads are caused by poor drainage. I've never saw washboards adjacent to a chughole.

But that's in Missouri. :confused3:

 

[joeyd]

Things vary by locale. So I'll add my caveat.

In my part of Missouri, washboards only appear in areas where vehicle speed changes. I never have washboards in areas where vehicle speed is constant. The washboards appear when the driver tries of change speed or overcome an obstacle such as a steep hill, which again requires a change of speed. Entering/exiting a sharp curve. Climbing/descending a steep hill. Entering/exiting an intersection.

Chugholes or potholes in roads are caused by poor drainage. I've never saw washboards adjacent to a chughole.

But that's in Missouri. :confused3:

The same criteria for washboard in Idaho too!

 

[ovrszd]

The same criteria for washboard in Idaho too!

How's your weather up there?? Winter set in yet?? We've been in the 50s for the last three days now.

 

[SSweetland]

I'm still a newbie on grading, what I have learned so far is,
I use a 6' Grader/Scraper blade attachment,
I angle it to pull extra material to the crown (About 30º),
In some areas of our road, crown is not effective and I angle the road to drain off one side instead of both
It appears some wash boarding comes from sheeting action of top material from base material
Potholes return unless you can get all the way to the bottom of them while grading,
If I grade while dry, the road gets really bad really fast, if I grade right after a rain, it stays good a long time and I can see where water is not getting off the road
After I grade the road, I turn my blade backwards and smooth out the ridges left as well as drop my bucket to semi-compact the loose material

Our road is about 3/4 mile long. We have about 20 people on our private road. Not all respect the fact it is a gravel road and drive like it is a baja track. I have been grading it almost 3 years. Before I started, road was not crested at all, water ran across the road making road snakes, ruts would form and hold water. We recovered the road in asphalt grind last year.

Still a ton to learn, maybe not doing it all correct at this point, but is a major improvement since we moved in. The guy who used to maintain the road no longer will help with it, but is happy about the fact someone else is, he is also one who brings in heavy trucks, and lives most of the way down the road.

If I am doing something wrong, please let me know

 

[ovrszd]

I'm still a newbie on grading, what I have learned so far is,
I use a 6' Grader/Scraper blade attachment,
I angle it to pull extra material to the crown (About 30º),
In some areas of our road, crown is not effective and I angle the road to drain off one side instead of both
It appears some wash boarding comes from sheeting action of top material from base material
Potholes return unless you can get all the way to the bottom of them while grading,
If I grade while dry, the road gets really bad really fast, if I grade right after a rain, it stays good a long time and I can see where water is not getting off the road
After I grade the road, I turn my blade backwards and smooth out the ridges left as well as drop my bucket to semi-compact the loose material

Our road is about 3/4 mile long. We have about 20 people on our private road. Not all respect the fact it is a gravel road and drive like it is a baja track. I have been grading it almost 3 years. Before I started, road was not crested at all, water ran across the road making road snakes, ruts would form and hold water. We recovered the road in asphalt grind last year.

Still a ton to learn, maybe not doing it all correct at this point, but is a major improvement since we moved in. The guy who used to maintain the road no longer will help with it, but is happy about the fact someone else is, he is also one who brings in heavy trucks, and lives most of the way down the road.

If I am doing something wrong, please let me know

I think you are doing everything right.

Timing in regards to weather and moisture conditions is critical. Sometimes you get lucky. Sometimes not.

 

[joeyd]

How's your weather up there?? Winter set in yet?? We've been in the 50s for the last three days now.

Still waiting on winter. It should be in the 40's today with some moisture but no snow. I'm holding off on changing to studs on the truck and chains on the tractor until we get some accumulation in the forecast.

 

[SSweetland]

I think you are doing everything right.

Timing in regards to weather and moisture conditions is critical. Sometimes you get lucky. Sometimes not.

I did notice that pretty quick. The biggest thing I seen about grading a dry road is all the fine dust blows away instead of locking in the rock. Our road has some hills, a low water crossing (that has a concrete pad), some areas just need more material. The asphalt grind made a good difference, but I also seen that I needed to make sure the bed was near form before, so I spent a few days getting a crown before the materials came.

Decided to reply after reading many of your posts, so thanks for the validation. It feels great to have made an accomplishment