If he is going to drop a single axel load just use a shovel and have him make 3 drops.
A stone rake that is FLAT can be used for finishing, the ones I am talking about are about 50 bucks new. A rounded garden rake is worthless.
Use the teeth down to move the asphalt and the back of the rake to smooth it. Wet the rake and your shovel with deisel fuel before starting and as needed, that will help keep the blacktop from sticking, use a putty knife to scrape it off. A lute ( I assume thats what FL guys call loops
) is better but you dont need to spend money on something you wont use again. A good stone rake will last a long time. You can also but a asphalt rake, looks just like a stone rake with a 18" long iron neck to the head. They are great, but they are expensive and hard to find.
Rent a plate tamper that has a water reserve. Tamp the base hard before the truck gets there.
If you are going to go with one layer go as deep as needed not less that 2 inches though. If you are going to go 4 inches, you need to do it in 2 layers or your tamper will dig in on the turns and the whole thing will not compact nice and smooth.
This is assuming that you are only going to do a little area (15x15 or less). If your plan is to go a little here and there until it is finished, you could, it will look like crap, but you could.
If it is a small area and the guy wants to hunt, he can bring 2 guys and a tamper along. If he doesnt want to hunt then......... If you are looking at a long driveway then I can understand him not wanting to just do it.
