DKCDKC
Platinum Member
Got a full mile-long gravel drive with a little flat, some mild hills and two steep hills. I have used a landscape rake, back blade and box blade over the years. I now use crusher run almost entirely. Flat and mild hills have done well and rarely need tending or shaping up. Steep hills, unfortunately, need work following heavy rains no matter what. I have neatly crowned them, cut nice ditches, created sloped surfaces to shed water and more other tactics than I can remember over the past 25 years. Nothing lasts too long. I have realized that I will always have to go smooth the road following heavy rains. I have discovered one additional tool that has been a great help - a Ratchet Rake on my FEL. I put the BB on the back for deep ditches and smooth all else with the RR. Then I take a sweep through with the RR to give it finish. Once or twice a year, usually just before and after snow season, I pull the gravel in with a back blade then grade with the BB. For a nice flat road, a little TLC at intervals does wonders. For a steep, curvy road, you just have to resign yourself to repairs following heavy rains... Until you win the lottery and pave the whole thing.
