Cleaning driveway ditches

[bob11x]

We have a property that has quite a steep gravel driveway. I'd like to redo the driveway but that is a future project. Right now I'd like to keep it from washing away. I have an L3901 with loader and backhoe. The ditches on the side are filling in with debris and sediment.
What is the best way to clean them out? The driveway is 1/3 mile and drops 300'. I tried the backhoe but it seems to be VERY slow as I have to be perpendicular to the ditch. I was thinking the loader might work but still quite a lot of motion. I had thoughts of making an attachment like a 1 bottom plow to "wing" out the debris but not sure how good that will work.
Anyone have good ideas or suggestions?
Thank you!

 

[dodge man]

They make rear blades that have an extra pivot so you can angle the blade so just a corner is digging in.

 

[bob11x]

I had seen that - but it looks like it leaves a long lead in. The driveway drops straight into the ditch- no room for any taper. That's what I was thinking maybe some plow shaped piece (not very good at the technical names) like a sweep? for a hiller?

 

[bcp]

Some photos would help us think.



Bruce

 

[rob in ore]

I only have a few hundred feet so I used to FEL when the ditch needed to be reshaped. A third of a mile would take awhile but seems better than inventing an implement that would only be used once. For seasonal cleaning, I wait until an early winter rain and use a garden hoe or shovel. Doing it while it's raining shows where the trouble spots are.

 

[bob11x]

I will get some pics tomorrow when I am there. Thanks.

 

[old and tired]

I use a blower that clears out my ditches.

When I rotate the drum to the other side (as shown in the photos), the opening points straight down into the ditch. In that position it blows gravel away. The position it's in the photos are set to blows leaves and sticks nicely.

 

[Eagle1]

Or get a ditcher, offset is nice but straight may work

 

[greenie]

Municipalities always seem to operate 90 degrees to the ditch and take the material out bucket by (wide) bucket. The fines, leaf material and vegetation that winds up in ditches is usually hauled away for appearance and practicality. The silt, when dried will either create a lot of dust from traffic or it will find its way back into the ditch.

 

[Carl_NH]

Pics would help, but if you get a friend or significant other to drive tractor on low range, you on the BH it would go pretty quickly. Also, you can try setting the bh bucket in the swale and let the tractor pull it - this is hard on the BH and frame though and could work for loose material..