Gravel road install- diy with no spread by dump truck?

[CADplans]

All the ten wheelers around here that deliver gravel have an extra "flange" type thing on the back of the body.

Kinda like this,,



Without it,, the material comes out too fast to spread,,,

 

[CADplans]

This is how N O T to deliver and spread gravel,,, :laughing:

 

[CADplans]

This is MUCH better,, notice the tailgate flange??

 

[s219]

I always ask for "Jenny" when I need gravel delivered, since she can spread it out of the truck like a pro and it takes minimal touchup with the tractor. Her truck tops out at 16 ton loads I believe (ie, not a tri-axle). We also get a kick out of seeing this older gal driving a dump truck (she looks like she could be someone's granny).

For smaller loads or where a truck can't get in, I have them dump it at the end of the drive and bring bucket loads in with my tractor. Can do a decent job spreading by slowly dumping bucket while reversing, or just dump and then back drag. Spread it as good as possible and then start going over it with the box blade. Much much less efficient than when the truck can spread it, but doable.

 

[Shaneard]

All the ten wheelers around here that deliver gravel have an extra "flange" type thing on the back of the body.

Kinda like this,,

View attachment 495724

Without it,, the material comes out too fast to spread,,,

View attachment 495723

That's called a gravel skirt.

 

[nosurprise]

20 tons isn't that much to do. Have the first dump at or near the top or house and the second about 1/2 way to the road. The box holds more than the bucket so you won't use the bucket much. If you can get at least a hydraulic top link things will be much easier. Otherwise set the box about 1/4"-1/2" from cutting while going forward. Back into pile, bury and fill box, then drag and spread as you go.
Once everything is prepped with an edge along your driveway and smooth, spreading this should be a nice little project that will take less than a day to spread.
Btw- I would rarely have the dump and spread routine done. Far to many variables and in my area the drivers were an unknown as well. I'm not saying it doesn't have a place. Just with a little drive like this it isn't saving much.

You will also want some size in the material delivered. Typically it's 5/8" or 3/4" minus. I'm not sure what your plant is calling crusher and I don't think all 1/4" minus is best for a road.

X2 20 tons isn't that much to worry about.

 

[ovrszd]

All the ten wheelers around here that deliver gravel have an extra "flange" type thing on the back of the body.

Kinda like this,,

View attachment 495724

Without it,, the material comes out too fast to spread,,,

View attachment 495723

Actually the "lip" extension has nothing to do with the speed of discharge. That is controlled by the chains on each end of the tailgate which determine the width of the tailgate opening.

The lip extension is needed to dump into equipment such an asphalt spreader.

 

[PILOON]

Here they usually ask how many links you want to use.

Once had a driver that could lay out an impressive even depth except one day he forgot to look overhead as he carefully played with his gas peddle to control the coverage.
Rather than looking above he hung his head out the window to monitor his progress.
As you guessed it, he hooked a tree limb with his raised box and down came the limp, dented his cab and jammed his door closed.
His only comment was , WOOPS.
About the most laid back guy I have met in a long time.
Since then, over time, I have either used him or directed many many loads his way.

 

[Big Barn]

Actually the "lip" extension has nothing to do with the speed of discharge. That is controlled by the chains on each end of the tailgate which determine the width of the tailgate opening.

The lip extension is needed to dump into equipment such an asphalt spreader.

Richard beat me to it! I'm on the West coast and I just woke up

Terry

 

[ovrszd]

Richard beat me to it! I'm on the West coast and I just woke up

Terry

WAKE UP AMERICA!!!

Around here they bolt on the extension. If not dumping into a machine they take it off. Pounds are money.

 

[Thomas]

Strange the driver won't spread,than what good are the adjustable chains on tail gate for...if tail gate has chains... find someone that will.

 

[CADplans]

That's called a gravel skirt.

I knew it was something like that,, but, after decades of not dealing with it,,
the name was lost in the fog,,, :laughing:

 

[ovrszd]

Strange the driver won't spread,than what good are the adjustable chains on tail gate for...if tail gate has chains... find someone that will.

I'm wondering if it's because he ordered 20 tons. To get that in one load they would use a truck/dump trailer of some type. Not conducive to spreading gravel. A few questions back to the quarry would resolve that issue.

 

[Big Barn]

I'm wondering if it's because he ordered 20 tons. To get that in one load they would use a truck/dump trailer of some type. Not conducive to spreading gravel. A few questions back to the quarry would resolve that issue.

It's important to always ask to see the scale ticket.

Terry.

 

[zmountaineer]

I'm wondering if it's because he ordered 20 tons. To get that in one load they would use a truck/dump trailer of some type. Not conducive to spreading gravel. A few questions back to the quarry would resolve that issue.

As a general rule I always order a full load. For me that is 25 tons. It costs more to deliver it than it does for the material. I get a 25 ton tri-axle delivered for $500. More than half of that cost is delivery.

I would most definitely ask for a full load if they can haul more than 20 ton. Around here you can get either 15 or 25 ton. 15 ton is not cost effective and you will always need more gravel if you are maintaining a road/drive.

 

[Big Barn]

Strange the driver won't spread,than what good are the adjustable chains on tail gate for...if tail gate has chains... find someone that will.

Lazy, ignorant or both.

 

[Big Barn]

WAKE UP AMERICA!!!

Around here they bolt on the extension. If not dumping into a machine they take it off. Pounds are money.

Expect a phone call Richard ,next time I get home from a late night out.

 

[ovrszd]

Expect a phone call Richard ,next time I get home from a late night out.

Oh great...... I take it back..... Probably too late......

 

[PILOON]

Hey, another piece of advise.
Don't order on a rainy day as you will be buying water.
Truckers are carefully watched for weight restrictions and wet stone weighs more than dry. Also it sticks to the dumper so dumper spreading becomes a hit and miss affair.
I comes out in globs rather than an even flow.

 

[EddieWalker]

A couple guys mentioned this, but I'm not sure how clear they where. When you buy gravel in bulk, meaning it's being delivered in the largest trailer possible, is when you get the best price. Depending on who you get it from, the trailer will either be an end dump, or belly dump. End dump trailers never spread anything. Belly dump will, but it's still going to need spreading by the tractor or something with a blade. In my experience, this is always sold by the ton. The driver comes straight from the quarry and you pay based on the weight of what was loaded onto the trailer at the quarry. Usually 25 to 27 tones per load is normal.

When buying in smaller quantities, it's sold by the yard. It's already been hauled from the quarry to a yard somewhere, and they load the dump truck at the yard with a front end loader of some kind. The ones I've seen have all be one yard buckets, which makes the math easy. Buying it this way is about twice as much compared to having it hauled straight from the quarry. Having it spread is pretty common when having the smaller dump trucks deliver it.

What type of truck is delivering the gravel? 20 tones isn't very much. How long is the driveway? 4 inches is the minimum thickness for road base gravel to lock together and shed water. Thicker is even better. I plan on getting 100 feet for every 25-27 ton load.