Parking pad (Gravel)

[dmftoy1]

Ok, I'm doing my first FEL project with my tractor. What I need to do is level out an area near my garage for a parking pad for my camper. The pad is already level side to side, but it drops about 4 inches from front to back. (in 25-26 feet). My questions:

1. Do I need to pull up the sod before laying down the dirt to level it? (I don't mind doing it, but if I don't have to dig then I won't.

2. I'm going to use fill/black dirt to create the level surface, but I have about 5-7 tons of pea gravel just laying around. Can I use that for the gravel surface? (I'm concerned that it won't compact) I'd like to use this gravel as it's just laying around, but I won't if it's not good for this type of thing.

3. What's the best way to "compact" the pad so that I can park on it? (I've been parking on it already for 3-4 months with no sinking). Do I need to rent one of those vibrationg compactors or is there a better way?

Any and all advice is greatly appreciated.

Regards,
Dave

 

[CTyler]

If your going to pour concrete then you should remove the grass. If its just going to be rocked you don't have to remove it. Later down the road you may have to add a bit more rock though, personaly I'd remove it.

The pea gravel will not pack like crushed rock and get hard. If you were pouring concrete over it then it would be ok. They use gravel under a lot of the driveways around here. The pea gravel consolidates but doesn't really pack. Picture yourself holding a handfull of marbles then squeeze. The pea gravel will always be kinda mushy until it gets some dirt mixed in with it.

If the pad is just rock I'd use 1 1/2 crushed rock. Driving over it will pack it. If its to be under concrete then pack it with a vibrating plate.

 

[CTyler]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( drops about 4 inches from front to back. )</font>

Forgot.... You want the water to drain away from the building. Code, here anyway, is 1/4" per foot or 2 1/2" per 10'.

Changed 4" to 2 1/2"

 

[TonyC]

Coincidentally I am doing the exact same thing right now. I have done it in the past as well. I use a packed gravel pad under my tractor implements, trailer etc. There are a lot of ways to do this but I usually start by just spraying the area well with Roundup. This kills off all of the growth very well. Then I get what we call crush and run which is driveway gravel mixed with rock dust. Spreading this with the FEL is a simple process. If I'm just doing a small area I pack it with the tractor. If I'm doing a larger area or one that I want to be especially nice, I rent a plate compactor. They cost me $45 for 4 hours or $60 a day. Usually 4 hours is enough. This does a great job especially when you are trying to raise one end to level. I keep a little extra gravel on the side in case I what to make adjustments while compacting. Whatever's left can be saved for future adjustments or just spread over the area and compacted in. This method works great but of course rain will work on it over time. I have areas like this under cover that stay nice for quite a long time. Hope this helps. Good Luck!

 

[adegiulio]

Ctyler, not to bust chops, but 1/4" per foot equals 2 1/2 inches over 10 feet, not 4 inches per 10 feet.

I'm liking the advice in this thread, I need to do the same for my tractor, which is currently just left out in the woods. Since we have cleared so much, its time to put down a surface which is level and will drain well. It also easier to do mainenance on a nice level, compact surface rather than the mud i park in now...

Anthony

 

[WVBill]

I concur with the others. Use Crusher Run and definitely use Round-Up.
I'd go one step farther - remove the dead sod and put down landscape fabric (OK, two steps) under your gravel or in six months you'll find yourself mowing your parking pad. (Voice of experience here) /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif . There's seeds or whatever in the sod that the RoundUp doesn't kill and the landscape fabric will help keep the underlying mud from squishing up through your gravel.

 

[Docsknotinn]

I just did the same thing for my tractor and implements. My pea gravel is several inches deep in a few places. I did spray with round up first. Pea Gravel will not compact easily, but the up side is that it drains well. If you want it compacted it might be best to level it first with a finer soil that has been cleaned and then tamp it adding the pea gravel on top. Pea stone is easy to work with and level witha FEL. Dave

 

[CTyler]

Dohhh!!!

 

[TonyC]

I don't disagree with using landscape fabric but in my experience when using a relatively thin layer of gravel, it doesn't pack as well. On the dirt, it packs tight and forms a base that gets even tighter over time. On fabric it tends to slide around too much. I stopped using it and solved the problem by spotting with Roundup as weeds pop up. A few squirts here and there keeps everything down. Over time they stop coming up.

 

[Docsknotinn]

My thoughts were to try to get as little dirt mixed in with the pea stone as possible to hopefully avoid more weeds. But a little blast of round up is no biggie. How deep did you place yours and still get it to compact ? Dave