Reclaiming Gravel.

[walnutman]

We have a shared 1/4 mile run that gets runoff on heavy rains that erodes it pretty bad. I finally got two 24 ton loads of road base... they call it flex base also. It's crushed concrete and anything else but the kitchen sink with a lot of concrete fines. Once it rains and you drive over it a bunch it packs in like concrete. We no longer get ravines. The idea of pulling the gravel up makes no sense to me. I want it compressed with more added.

 

[sandman2234]

Current blade is too long to turn around when on my tractor (I inherited it when I bought the farm).

Current blade is so heavy duty that my welding friend said "Don't ever get rid of that".

Perhaps I should try shortening the top link to make mine less aggressive?

Well, if you do decide to get rid of it, let me know! I need a heavy one!
David from jax

 

[RB5]

We have a shared 1/4 mile run that gets runoff on heavy rains that erodes it pretty bad. I finally got two 24 ton loads of road base... they call it flex base also. It's crushed concrete and anything else but the kitchen sink with a lot of concrete fines. Once it rains and you drive over it a bunch it packs in like concrete. We no longer get ravines. The idea of pulling the gravel up makes no sense to me. I want it compressed with more added.

Yeah I'm with you on pulling up gravel. Too much clay and sand here to even think of that working. The rocks gets pushed down with every heavy rain. I use an angled blade to pull to the center like you and crown it. I reverse it so it doesn't dig. Then I might go back over the center and level it a little with the blade straight. When I get a new load of shrapnel infested crushed concrete I have them drag dump it, and all I have to do it crown it a little. Works great. I've even used a metal detector to help clean it up sometimes.

 

[Camofurever1]

Rent a CTL with a Harley rake on it (If you don't own one) for half a day to do your initial reshaping of your drive. Get it graded and crowned the way your want it, then use your rake to maintain it.

 

[ProBass]

I have about a 1 mile gravel driveway. My maintenance plan, which has worked pretty well, is:

1 - Make multiple passes with an angled landscape rake to bring gravel back onto drive.
2 - Make a few passes with LPGS to smooth the drive.

I find that the landscape rake is just "OK" on pulling gravel back onto the road. I've thought of trying to construct some type of clamp on blade but have not found anything I think will work.

I have a scrape blade that is very heavy and, while it Cuts ditches well, brings too much dirt along with the gravel if I try to use it to reclaim gravel.


I'm thinking a light blade might just do a good job of reclaiming gravel without reshaping the dirt underneath.

Anyone ever used a lightweight scrape blade for reclaiming gravel? TSC has a 6' one that only weighs 213 lbs. They also have a 6' "Professional" that will offset one foot and weighs 256 lbs.

I was wondering if one of these would work well as I have about 3 miles of gravel roads to maintain ... TR3 "E" Property Edition - ABI Attachments

 

[BufordBoone]

If you can push your gravel in reverse you can test for results.

Awesome suggestion. That should tell me a lot. Thanks!

 

[BufordBoone]

I was wondering if one of these would work well as I have about 3 miles of gravel roads to maintain ... TR3 "E" Property Edition - ABI Attachments

I've looked at those more than once. Would love to give it a try but they are expensive.

 

[California]

The easement has been here for over 100 years so there's plenty of gravel that's been tossed to the side.

This light back blade, an ancient 'Carrington Terracer', with some ballast on one side to help it dig, does a good job of restoring the crown.

 

[coast40]

I would go with a dozer with a six way blade or an 8 way blade. My driveway is only 1/4 mile long. Perhaps rent one for half a day.

 

[nyone]

I've looked at those more than once. Would love to give it a try but they are expensive.

If I remember right there more costly than a landscape rake, box blade and rear blade combined.