Washbord on gravel drive, how to fix, stop, and prevent it please!

[MossflowerWoods]

One section of the easment gravel road to my property is getting VERY bad washboard.

I try to groom the road regularly with my ratchet rake, and it does a beautiful job. I have not done it in a couple months due to it is so dry.

But, what is the best known way to fix, stop, and prevent washboard?

Thanks in advance!

Be well,
David

 

[wedge40]

Slow down? :laughing:

I'm guessing you may have to use more then the ratchet rake there. You might have to dig the area up and redo the subsoil/base.

Wedge

 

[LD1]

But, what is the best known way to fix, stop, and prevent washboard?

Thanks in advance!

Be well,
David

asphalt:thumbsup:

In all seriousness, you can google it and read for days on end about the "wahsboard phenomenon". I really dont think there is a conclusive answer for totally preventing it.

What are you using for stone/gravel? I would suggest possibly a different mix. Limestone will last longer without washboarding. And even better would be something like a 304 limestone. Which in other parts is called something like 3/4 minus. Basically it is stone, no larger than 3/4" all the way down to dust. Having a good mix of smaller stuff and dust mixed in, the stuff packs down like cement. The only drawback is it dont go as far per ton, cause it is denser due to the smaller particals filling the air voids caused by a stone that is uniform in size.

 

[lockhaven]

getting rid of the wash board will require roughing it up and loosening the gravel. To prevent it in the future, slow down. I have lived on a gravel road my entire life. The section that is mine alone needs far less maintenance then any of my neighbors does, reason is i drive slow. holes and washboard are caused by the tires bouncing up and down. 10MPH or less is the rule.

 

[BrianDT]

These days crushed concete is reasonable for a base. You can get the larger stuff and it seems to hold better as a base.

Every post above has some great points. You mght need to work the gravel deeper, you might need to add stone, you might need a better base.

Do you know what under your bstone base? Clay or sand?

 

[RDrancher]

If you could provide photos of the surface and maybe a closeup of the gravel with a coin in the photo for size reference, it would help.

Well, you can't stop it, but the best way to postpone washboarding is to scarify the section down a couple of inches, make a few box blade or land plane passes to remix, then re-grade and use water and a vibratory roller to compact the road. Also, if your box blade is the floating rear gate type, flip the gate up and secure it with a c-clamp when you working with gravel, especially if the rock content is high. In some cases you can actually see the floating gate "skip" across the surface causing mini washboards. Speaking of which, a high rock-to-fines mix can washboard pretty fast. A gravel mix with too much rock the same size will start it too.

Here's my pic that shows the floating gate secured up and out of the way.

 

[sandman2234]

asphalt:thumbsup:

In all seriousness, you can google it and read for days on end about the "wahsboard phenomenon". I really dont think there is a conclusive answer for totally preventing it.

What are you using for stone/gravel? I would suggest possibly a different mix. Limestone will last longer without washboarding. And even better would be something like a 304 limestone. Which in other parts is called something like 3/4 minus. Basically it is stone, no larger than 3/4" all the way down to dust. Having a good mix of smaller stuff and dust mixed in, the stuff packs down like cement. The only drawback is it dont go as far per ton, cause it is denser due to the smaller particals filling the air voids caused by a stone that is uniform in size.

I disagree, I would say "Concrete"... but either is a viable option.
David from jax

 

[LD1]

I thought about mentioning that, but then he mentioned it being a road and not a driveway, so I said asphalt simply cause of cost.

But yes indeed, if one can afford, concrete is the best solution

 

[dmccarty]

Are road is made from road base which in NC is called ABC. Seems like other states call in crush and run. ABC is dust up to maybe 2 inches in size. The dust locks the larger stone together. Our part of the road that is private and only used by us and delivery trucks has never had a problem with wash boarding. The part of the road shared by others has had minor wash boarding that I would fix every four years or so by ripping the gravel up with the teeth on the box blade. After bringing the gravel back up I would smooth it back down.

I have seen gravel that was compacted that did not wash board as easy but it still is getting pot holes.

Later,
Dan

 

[MtnViewRanch]

David, assuming that you are not going to get a concrete drive. It is time that you invest in some 3pt attachments that are intended to be used for grading. Several different kinds will work for you. Do some research, make a decision and go with that decision. Everyone has there own idea about what works the best and so much of what actually does work the best has to do with what material you have to work with.
It was suggested that you show us some pictures and I agree with that 100%. If a picture is worth a 1000 words, then a couple of pics will hasten the usable advice that you get by days. Without pictures, everyone is just guessing about what your conditions are and what you have to work with.