Driveway Upkeep

[bob farrell]

Have a drive at the farm that is close to 1/2 mile long. Very sandy soil - some gravel in spots (cost too much to gravel all). Drainage is very good - after a hard rain it just takes a few hours to drive on and hardly leave a track.

However, as with any drive, it occasionally needs a little TLC to smooth out.

What do you guys use to maintain yours? Have a IH 424D so I can pull/drag just about anything. Suggestions? Thanks !! Bob

 

[Dick L]

I have a long shop drive that semis go in and out daily that is mill run lime stone. I work it with a Glenco field cultivator in the spring before the drive is way hard. Then back blade it smooth with a loader bucket. Normally lasts till the next spring but with the 17 inches of rain we just received over the last few weeks I need to work it again soon.

 

[souNdguy]

My first choice would be a rear angle blade, and my 2nd choice would be a box blade, and adjust one side high to cut shoulders, etc..


Soundguy

 

[Anonymous-0]

AS A DEALER I PROBABLY GET ASK THIS SEVERAL TIMES A YEAR.. SEE A LOT OF PART TIME PEOPLE IN THIS AREA WITH LONG DRIVES TO LAKE CABIN';; MY ANSWER FOR WHAT IT IS WORTH.. IT REALLY TAKES TWO TOOLS AS THE OTHER GUY STATED.. THE BOX BLADE IS FINE FOR FILLING IN POT HOLES AS THEY COME ALONG BUT FINALY AFTER A TIME YOU WILL NEED THE REAR ANGLE GRADER BLADE TO REACH OUT AND PULL YOUR GRAVEL BACK TO THE CENTER AND CROWN YOUR ROAD..BOTHE UNITS COULD BE PURCHASED USED FOR AROUND 500 / 600 OR MAY BE LESS DEPENDING ON THE AGE AND CONDITION..I DO LIKE TO GET AS WIDE A BOX AS THE TRACTOR WILL HANDEL THAT WAY THINGS
SEEM TO STAY LEVEL

 

[Lou]

Find a used York rake. They come under other brand names and work great.

 

[Janicholson]

Here is a maintainer I have constructed that is super simple and uses railroad ties and an axle from a compact GMC car with small high pressure spare tires for depth control and lifting it. Search for Road maintainer Illustration to get som additional stuff, JimN

 

[Chances R]

Here is what I made and use a lot for myself and for other people. But if you want a crown forget it. You see alot of these at tractor pulls. The cutting edge is 10" channel iron and is 9' wide.
To see more pictures of homemade equipment visit my web sites photo album.

my web site

 

[old]

Thats an easy one for me hands down. I use my 1947 WC speed patrol and will not use any thing else. It does a real good job and it was made just for that. I have about 1.5 miles of drive I have to keep up so I almost have to have something like this thing. Pictures are in my web site
Hobby farm

 

[Leland]

I bought one of these 4 ft wide best money I ever spent

www.DRpower.com/grader

 

[Don-Wi]

I've done that too. We've got an old 12 ft. Glencoe that I dropped in the driveway one spring when the driveway just wouldn't dry out.

No more than 6 hours later the gravel was dry, and there was a noticable improvement.

Donovan from Wisconsin

 

[bob farrell]

Thanks to all who responded. I got some good ideas to maybe put something together or look for something to buy. I really liked the '47 WC Old provided a picture of. Anybody know where I might find one and some idea of a price range for one?
Thanks again. Bob

 

[Ryne]

a piece of a screen from a crusher or screening plant works great with some weight i use concrete blocks but my drive isnt to long. we have a blade truck for our longer roads through the property my two cents