working on driveway

[Beap52 1,390]

I just got home from storm spotter training.  It was in association with our monthly amateur radio meeting.  We normally have 10 to 15 in attendance but tonight at least 40.

 

Today, in addition to aerating the yard,  I worked on the driveway.  Over time the gravel gets bunched up where the cars turn to enter the garage and in general gets packed down.  I made the drag contraption several years ago.  The gravel caught inside covers a 4x4.  One thing I would have done differently was use grade 8 bolts in the lead 4x4 because the bolts I used have bent over-but they still work and are sharpened to a point.  The last picture is the finished project.  After 20 years, it's about time to order another load of gravel.

[HyperPete 867]

This is a VERY useful topic for me.  I bought a place a bit over 2 years ago with a good bit of gravel driveway that needs grading.  I thought about back dragging with the front end loader, but this looks like it will do a better job more easily.

Thank you.

[ebinmaine 72,358]

Very interesting contraption. Works well. 

 

Trina uses a mid mount grader blade on ours.  

 

 

[peter lena 9,231]

@Beap52  any loose surface  needs a regular , touch up , thats the  cure for  any  disturbance to its  top setting , like your weight box drag , allows surface to  find itself  , another thing , to  add to tht is your  drag / pull speed , the slower you can cover an area  , the more it will settle , into where it wants to be, your open top box set up , is what you want , another thing , is plowing snow on that , would not , plow down to the stone , enhancing  stone pick up , be glad to get off  most , not all of it  , looks like your  SUN SETTING ,ANGLE , is assurance  of assisted melting . often refer to that , always plow with the sun , to assist melting / refreezing , have a hedge side of driveway, sun blocking shade / freeze . angle plow  to opposite sun side , melts into drain , been doing that for years , REPEDITIVE  PROBLEMS SHOW YOU THE WAY  , TO CORRECT THEM ,  pete   

[lynnmor 7,787]

If you could find a local contractor to roll it for a sensible price, it would greatly increase the time between reworking.

[Handy Don 13,966]

3 hours ago, lynnmor said:

If you could find a local contractor to roll it for a sensible price, it would greatly increase the time between reworking.

Adding some “fines” to fill the crevices before rolling will also make the surface a bit sturdier. Using the drag device tends to settle the fine material down under the coarser gravel. 

[SylvanLakeWH 28,302]

 

And when you do add gravel don't use "washed". You want the fines in there to help set it up...

[SylvanLakeWH 28,302]

21 hours ago, Beap52 said:

 

I just got home from storm spotter training.  It was in association with our monthly amateur radio meeting. 

 

I meant to say  on getting this training!!! I went through it couple years back and some refresher courses... Excellent information and training!!!

[Beap52 1,390]

Thanks for all of the replies and suggestions.   I only drag the driveway one a year at most--and usually because I enjoy the seat time and it looks so much better.  It's kind of a satisfying project for me.  Pete gave suggestions for plowing snow.  That's something that rarely gets done in this household. We both drive 4 wheel drive vehicles and seldom get enough snow that I scoop--other than sidewalks. When snow is removed, it's usually done by or paid for by neighbors, and then gravel ends up in the grass.   

 

I suppose the main reason I enjoy this group is the wisdom and advice given.  For a short while I was on a site for electric bicycles.  Those rascals were just mean to each other.