How to Maintain Your Gravel Driveway, NO MORE POTHOLES!

Рет қаралды 75,443

Күн бұрын

It took a while, but I finally figured out how to keep our gravel driveway smooth and dust free. It's pretty simple if you have the right tools...

Пікірлер: 95

@gregdickerson2957 2 жыл бұрын

You are a box blade master. Excellent video!

@theback40 2 жыл бұрын

LOL! Thanks Greg.

@MichaelSmithetal Жыл бұрын

nice video. You did a great job with the photography. Nice use of multiple angles. You also did a nice job of filling that area of erosion by the concrete pad. Thanks!

@theback40 Жыл бұрын

Hey Michael, thank you. I am certainly an amateur videographer and editor, but enjoy the process and improving skills. All the best to you.

@andysparks7381 2 жыл бұрын

Hey, beautiful German Shepherd dog. The coloring is exactly like mine. Also, thanks for the good information on adjusting the box blade to maintain the crown.

@theback40 2 жыл бұрын

Hey Andy, thank you. Love those German Shepherds!! All the best to you.

@FixitAgain69 2 жыл бұрын

This is cool and this is helpful! I'm gonna try to box blade my gravel driveway tomorrow

@theback40 2 жыл бұрын

Good luck Timothy! It's part science, and part art. Be patient, you'll figure it out. All the best to you.

@rp1645 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for explaining the pot hole control I like your idea of a pile, then fill the box spreader first.

@theback40 Жыл бұрын

Sure thing RP, hope it helped. All the best to you.

@rp1645 Жыл бұрын

@@theback40 I have a 1978 Dynahoe-190 for my Garden. I like turning (building a big pile) out of my Dirt. Plus it gives me a place to bury my grass clippings. Have over 8000 hours on her. Keep clean oil in her, plus those old Detroit Diesel (353) have plates on each side of the block. To install Heater element plug ins The only if you call it major work done to her, Hydraulic Seal replacement. The Engine has blown by. Also have a 8-71 Detroit Diesel in a 1971 Fire Engine I'm Restoring for Kids to enjoy getting in the Drivers seat. Turning on Emergency Overhead Lights. The smile you get from kids makes it all worth it.

@theback40 Жыл бұрын

@@rp1645 Very cool, sounds like a lot of fun. Gotta love the diesel's.

@aaronburford5701 Жыл бұрын

Love the camera view and grading process!

@theback40 Жыл бұрын

Thanks Aaron. All the best to you.

@aaronburford5701 Жыл бұрын

@@theback40likewise... keep them coming!

@aaronburford5701 Жыл бұрын

Your commentary is the best! Easy to follow and understand. Thanns for sharing!

@aaronburford5701 5 ай бұрын

Love the content, the box blade and dribeway work. Liked and aubscribed!

@theback40 5 ай бұрын

Hey Aaron, thanks. All the best to you.

@user-oy3io3ks8l 3 ай бұрын

Thank you great tips

@theback40 3 ай бұрын

Hey Thomas, sure thing, hope it helped. All the best to you.

@na-et2gp 2 жыл бұрын

Something to consider is brine pumped out of the ground in some locations can contain radium and be radioactive. Hopefully thats not the case where you live but may be worth researching to be sure. Good video and explanation for managing a gravel road

@theback40 2 жыл бұрын

Yikes! Thanks for the info, I'll have to do some recon on this. All the best to you.

@robjones939 10 ай бұрын

In Costa Rica, during the dry season, we use a molasses product to spray the road and keep the dust down. It's a little sticky after a coating but once it dries it's great until the rainy season starts!

@theback40 10 ай бұрын

That is a new one on me, for sure! We use molasses in cookies here, LOL. But that stuff sure is thick, would probably absorb a lot of moisture to keep the dust down, and smell great after a rain, too. All the best to you.

@deanmeyer1815 9 ай бұрын

I have seen calcium chloride and brine used on gravel roads for dust control, and it works well. If the brine is sodium chloride, if you get too much down, it will kill any plants on the sides of the road when the rain washes it off the road. Calcium chloride is used as a de-icer in the rust belt areas of the U.S.

@theback40 9 ай бұрын

Hey Dean, good point that I forgot to mention in the video. The brine does kill the grass where it runs off the driveway. But this also makes for a clear runoff area when it rains to minimize pothole formation. Thanks for the comment, all the best to you.

@kennethjara3240 2 жыл бұрын

Hello! Just to clarify, the road gets a higher side with a siding of dirt/gavel or do you hight center the road by angling the box like you said and passing on both sides? From what I’m understanding you slant the road leaving a higher side with a edge of dirt/gravel to help the water run off to the lower side?

@theback40 2 жыл бұрын

Hey Kenneth, the high point is the center of the road, so the water drains off to both sides of the drive. So with the blade slightly tilted, I take a pass down the center on each side of the road to continue reinforcing the high spot in the middle of the driveway. But, once the middle "crown" is in place, you can level the blade for your occassional maintenance runs because the tilt will already be in the driveway and you don't want to keep building the center too high. If I'm not clear on this, let me know and I'll try again. All the best to you!

@leestovall2936 2 жыл бұрын

When you were establishing the crown, were you running your BB in the neutral position or were you in cutting mode (shorter toplink)? I am having trouble establishing the crown on mine. How much of a tilt did you have on the BB? Great video. Thanks for making it. I hadn't heard about dust control methods on Gravel driveways but I'll be sure to check it out as my driveway is around 1,700 feet long.

@theback40 2 жыл бұрын

Hey Lee, if I had to do it again (I butchered it the first few times I tried to build the crown as I was figuring it out) I would set it on a very very very slight cutting mode to get the gravel moving, but don't gouge the base. It will take a few passes to get a feel for it. I would suggest being patient and making more passes instead of going aggressive in fewer passes. Long driveways are great for getting away from the road and noise, but the maintenance, ugh.... All the best to you!

@leestovall2936 2 жыл бұрын

@@theback40 Thank you sir for your informative reply. I have now edited my strategy! Lol

@theback40 2 жыл бұрын

@@leestovall2936 LOL! Good luck.

@hc8771 25 күн бұрын

I'm curious, why not just a bucket to back drag? I've bought a box blade but I find it slower to spread and level. Great for turning up the gravel in the back for weed control.

@theback40 25 күн бұрын

I didn't find the bucket to have enough volume of aggregate to fill the holes properly and smooth the surface, just too inconsistent for me. It also doesn't allow for slope creation for drainage to prevent the pot holes, and continued maintenance compared to the box blade. AND, driving backward on a half mile driveway multiple times? Nah. All the best to you.

@kr5289 Жыл бұрын

Here in KY if you say a vehicle come from Michigan it's hard to sell because of so much Brine they use it rust cars to bad. not sure i would want it on my drive. but good video

@theback40 Жыл бұрын

Thanks. The brine from the dust control is minimal and doesn't get on the cars compared to the salt they use on the roads during the winter here in Michigan. Salt gets in the slush, slush splashes on the vehicles, and the water part melts away leaving the salt residue on the surfaces, and you're right, it's not good. But I would think they are using some kind of a brine soution on the gravel roads everywhere during the summer to hold down dust? What do they do there in KY?

@georgejoecken4748 3 ай бұрын

Great info. Now, what about inclines. They wash out so easily. nasty ruts too.

@theback40 3 ай бұрын

Hey George, so sorry but I don't have experience with inclines so can't help you there. All the best to you.

@MrTitanscout 3 ай бұрын

The same potholes in my drive keep forming after they are refilled. Do I need to first excavate around the recurring potholes before I refill, and then slope the driveway? Or, just refill these holes and then slope the drive? Is the excavation necessary as some other KZfaq posters say? Thanks

@theback40 3 ай бұрын

Refilling them is a temporary fix, as you have already learned. Yes, to get a permanent fix, they should to be disturbed and resurfaced. A box blade has "rippers" that extend down into the gravel and their height can be adjusted, and should be set to the depth of your deepest pothole. Once this has been done, then you can get the slope right and you're done. OR.....if you don't want to tear it all up, you can do what I did, and put the slope in the drive without the rippers extended, and then keep going over it often for a year or so and the potholes eventually disappear, but this does take more time. All the best to you.

@MrTitanscout 3 ай бұрын

Thanks so much@@theback40

@OfftoShambala 12 күн бұрын

Hmm… do they make stuff like that box spreader for a truck or suv tow hitch?

@theback40 12 күн бұрын

I have seen tow behind "GRADERS", which are similar in concept. I haven't used one before, so can't say how effective they are. My biggest question would be can they be adjusted to develop a crown on the drive? All the best to you.

@theback40 9 күн бұрын

Look what KZfaq fed to me this morning, might be what you are looking for: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/nsVhgqqa2reRpIE.html

@OutlanderArmory Жыл бұрын

How does the brine on your driveway affect your vehicles?

@theback40 Жыл бұрын

Hey Dan, I dont' really notice any negative effects. There is probably a little bit of salt drifting into the wheel wells, but nothing compared to what we get here in the winter time when the road commission is spreading salt on the roads. All the best to you.

@craighwilkins1 2 жыл бұрын

What size gravel do you order if needed? Also have you ever used the rippers on the box blade @ the depth of the pot holes and re leveled with the box blade? I just got a home in the country and I need to fix up the driveway when it thaws out some lol

@theback40 2 жыл бұрын

Hey Craig, this is called "slag", and it comes from a local steel mill as a byproduct of their process, so I'm not sure what size gravel it would equate to? And yes, I used the rippers once, and because our driveway is an abandoned railroad grade, it pulled up a lot of large, 3-4" rocks that had to be picked out, and mixed in sand with the slag (we only put 4" of slag on over it). So I don't do that anymore. BUT, if the slag I added was as deep as the pot holes, I would do exactly what you said and set the rippers at the depth of the potholes. Congrats on your country home!!!! It is the most wonderful way to live!!!!

@blorph1 Жыл бұрын

@@theback40 Amen! Last year we fled a NY state suburb and moved to a free-er state way out in the country on a mountain top. A real blessing from the Lord. Tons of wild critters here. 4 legged, not 2 legged.

@theback40 Жыл бұрын

@@blorph1 Congrats on your move! Shhhhhh, don't tell anyone else, we want to keep country living a secret. Lol.

@christophermoney2985 Жыл бұрын

Look into getting asphalt millings for your driveway.

@theback40 Жыл бұрын

Hey Christopher, thanks for the idea. I'll have to check into this. All the best to you.

@christophermoney2985 Жыл бұрын

@@theback40 Let me know how it goes

@DaveG425 6 ай бұрын

So, thanks to you and this video, it looks like I may have solved “the spot” at the bottom of my neighborhood dirt road. After years of just mindlessly filling around 30 potholes over and over again every winter, I tried a ten foot long section just by hand and with a little help dropping road base and just smoothed it out with a small crown in the middle, then sloping slightly down on both sides, then drove over it back and forth to pack it down. After the first rains, zero potholes formed, while about 15 formed in the sections where I didn’t crown. I have now finished the entire 60 foot section and just had a lot of rain and it is still looking great. I just wanted to say thank you. This was such a huge help to our neighborhood, and mostly me, the guy who had to fill the potholes all the time!

@theback40 6 ай бұрын

Hey Dave, thank you for the feedback. I put these videos out to help people, and it is very satisfying and encouraging to get feedback like this. What are you going to do with all your extra time now, lol. All the best to you.

@DaveG425 6 ай бұрын

I don’t know what I will do with the extra time now lol. What it will do is allow me to more time to focus on overall maintenance on our 1/2 mile dirt road. It was a total game changer! And I forgot to even mention, saving my neighborhood easily close to $400 a year in gravel delivery too for the road base we filled the pot holes with. Thanks man!

@theback40 6 ай бұрын

@@DaveG425 Sure thing!

@sniper-lt9pd Жыл бұрын

WHAT IS THE SALT CONCENTRATION AND CAN SEA WATER BE USED?

@theback40 Жыл бұрын

Good question! The concentration is 30-35%, and sea water is around 3.5%. I'm sure you could use it, but would have to put on a lot, and often. All the best to you.

@danjim7056 2 жыл бұрын

I try shoveling my driveway back into my driveway from down the side of the road but it's a loosing battling with me just having a shovel.

@theback40 2 жыл бұрын

Hey Dan, LOL! Mother nature is a beast, and very hard to beat! All the best to you.

@michaelruh6646 2 жыл бұрын

How are you liking the tar river drill

@theback40 2 жыл бұрын

Hey Michael, the first go around was great, and I plan on doing an update video this weekend so maybe later next week I'll have the video loaded on KZfaq to give more details. Also getting close to the second planting here in mid-August so I look forward to seeing how it does, and put out a few video on that progress, too.

@michaelruh6646 2 жыл бұрын

Awesome can’t wait to see it thanks

@jacklabloom635 2 жыл бұрын

Does the salt cause rust on your vehicles?

@theback40 2 жыл бұрын

Hey Jack, the winter salt they use on the roads up here in Michigan is 1000 times more concerning than what little bit is put on the driveway in the summer. It's not a concern to me. All the best to you!

@challerback23 Жыл бұрын

I live in Allendale/Zeeland and need help with this, can I hire you to do my long gravel driveway?!

@theback40 Жыл бұрын

Hey Carly, LOL! I'm sure there are excavators much more skilled than me?! All the best to you.

@challerback23 Жыл бұрын

@@theback40 fair enough! I was looking up DIY vids and when yours said West Michigan I was like WAIT!! 😂

@theback40 Жыл бұрын

@@challerback23 LOL! Maybe that's a future business idea? Hmmmm.....

@ncrpejxi 2 жыл бұрын

Might be worth it to make your own sprayer with a 250 gallon tank on your tractor

@theback40 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the idea. The company that services us now is pouring 3500 gallons on it with each application. But you might have a good idea here in that I could spray it more frequently with less amount, say maybe weekly with 250-500 gallons. Hmmm....

@dankcorey2424 11 ай бұрын

What people used to do is spray used motor oil on it to hold the dust down

@theback40 11 ай бұрын

Hey Corey, I remember my dad dumping our old motor oil on the driveway, until we put up a new cattle fence around the house made of rough sawn oak planks, then we used the oil to treat the fence instead. All the best to you.

@safffff1000 10 ай бұрын

Be nice to have the Kabota

@theback40 10 ай бұрын

I had one prior to what I have now and it was great, and decided to get one a little bigger. When I went to get another Kabota, the dealership had really gone downhill and it scared me away. I think they are ok now, but it's too late, already got the JD. All the best to you.

@markmellinger1887 2 жыл бұрын

Well that attach to my push mower?

@theback40 2 жыл бұрын

Hey Mark, only if it has the three point hitch setup. But watch out, you will hit your feet on it with every step, lol.

@markmellinger1887 2 жыл бұрын

@@theback40 haha...our community gravel road is riddled w holes...we need you!

@theback40 2 жыл бұрын

@@markmellinger1887 LOL.

@Matthew-dd6kp Жыл бұрын

The number of people who don't maintain their roads is unacceptable. As a delivery driver in florida, we have one route where every single dirt road is poorly maintained and people constantly get stuck. All of the gravel roads have potholes which means you have to drive 10 mph which puts you behind schedule.

@theback40 Жыл бұрын

Hey Matthew, we have a lot of dirt roads around here, too, and this time of year they are terrible, the frost (moisture from winter time) is coming out of the ground as it warms up, they end up like washboards.

@simd510 7 ай бұрын

Its delivery drivers damage most of the driveways 😂 also if the road is smooth then delivery drivers drive way to fast

@Matthew-dd6kp 7 ай бұрын

It's either you drive 20 MPH or you get stuck and I promise you pulling a vehicle out of a road will cause more damage @@simd510

@angusblack9900 10 ай бұрын

On a quite summer nite you can hear your pickup quietly rust down😢

@theback40 10 ай бұрын

Hey Angus, LOL. All the best to you.

@moms762 Жыл бұрын

I couldn’t see much of a crown on your drive or angle set on your box blade either.

@theback40 Жыл бұрын

I figured it would be hard to see on the video, it's just a subtle slope. And the crown is already built up on my drive, so you make the blade level since the tractor is going to be sloped with the drive for maintenance. All the best to you.

@kenabate4643 Жыл бұрын

How horrible for your car is brine! Awesome on the maintenance part but no way I'm subjecting my vehicles to more corrosion from salt or calcium chloride!

@theback40 Жыл бұрын

Hey Ken, thanks for the comment. It's a "pick your poison" issue, rust or dust..... But, I don't think the brine on the drive gets on the vehicles, nothing like the winter slush, plus we wash our cars often in the summer time. For me, not a concern, but I can certainly see it from your angle, too. All the best to you.

@simd510 7 ай бұрын

Do you expect your vehicle to last 100 years? Its going to die long before the damage from the brine