Turning Driveway Over

[Yosemite Sam]

I can't find it now, but a week or so ago, I thought I read where someone said something about turning their driveway over...

I presume they were talking about a gravel drive.

If anyone has ever done this (with good results) how did you do it?

I have often day dreamed about digging my drive out, running the gravel through a screen shaker and then putting the gravel back. The first problem with that is... I don't have a screen shaker.

[J-Mech]

I do it all the time. I use the front mounted blade. (Because I don't have a rear one.) Angle the blade and start on one side of the drive. Push, or "roll" all the gravel you can to the other side. Then, start cutting into the windrow of gravel you made and roll it all to the center. Now, here's where it gets tricky... With all the gravel windrowed in the center, spread it all back out. After you spread it as best you can, turn the tractor around and run it in reverse with the blade down. This will even it all out and smooth it much better than you can going forward. It takes A LOT OF PRACTICE to be good at this. And you can kind of screw up your drive if done wrong. I suggest "practicing" in a small section (like 10' or so of the drive) till you get the hang of it. If done right, it will look like a road grader just graded your drive!

[Maxwelhse]

You did see that thread and I believe I was one of the people urging caution about "turning the driveway over."

You don't want to do that, in the complete sense. Most driveways (including my auxiliary parking) are laid with larger stones on the bottom, then finer stones on the top. You DO NOT want to mix them up and you definatly do not want the big stones on top (they simply do not stay put... I was at work, like a chump, the day my fool of a contractor "repaired" my driveway with the wrong damn stones... They're all over the place 9 months later. The correct stuff out back is doing exactly what it should).

The advice J gave you is exactly spot on. DO NOT dig deep with a ripper or grader box tangs in a gravel driveway. You will create an unmanageable weed patch that will need to be ripped out and started again from scratch. My Dad didn't listen to my advice and that's exactly what he got... I'll be out there Saturday and will snap a pic or two of his disaster...

[drglinski]

This reminds me of the scotts commercial where the guy is saying "you're mulch flipping again aren't you?" This sounds like a waste of time.

[Muzzy]

The best tool I've found for gravel or stone driveways is a york rake. I do several driveways a year with mine and they come out great.

[Merk]

This what I use on my drive way

Behind my 100

Closer view

Finish drive

[J-Mech]

Originally Posted by Maxwelhse

You did see that thread and I believe I was one of the people urging caution about "turning the driveway over."

You don't want to do that, in the complete sense. Most driveways (including my auxiliary parking) are laid with larger stones on the bottom, then finer stones on the top. You DO NOT want to mix them up and you definatly do not want the big stones on top (they simply do not stay put... I was at work, like a chump, the day my fool of a contractor "repaired" my driveway with the wrong damn stones... They're all over the place 9 months later. The correct stuff out back is doing exactly what it should).

The advice J gave you is exactly spot on. DO NOT dig deep with a ripper or grader box tangs in a gravel driveway. You will create an unmanageable weed patch that will need to be ripped out and started again from scratch. My Dad didn't listen to my advice and that's exactly what he got... I'll be out there Saturday and will snap a pic or two of his disaster...

Not all driveways are created equal. Not all have large stone under them. And if built right, you should never be able to reach it, at least not with a cub.... Some have typar. Again, if done correctly you shouldn't be able to reach it with a cub and blade either.

Originally Posted by drglinski

This reminds me of the scotts commercial where the guy is saying "you're mulch flipping again aren't you?" This sounds like a waste of time.

It isn't a waste of time. If it was the counties would just add gravel to a gravel road. Instead, they "maintain" them. Constantly grading. Usually not adding gravel for YEARS!

[Maxwelhse]

Originally Posted by J-Mech

Not all driveways are created equal. Not all have large stone under them. And if built right, you should never be able to reach it, at least not with a cub.... Some have typar. Again, if done correctly you shouldn't be able to reach it with a cub and blade either.

Agreed, rocks are rocks and not everyone has the same approach about laying a driveway.

The bigger point I'm making, no matter what implement or tool is used, is that you don't want to dig deep. The suggested methods and attachments shown in this thread all seem to be perfect for the job. An 8" long ripper is not...

[Rex B]

Originally Posted by J-Mech

I do it all the time. I use the front mounted blade. (Because I don't have a rear one.) Angle the blade and start on one side of the drive. Push, or "roll" all the gravel you can to the other side. Then, start cutting into the windrow of gravel you made and roll it all to the center. Now, here's where it gets tricky... With all the gravel windrowed in the center, spread it all back out.

This is what I do, with the rear blade on my 1864. My drive is sloped and in need of fresh pea gravel, but I get decent results. Once or twice a year

[Shaner]

i don't do anything to my gravel driveway. when all the stones go away and it turns to dirt and mud ill buy mud tires for my trucks....if you can't get in my driveway i probably don't want you there anyway lol