Homemade gravel drive evener/leveler

[Eugene]

Suggestions wanted for a good homemade gravel drive evener/leveler.

I have used tires, metal, and logs to make one. Just looking for good ideas, draw bar attached, and comments on their pro/cons.

This is for the acreage drive. The results do not have to look urban drive pretty, just knock down and sort of level the gravel.

Edit. Hard packed gravel drive on top of a gravel pit several inches below the ground surface. Get soft areas and ridges that need to be filled or leveled off.

[outdoors4evr]

Northern Tool has this that could probably be replicated easily, but it probably needs some weight added:


DR has this in different sizes:


If you have a bucket, maybe something like this would do the trick
https://www.ratchetrake.com/?gclid=CjwKCAjw8NfrBRA7EiwAfiVJpZ6441yFM-18agGUtRk5Zzjb9NO90Mq6q0fnc3_XgtzmfE3ZTjlWuhoCWnsQAvD_BwE

[Eugene]

I have two tractor mounted blades. One for the Cub, I have to remove the mower deck then mount the blade. A 3-point for the WD Allis. The Allis does not have down pressure on the hydraulics. Have to mount the blade then add several hundred pounds of weight to the blade to get it to work well.

Have searched the internet for ideas. Also asked this board for their opinions.

Think I will bolt together several used tires and see how that works. If needed I can fill several tires with cement.

[Bob McCarty]

I use a piece of chain link fence about 8 ft wide x 5 ft. that is attached to a pipe. A chain attaches from the drawbar to two places on the pipe. At the back end is a landscape tie. It will smooth, but will not dig into the road if you have ruts.

[tinnerjohn]

You don't say what you have to pull it with, but if you search "road maintainer" you can see several ideas. The Bonnell is the type used on gravel roads, the angled sets of blades work the material back and forth and the rear drag bar levels it. It wouldn't be hard to make a scaled down version. John

[Eugene]

You don't say what you have to pull it with.

WD Allis Chalmers.

Hard packed gravel drive on top of a gravel pit several inches below the ground surface. Get soft areas and ridges that need to be filled or leveled off.

I don't need anything expensive, just something to knock off the ridges, fill in low spots, and smooth up the drive a bit. Also get a lot of gravel washed off of and ruts in the short incline in the drive to the shop and hog barn area.

Have a skid steer and small dump trailer for filling in soft areas and the wash out ruts.

[Don McCombs]

How about a section of chain link fence fabric, reinforced on the leading edge with pipe or angle iron?

[outdoors4evr]

Have a skid steer and small dump trailer for filling in soft areas and the wash out ruts.

Back up the truck a bit.... What!!???!! Have a skid steer? Sounds like you just need some accessories for that skid steer.

[Bill Hudson]

I've heard of making a smoother out of used combine feederhouse chain. Wouldn't do much for ridges, but might make a good "finisher" after grading ridges and filling low spots.

Bill

[Eugene]

The WD Allis does not have down pressure on the hydraulics. Have to mount the blade then add several hundred pounds of weight to the blade to get it to work well.

Without additional weight the road results are very choppy.

Thinking it over, looking for something fast and inexpensive. Looked over my scrap metal supply pile, other assorted saved material which includes a parted out JD trailer plow, and the 3-point blade. I can cut up the trailer plow beams and weld them to the back side of the 3-point blade. Start out with 200 or so lbs. welded to the blade and see how well it works. If it needs more weight, its available.

[SONNY]

skidloader with lo-pro diggin bucket works for me. ---Also have the toothbar to bolt into the bucket. Hang onto your hat when the teeth dig in!! LOL!!! --- after you get ruts dug out, then go back with something less agressive to top off the job, OR just back drag with the bucket flat. Takes a bit of practice but after few passes you get the hang of it.

[radioguy41]

I've used a child's metal bed spring as a drag to even out gravel.