Getting crushed rock on driveway

[gramps]

What could go wrong? The dump truck pulled into where my truck usually sits to turn around and head out the driveway dumping the rock as it traveled. The front end of the D-truck sunk in a foot, to where it was resting on the frame! My 4x4, and chain wouldn't budge it. Used a huge fire truck, and destroyed my chain and a tow strap. Finally got a "real chain". The links were three times the size of mine. Yep, the dump truck struggled a little, but the good guy won. 8) Woo Hoo! That was yesterday. Afraid of getting stuck again they dumped 10 tons of rock, that I am spreading around in the yard where I have been stuck before. The other 18 tons is about 4 inches deep up the driveway. Take that Mother Nature! :lol:
gramps

 

[nekvermont]

Sounds wet there. Did you consider using some road fabric under the stone?

 

[Viking Queen]

Sounds like a good time was had by all.....NOT!

Best of luck with moving that rock around and don't hurt yourself.

Viking Queen

 

[rugerjunkie]

Hope it works out for you gramps. Ive been in the road building , utility construction , and various other large dirt work projects for 25+ years now and in most cases adding rock wont fix the problem unless you undercut the area and remove the bad soil. If you normally dont drive more than a pickup or car over the area you might be ok but eventually the mud will pump its way back up through the rock.

 

[AJGUNNER]

Sounds like it is a good thing you were doing gravel work instead of having a concrete truck bring in a load for the new shop you have been wanting to build.

 

[gramps]

I am in Tn, and live on a ridge. That being said, moles, and gopher rats abound! They keep the top foot of soil soft, especially fall and spring, when it rains a bunch. Generally, I only drive my car and pick up on it.
gramps

 

[Phoenix too]

Sounds like it is a good thing you were doing gravel work instead of having a concrete truck bring in a load for the new shop you have been wanting to build.

That happened to a friend. Truck sank and tipped, loaded with concrete... Not pretty!

 

[rugerjunkie]

One thing you can't do gramps is build on topsoil. If you keep having issues , peel back what gravel you can salvage and dig out the layer of topsoil. Place the rock back and add more gravel to bring it back up to grade. Another thing I see too often is people using a clear or screened rock for drives and parking areas. That will not seal out water and soft spots continue to appear. Plus it will not stay in place even when compacted. You need a base with enough fine material to seal it up. You may get by like I said earlier bridging over the soft spots with the right gravel with only light vehicle usage.

 

[Jim Puke]

gramps, I had to do the same with my drive at the last place we lived. The gravel worked well and we didn't have issues afterward...I just waited too long to do it.

 

[gramps]

Thanks rugerjunkie. I should have posted first? The rest of the drive is ok. Just around the trailer isn't.
gramps

 

[Robb Barnes]

Here in the soggy NW it is cut the sod and top soil off, lay down the road fabric, 3" base layer or two then progressively finer up to 3/4" minus with plenty of fines to fill in the voids between the rocks. Operating septic pump trucks at peoples homes we have to be REAL careful about where we drive and park while pumping tanks. With eight wheels in the back, we don't normally have much problem but it is the front tires with their smaller footprint that will gradually sink in as the truck is setting there while we pump the tanks. When in doubt, we stay on the solid stuff and drag an extra piece of hose off the truck. Not worth getting 50,000 pounds of truck and poop stuck and calling a big wrecker out to somebodies house.

 

[prairieviper]

A John Deere tractor and box scraper will cut down that rock hauling and make your lane look nice too!

 

[Bull Barrel]

Here in the soggy NW it is cut the sod and top soil off, lay down the road fabric, 3" base layer or two then progressively finer up to 3/4" minus with plenty of fines to fill in the voids between the rocks. Operating septic pump trucks at peoples homes we have to be REAL careful about where we drive and park while pumping tanks. With eight wheels in the back, we don't normally have much problem but it is the front tires with their smaller footprint that will gradually sink in as the truck is setting there while we pump the tanks. When in doubt, we stay on the solid stuff and drag an extra piece of hose off the truck. Not worth getting 50,000 pounds of truck and poop stuck and calling a big wrecker out to somebodies house.

You definitely don't want the stool bus falling over....

 

[mohavesam]

Do the job correctly. We always added concrete dust to the first and last layers. Underlying soft dirt (the original problem) must be removed!

Or buy a surplus 6x6, we used to call "the 98" as-in the 98% solution.