Gravel driveway creation vs bucket wear

[Kmyers]

Just picked up a L3301 and one of the larger projects for this summer is to create a 1500 ft gravel driveway where a grass driveway currently exist.

The plan is to use my rotary tiller to loosen up the existing grassway. Bucket out the top several inches and then place down a base of #2 stone (size of a fist) and then smaller pack-able (#304) stone on top.

Weekend rental of skid steer is an option, but would like to do some during the week as time allows.

My concern is how well the stock bucket edge on the L3301 will hold up to moving that size and amount of stone? I read through several post about adding a cutting edge, but their task were a bit different than mine.

Any suggestions or advice is much appreciated!

 

[85Hokie]

My concern is how well the stock bucket edge will hold up to moving that size and amount of stone? I read through several post about adding a cutting edge, but their task were a bit different than mine.

Any suggestions or advice is much appreciated!

I think you will be fine with moving that amount of stone.
THE paint will removed !

Unless you come into the pile at 100 mph, the edge should be fine scooping those larger stone.

IF you were to buy a toothbar- that will take on ANY abuse you would encounter and survive easily. Other that dulling the toothbars edge - nothing would be hurt. A piranha toothbar is .500 thick - almost bullet proof other than a little dulling over time.

 

[MINICUP28]

I have spread two 20 ton loads of crusher run every year to maintain our road. One year it washed out and it took 8 loads to repair. My B7610 bucket shows no abnormal wear other than paint rubbed off. I'm thinking of moving up to the L3301 as well.

 

[mickeyd]

You will find that the stock edge on that bucket is pretty hard and will stand up to a lot of use. If using the tiller to loosen the dirt first, it won't even remove that much paint.

When digging without loosening first is when a bar is very helpful.

Over the years, I have moved a lot of dirt, gravel and other material with my bucket and it has held up very well. I have tilled the area first as you are planning which makes it very simple and quick but have also just dug in for smaller projects with no problems to the bucket.

 

[Kmyers]

Thanks for the quick replies Hokie, Minicup, Mickey

Main concern was going into the pile of #2 stone. Sounds like I should be fine.

Seems there's a lot of people on OTT that love the piranha bar. I may look into one of those as well!

 

[dalola]

Personally, I would bypass the tiller step, and get the piranha, and surface the grassway with that. Good excuse to buy an accessory as well!

 

[dirtydeed]

1500 feet long or square feet?

I'd add a tooth bar as well. They seem to make a substantial difference going into a pile especially when using larger stone.

I don't have a piranha, but did used my ATI on the BX23 for spreading #3 stone. It certainly made it easier to get into the pile.

Regarding the use of a tiller. I've always found it to be very useful in tilling the area first as well. You can set the tiller depth making it much easier to evenly scoop out the soil. Used this method many times when putting in patios and walkways.

Consider putting fabric down before your stone base. It will help to keep the stone from sinking into dirt/mud if the ground is soft.


edit: if 1500 ft long, I'd bypass the tiller and tractor all together and either rent a skid steer or hire a dozer for a day.

 

[SidecarFlip]

Toothbar or not, I'd lay down vegetation blocker before the stone. Will save you lots of maintenance down the road.

 

[ItBmine]

600 hours on mine and I have moved 330 tonnes of pit run and another five 21 tonne loads of 7/8 crushed gravel, plus all the scraping I do in winter and yes you can see the cutting edge now has a rounded profile towards the edges, but still lots of life left.

I'm not worried about it yet.

 

[Lil Foot]

I find that when driving into a pile of larger rock, it helps tremendously to "dither" the bucket up & down a little. Not a large movement, probably as small as you can manage, but as fast as is practical. Easier on the whole tractor, and I always seem to get a little more material per scoop.

 

[Jblac197]

Just picked up a L3301 and one of the larger projects for this summer is to create a 1500 ft gravel driveway where a grass driveway currently exist.

The plan is to use my rotary tiller to loosen up the existing grassway. Bucket out the top several inches and then place down a base of #2 stone (size of a fist) and then smaller pack-able (#304) stone on top.

Weekend rental of skid steer is an option, but would like to do some during the week as time allows.

My concern is how well the stock bucket edge on the L3301 will hold up to moving that size and amount of stone? I read through several post about adding a cutting edge, but their task were a bit different than mine.

Any suggestions or advice is much appreciated!

You won't have any issues I have the slightly larger l3800 with the original stock bucket on and I've moved tons of rock/stones/gravel and there is barely any visible wear other than the paint being gone. As far as the tilling goes though you might want to pick up a middle buster and rip up the ground a little first. They are pretty cheap at about $150 and you'll find other uses for it afterwards. I have found its pretty rough on the tiller and tractor trying to til unbroken ground. Just a few passes with the middle buster does wonders

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk

 

[Kmyers]

Personally, I would bypass the tiller step, and get the piranha, and surface the grassway with that. Good excuse to buy an accessory as well!

Judging by some others input this may work.

1500 feet long or square feet?

I'd add a tooth bar as well. They seem to make a substantial difference going into a pile especially when using larger stone.

Feet long.

Toothbar or not, I'd lay down vegetation blocker before the stone. Will save you lots of maintenance down the road.

Definitely putting down fabric.


To ItBmine;Lil Foot;Jblac197 Thanks for the personal experience and input.

Looks like I can get by without, but wouldnt hurt if added. Thanks everyone!