Community Forums

Manzfam · 05-27-2016, 07:00 AM

We are cutting out a 25' X 100' section of our side yard to put in a stone driveway. We have a 40' Class A weighing 20 - 25 tons. I am getting estimates with different stories of how many inches of stone. I have heard anywhere from 4 to 12 inches in total depth. This is what I know but would want to hear opinions.

Do you need to put down a weed mat?
First layer should be a good base of 3/4 inch crusher blend with some dust. How many inches deep?
Compact well.
Top layer of 3/4 inch trap rock. How many inches?
Is it harmful for the tires to sit on the stone? Should I get thick mats for under the tires?
Finally, should I store the RV on the leveling jacks?

Thank you in advance.

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Hit_the_Rhod · 05-27-2016, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Manzfam

We are cutting out a 25' X 100' section of our side yard to put in a stone driveway. We have a 40' Class A weighing 20 - 25 tons. I am getting estimates with different stories of how many inches of stone. I have heard anywhere from 4 to 12 inches in total depth. This is what I know but would want to hear opinions.

Do you need to put down a weed mat?
First layer should be a good base of 3/4 inch crusher blend with some dust. How many inches deep?
Compact well.
Top layer of 3/4 inch trap rock. How many inches?
Is it harmful for the tires to sit on the stone? Should I get thick mats for under the tires?
Finally, should I store the RV on the leveling jacks?

Thank you in advance.

Sent from my iPad using iRV2 - RV Forum

Without know where you live (beyond city and state), freezing issues, what kind of soil, substrate you have in your area, sandy, clay, rock, etc, any replies will be pretty much meaningless. I suggest you ask a local construction company what they would suggest doing if they have to give you a written warranty for 10 years against you tires sinking in!

lynnmor · 05-27-2016, 07:15 AM

To add to the above answer, the amount of rainfall is another factor.

ctpres · 05-27-2016, 07:27 AM

Reseach geo fabric. Stuff used in highway construction. Kinda looks like weed blocker but much thicker. Allows water to pass but prevents rocks/gravel from being pushed down into soil. Best news is it will reduce amount of material needed by up to 50%. So it will save you money. I built over 600 feet of drive on our property and at 15 years it is still as flat as it was on day one. And most of it was on sandy soil. If available in your area - consider washout concrete.

NevadaNick · 05-27-2016, 08:12 AM

The subgrade is more important than the rock. Parking on gravel is a non issue for me, some think you need pads.

ahicks · 05-27-2016, 08:42 AM

My jacks stay up when in storage.

Scottybdivin · 05-27-2016, 08:48 AM

I build roads for a living. In our area alone, base thicknesses can vary from 8" (the Minimum) to 30" (the absurd). A soils engineer makes that determination on a job to job basis. Geogrid is good stuff. Lime stabilization is another method, although not my choice. If you are sitting on solid rock, I would use a minimum of 6". If you are on dirt or clay, go up from there depending on the plasticity index (severity) of the clay. If it is bad enough, the grid or other stabilizing methods might be warranted.

On my parking pad, I used 8" crushed limestone topped off with 2" gravel. The gravel I used is 3/8" and has sharp edges. It does it's job and prevents tracking, but it also migrates alot and gets into your shoe treads. It is also painful on the knees while working on the RV. If I had it to do over, I would use a smooth river gravel instead. I elevated my piers so that a 6" concrete pad could be poured over the top of it later.

Good drainage is another big factor.

Manzfam · 05-27-2016, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hit_the_Rhod

Without know where you live (beyond city and state), freezing issues, what kind of soil, substrate you have in your area, sandy, clay, rock, etc, any replies will be pretty much meaningless. I suggest you ask a local construction company what they would suggest doing if they have to give you a written warranty for 10 years against you tires sinking in!

We are in a farming neighborhood of the New Jersey shore area. I have excavated over the years and found areas of my yard to be a foot of soil on top of a layer of clay and then sand about 3-4 feet down. Our frost line is 3 ft.

I did ask 3 different contractors and received various opinions. Asking for a warranty is good advice. Thanks to all.