Preparing For The Arizona Monsoon | Graveling Our LOOONG Driveway

We are getting prepared for the wet and muddy season by graveling our entire 875 foot driveway. And Jacob and Logan work on a pinewood derby car.
Thanks for watching as we live and learn building our off grid debt free homestead from scratch! Please be sure to subscribe to follow our journey as we work to develop our raw land and build our home all DIY. #offgrid #diyhomebuild
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A Boulder Life Off Grid, PO Box 2186, Show Low, AZ 85902
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[@lyndamcclain8795]

It's always something

[@robfox5892]

Dude! backhoe rake for the win! You're getting so good with that thing, next we'll see you use it to butter your toast! hahaha🤣

[@dannyshort1413]

Looks like a guitar 🎸 😊

[@danmooney7192]

Can't believe with all the rock you have on the place and you have to buy more to bring home! Must be hard on the morale! lol

[@StanlyTPT]

The pinewood guitar car

[@Jack_rabbits_sage_brush]

I love seeing couples with children enjoying life and adventures.

[@ChrisBrocksmith]

Freaking excellent Elvis Presley Guitar car! Love it!

[@joanpodmjerski9330]

Keep up the good work.😊👍👌👀👀👀👀👏👏👏😉😉😉

[@jmanatee]

I really like the spreader bar attachment for the backhoe bucket. I will be making one of these.

[@aboulderlifeoffgrid]

It is pretty handy. Made it a few videos back. Thanks. 🙂

[@lorenmeyer5290]

Have a wonderful weekend, Happy 4th of July!

[@islander6932]

Yep pine wood car surely looks like a geeetar!

[@QuietCottage]

Enjoy the 4th of July holiday. Maybe go fishing.

[@darthraiderVt]

Okay which "Child" is having the most fun....Jacob is!!!

[@aboulderlifeoffgrid]

😆 Logan's having a blast too 😅

[@SteveBostick]

I'm doing the exact thing putting in my driveway. I bought off grid property in kingman airport industral area getting ready for things to cool off and the Mohave Greens to be less active keep up the good work keep the kids busy they will remember these lessons for a lifetime

[@reneebunch6007]

Our church was an Assemblies of God church in Florida and the Royal Rangers made Pinewood Derby cars to race them. When you said Pinewood Derby I knew what you were talking about. Good luck on the PWD race.

[@reneebunch6007]

I love how the whole family gets involved in whatever you are doing.

[@wadeprior5203]

Good morning you guys I hope you guys are having a great day I'm glad you guys got a toilet and place to take a shower I'm proud of you guys keep up the good work now you guys need a house so that way you guys get rid of the trailer be a lot easier on you guys all right God bless you guys❤❤❤❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉😊😊😊😊😊

[@DurtyMaxDee]

The guitar car, can't unsee it. lol To make it easier to empty the trailer, consider using 4 - 6"x6" posts or something similar, laid width-wise in the trailer before the gravel is dumped in spaced about 3' apart. The first one will go tight to the front of the trailer, the next one 3 feet back, and so on. Cut them about 6" narrower than the width of the trailer (3" per side). Daisy-chain them together with a couple of good-sized chains or cables. Drill a hole in the center of the post about 18-24" in from the ends of the posts staggering the holes that will link post to post with chain or cable. Weld the chains to a steel plate that will not pull through the post. The last post will have extra chain or cable that can easily be hooked to the backhoe. Make the chains or cables between the posts longer than the 3' spacing so there will be some slack between the posts when laid out in the trailer. To empty the trailer, use the backhoe as an anchor, hook the extra chain to it, and drive the truck forward (don't chicken-foot the gas pedal, give her a good tug). As the posts get pulled out of the trailer, gravel will be dumped out where you want it with a lot less spreading needed.

[@aboulderlifeoffgrid]

That sounds like a great idea. Too bad we're done at this point. But still, I may do something like this. Thanks 👍

[@DurtyMaxDee]

@@aboulderlifeoffgrid Anytime 😊 I've used this method when taking trash in my box trailer to the dump only difference is I only use 1 post. Trash is quite a bit lighter than gravel or dirt and my trailer is only 8' long.

[@ritameek3353]

Love Logan’s pinewood Derby car. Love knowing your Dad and you also built a Derby pinewood car. “Boulder Life Off Grid “ is a wonderful place for children to learn life skills. And good parents to teach them. Oh the memories and laughs that will be shared now an in the years to come. Good job Eli on your measurement guess. And Logan on your fine pinewood Derby car. 😁👍🏼♥️Thanks for Sharing

[@marianbrown4173]

Looks like a guitar

[@norsk54472]

sweet work - looks great

[@saltydawg6817]

Drive way is looking good.... and Logan’s car looks a lot like Formula 1 Good luck Logan.

[@dawnvierra4063]

Wishing your family a fun 4th of July. 🎉🎉🎉

[@phuongvo3051]

If you put a big black plastic on the bottom , when it rain it help prevent muggy

[@helenbarnett695]

Can't wait to see the finished driveway and the epic awesome super fast car, hope it wins ❤

[@jeffkizer6666]

Killer Guitar!!

[@jayayers2511]

I live here in N. Az. The clay soil here is brutal! Best to put some 3” stone down first and then 3/4” and some 1/2” on top of where you walk. The 3” acts like snow shoes on the mud. Otherwise, you’ll forever be adding more rock on top.

[@rixtrix11]

That gravel job will definitely make life easier. Make sure to cut drainage channels along the edges so the water will drain away from the gravel. My friend John lives near your area and has been through the same trials. Best wishes and have a Happy 4th of July!

[@yankey4]

We just put in 1800 feet of road and 8 ish feet wide road. Cost us 22 grand !! Worth it in the long run. Was not fun to pay for. We have more than just use who use the road. So was able to split up the cost with 3 more families. So about 5 grand each. I did 99% of the work. Hope like you this helps cut down on the mud. We are looking at maybe black topping over next year. Thanks for sharing. God Bless..

[@lwwarren]

Time to mount a receiver hitch to your backhoe bucket, use the backhoe to move your trailer where you need the gravel and lift the tongue of the trailer to dump the gravel where you need it instead of taking multiple steps to scrape it off the trailer and THEN bucket it to the location you want it and THEN spread it. My driveway is over 2000' long and optimizing my time and method gets the work done as quickly as possible.

[@toddehling2319]

You really did a great job with the spreader bar you made for the backhoe!!! I wish I had the money to buy a crush because I'd bring it out to y'all to help crush a lot of your stone. y'all have that way, y'all wouldn't have to buy stone for your projects

[@michaelcravens3767]

You should see if the rock quarry will trade some of the rocks you have for the gravel that you need.

[@blackturtleshow]

Depending how I measure it, my driveway is either 3/8ths of a mile long or a mile long. From the bottom of my property to my house is 3/8ths of a mile, but the dirt road goes through three other properties before it hits the main dirt road and then it's another two miles to pavement. Gravel doesn't make sense for me since my road climbs about 400 feet from the main dirt road. There are two gates on the way down to the main dirt road and locking and unlocking those all the time gets a little old, but it could be worse since there could be four gates!

[@richardlechtrecker9083]

Again another beautiful video, Natalie is fabulous with the videography . Good luck with the pinewood derby.

[@andrewbisson5052]

Another fantastic family video, no doubt those wonderful 4 children are Natalie’s as they all look so much like her! Well jell from the UK, keep up the great work and continue doing your best, many thanks for the opportunity to watch you. Andy, South East England.

[@Extranjera76]

Logan, you have talent. Congratulations

[@SJC49]

Happy 4th of July! 🇨🇦

[@myrigarou]

Thanks for the video! The snake 🐍 is cute! Good job Logan, I like the color you choose for your car.

[@52gulfpapa]

You need to use driveway cloth.

[@itsjubilee2012]

The snake😭. So happy to see all the progress you are making... keep moving forward, one step at a time. blessings to your family.

[@odelvarsavsky5827]

Maybe you can raise the sides so you can get more gravel and then it will go faster with the bottom you already have from odel

[@Budgetingeverypenny]

Yea a guitar 😊

[@richardzahn7570]

That is a loooong driveway....gotta love the supervisor getting the measurements... getting pretty comfortable with that backhoe...great idea with that scraper you made...has come in pretty handy..lots of rocks..like the idea of doing the turn around too...love the guitar car...can't wait to see the finished look and hear about the race. Thanks for sharing your family 😊

[@rigger4695]

I would of used unwashed 3/4 minus instead of that rock.

[@buskerjames]

Happy Sunday my friends, nice to see Foreman Eli keeping an eye on everything and to watch Logan prepare his derby car with dad, regards from Calgary Canada

[@richardgreen5602]

Guitar

[@Gardendreamsforme]

It’s a guitar..lol

[@ShadowMoonFarms]

Thank you

[@steelexpress_1]

Great job guys. Looking forward to seeing Logan’s car run.

[@BigJim-zh9gr]

What are the shrubs on your home place there? I keep up with a large number of channels and of all the channels I keep up with, I have three top favorites. My Wild Holm, It's All Grady, and your channel, not necessarily in that order. By the way, you look a lot like a fellow I was in the Navy with. You and your family are just fantastic folks. I am a retired builder, so I can't wait until you start your build.

[@aboulderlifeoffgrid]

It's mostly juniper trees with some pinion pines. Thanks for your comment. It's always motivating to have good support. Thank you for your service and have a Happy Independence Day!

[@Step-n-Wolf]

Great job! A off-grider near you got got some gray rock which was cheaper. Don't know how the gravels compare. It has been suggested to put mat down under to keep the gravel separate and weed control.

[@janetkoball44]

Happy 4th to you all. Hope Logan does great on HIS Pine Wood contest. I love gravel. It helps so so much . But don't try it barefoot. Love your videos. Thanks.

[@dionh70]

Hey, what if you take a bunch of that rock from your place TO the quarry? Do ya think they'll give you a discount? That ginormous 7-footer would make a buttload of gravel for them. My Pinewood Derby cars never won. I even sanded the wheels to be narrower, hoping for less rolling friction.

[@arizonawoodfarmer3142]

You guys are doing an awesome job 🙏🙌💪💪 we were just up there a couple of weeks ago dropping off our solar. Watching yall is pushing us to get ours done. My kids always hope to see your kids up there while we're there😅 every time we stop at the dollar general or the Stanford general store they say dad, do you think they are here lol. Keep up the hard work it's paying off🎉

[@kathybrunson2390]

I think the purple rock is prettier too! Great job guys!

[@loucinci3922]

Do you plan on running a plate compactor over the gravel road? Cool looking car! Good luck. Happy 4th

[@aboulderlifeoffgrid]

No compactor. Thanks. Happy 4th!😀

[@alliewolf3392]

❤😊❤😊❤😊

[@rubybirdseye1503]

Happy 4th of July to all of you!! The driveway is going to look great!! Good luck Logan!! Your car looks like a winner!!

[@jaymondy]

Hope you had your parking brake on and the truck in Neutral. Hard pulling in park can shear the pin in the transmission.. So I have been told.

[@Torthak]

STOP back dragging with your front wheels in the air!! Your putting more pressure on your hydraulics then needed, and can BLOW a hose or a ram.

[@russellstarr9111]

When I did Pinewood Derby as a kid, we weren't allowed to add weight. Have they changed the rules?

[@aboulderlifeoffgrid]

The car is allowed to weigh as much as 5 ounces, but no more.

[@kennethhudson8013]

A spoon

[@SJC49]

Guitar car?

[@willglueck3156]

🚗😂👍

[@lloydmiller5690]

Weird gravel no sand in it looks more like crushed volcanic stone

[@aboulderlifeoffgrid]

That's pretty much what it is. They call them cinders. Thanks 🙂

[@lancemehes321]

For as much gravel as you need, why not get it delivered?

[@SJC49]

$$$

[@chrisconnell9505]

Are their delivery costs more than 18 round trips to get the gravel??

[@aboulderlifeoffgrid]

It was a savings of $540 by getting it our selves (after paying for gravel and fuel). The only loss, in my opinion, is time. So depending on budget and time, it may or may not be worth having it delivered. In our case, we're glad to save what we can. Thanks 🙂

[@chrisconnell9505]

@@aboulderlifeoffgrid that is some good savings. Their delivery costs seem a bit excessive. Is it because of how far out you live?

[@aboulderlifeoffgrid]

@@chrisconnell9505 We're actually only about 12 miles from them.

[@jogi_54]

so honestly, I would lift the trailer by the drawbar with your excavator and then unload the gravel where I need/want it. From my point of view, much too complicated and too much manual work ...

[@BajanAlan]

Can u use back hoe to tip trailer?

[@aboulderlifeoffgrid]

The trailer is not sturdy enough for that. Neither is it designed for tipping. It would be nice if it was though. Thanks 🙂

[@robertlawson1053]

I hope you guys didn't carry that load of gravel uncovered on the highway. People behind you will get a cracked windshield.

[@michaelburbank2276]

Endless people moving here outspending all the locals! Only to find off grid is to hard! Welcome to hell buddy

[@aboulderlifeoffgrid]

Don't know what you mean. We're loving every day out here.