This Old Trick Will Save Your Driveway

How to prevent water damage in your driveway.
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[@udavidism]

"This old trick" is at 15:15. You're welcome.

[@CoreyJenkins334]

People who like this comment clearly don't understand. It's all part of the process.

[@udavidism]

@@CoreyJenkins334 Watching someone ride up and down their driveway for 15 minutes to try to learn this "old trick" is a waste of time.

[@CoreyJenkins334]

I disagree.

[@robertn2813]

@@CoreyJenkins334 , lol , the devil just HAS to make an appearance haha

[@rockerpat1085]

@@udavidism I agree with you brother!!! Just get to the damn point!!! Keep Rocking!!!

[@joebarrett9830]

You can continue to do that several times a year. Me, personally, I would use a backhoe (borrow from friend or rent one) and dig a ditch right next to the driveway down every hill to the low spot, where it would then be directed away from the driveway. Then grade the driveway toward the ditch so the water doesn't erode the driveway ever again. You can grade it easily with the box blade to have slope toward the side with the ditch side. No more ruts in the driveway to dig. Full length driveway ditch to the low area I think is the way to go. So much less maintenance and time several times a year. Just my 2 cents. It's your property and your labor, so you do you. Good video.

[@gonzalosanabria2251]

Exactly what we did years ago

[@jphickory522]

Nice to see someone still working a shovel. Most people think it’s necessary to buy a $20,000 tractor these days to accomplish the same thing.

[@rayshadixon4246]

Eh, u just jealous. You know if you had one you would use it for everything. 😅

[@kenjett2434]

Here we call those crossbar ditches and we use them alot when reclaiming logging roads. I have one in my driveway as well due to an oilfield road coming off the mountain at the base of my driveway. I sure could use the old Ford 3,000 here for bush hogging, mowing driveway work and gardening. Only got 5 acres but more than a simple garden tractor can handle. I will be 61 in March and i just cant get out there and do things by hand anymore. I made a living on the strength of my back and its paid the price. When i was growing up a young pup we had a gasoline Ford 3000 and they in my opinion best tractors ever built. Great video as always.

[@אוריפלסי]

I had a 5000. Great tractor. They have a hydraulic pump. Not very powerfull, but one symple function at a time it's fine. You might not be able to lift the arms and use another hydraulic function at the same time but especially if you feel a bit worn out a hydraulic 3 point connection will make lifting and spilling that material much easier. With all his adjusting and the small amount he can collect almost makes me think i would opt for a wheel barrel.

[@augustreil]

Ken, We call them ''water bars'' here in the Northeast, I do at least. Lol.

[@kenjett2434]

@@augustreil yeah I have heard them called water bars as well guess it just depends on how you learned or who done the teaching I guess. But they do work that is what counts.

[@Eagles0690]

I love the sound of those old Ford tractors. We had one in about 1970 or ‘71 that my brother bought new. It was a loader with a winch. That thing would pull. Loved that sound though.

[@justryan2070]

This comment will save your 18min 17sec: Dig a ditch

[@rayshadixon4246]

Ha, I love you thx

[@rayshadixon4246]

You know if I had a old tractor I would constantly be coming up with reasons to make half hour videos as well.

[@sampedro9316]

Thanks I was starting to get pissed off

[@rasheeddozier6083]

Thx💯

[@TuranZeynalliArmWrestling]

Thank you man )

[@timwaters7185]

Maybe consider placing a power pole/treated log in the same diagonal ditch you hand dug in this video, allow 1/3 to 1/2 of pole to be above the driveways elevation. As the water gathers and runs down the driveway, the pole above the driveway grade helps most of the water to be diverted along the uphill side/backside of pole. It's better having speed bumps than ditches in a driveway. Also, you may want to consider decreasing the angle of the diagonal ditch a little compared to what angle you have it in the video so the exiting water doesn't take rock with it.

[@WillieStubbs]

My solution to runoff going across my roadway was to buy 4 used railroad ties. I dug a trench like yours then I butted one tie against the other so it'd be wide enough to go the full width of the road, then I placed the other pair about 1 foot apart. To make sure they didn't move closer together I used those big 8" long nails from Home Depot that look like tent stakes and pounded several to the insides of the facing railroad ties. Any who the water runs fine and car and truck tires pass easily over the gap without ever going into the mud.

[@Hebrew42Day]

Do you have a video of this? I just bought a property and need to repair the secondary driveway that the prior owner didn't take care of.

[@SawmillMountainHome]

@WillieStubbs this is a brilliant idea and the best solution I have heard. I thank you for sharing. I will be using this in my own long and hilly driveway.

[@terryedmond4492]

Why not throw a perforated pipe in there with a sock and bury it flat with stone, no sand.

[@gabrielpw.]

That's what I had to do when I worked at a campground. Annoying as hell but its efficient.

[@dianabishop3633]

@@gabrielpw. My drive way connects with neighbors above and I end up with an ice burg at my end. Stuck 4 2 weeks. Had to be towed out twice. HELP?

[@223ko]

@@dianabishop3633 a drain running the water off somewhere to the side.

[@smarternu]

@@dianabishop3633 You gotta get rid of the water. Find the low spot and connect it to your problem spot. If there is no low spot, dig a deep hole and put in perforated pipes making a french style drain.

[@davidgrason161]

This is the way my grandfather prevented water damage to his drives and it's the way I'm doing mine. In fact, at one time, my grandfather had virtually his entire farm terraced this way so that he didn't lose crop land to erosion.

[@danamiller9080]

Dig rut a little deeper and put a pipe in, and cover over top.

[@Romans6.1-2]

Thanks, I was almost 2 minutes in and haven’t learned a thing. Thanks for saving me time.

[@neville78]

Just like a big pvc? I have a driveway that is on a hill and it’s washing into the neighbors yard. We don’t use the lot, it’s for sale just trying to keep the neighbor happy. Would this help?

[@Will7981]

It does not surprise me your land is 3rd generation. It shows in the caring way you take care of it. I enjoyed the video.👍🏻

[@jimmievetor5008]

You might rig up a large pointed shovel to attach to the 3 point hitch. In my younger years I had one on my garden tractor to plow out potato rows. Worked great. Better then that long handle shovel. lol

[@Kipperbob]

I gravelled my drive with a shovel and wheelbarrow, it took some time and effort but I spread 20 ton within a couple of weeks, I made the same type of ditches to run the water off, its a very effective way to stop it all washing away from the rain.

[@solfeinberg437]

I'm doing something with a shovel and pick and gravel. I dunno. We'll see. I put a culvert at the top to run a swale across the driveway and now I'm putting diversions above it to get the water from the drive way to the swales on the side. I plan on making a couple more of these types of things he made above and filling with coarse gravel. Maybe a perforated pipe covered with course gravel would be good. Just wasting time worst case. I'll watch how things work and probably learn something and maybe even fix the driveway with any thoughtfullness.

[@Just..Me..]

This makes me feel better. I’m halfway thru cutting a driveway and was just wondering if I know what I’m doing.

[@tomtrantham6604]

Pretty cool cinematography! Nice shot of the creek and the forest in the background.

[@falllineridge]

Tom Trantham Thank you, Tom!

[@rodolfoplasencia4953]

You have to eliminate the "walls" of dirt and leaves you have on the shoulders or edges of the driveway and lift up its center sort of the water run to each side of the driveway and once on its sides through the ditch, but even small walls will retain water and that will contribute to pot holes. That's why in any modern street the center is higher than the sides, and on the sides you'll see from time to time a register for the drain. Check any street or talk to all timers or see Andrew Camarata doing a driveway, then try what you can afford. And don't stop producing videos, we or I am learning while you do lots that I personally am trying to reach. Much respects to you and your family which somehow survived or fought for you to now continue in that land. Great job family!

[@StratKruzer]

I built a culvert from treated wood. Have to clean it every so often but it drives over smoothly. I do this stuff all the time. Hard damn work.

[@kylebanner6854]

One of my favorite channels lately

[@frankcherry3810]

My next life!

[@falllineridge]

Kyle Banner Thank you, Kyle!

[@georgegroot9704]

It's called a water bar. The Forest Service and loggers have been doing this for decades. My driveway has one at the top on the hill. My former home had two in the driveway. Everyone around here does it. And for all those who are saying put a pipe in, the problem with that is a pipe only moves water across the road, it doesn't deal very well with the water that runs down the road itself. It's the same principle as why highways are built with a crown in the center. Trench drains work in urban areas but tend to clog withing weeks in rural settings.

[@jogrant3851]

I am desperate for a solution to my downhill, steep driveway, which is washing away and starting to form ruts, just these past couple of years. Have a water problem now due to the dirt public road going past the entrance, and it began sending alot of water down the driveway over the last two years. Been thinking of what I can do. I'm a 60 yr old woman, in a rural area, with no machnery or implements, so digging a ditch like you just demonstrated will likely work well. Glad I saw this, thank you!

[@elbowroom7993]

It's not necessary for "this old trick" to also be a suspension busting speed bump. Place a perforated pipe in your little ditch and cover it with coarse gravel.

[@ClissaT]

Sooo you've done that yourself? Put the perforated pipe in the ditch? You will soon learn that with the first run-off, those itty bitty slots in that pipe fill with crap and guess where the water runs? Straight down the road again! Make those open ditches bigger, wider and higher! Slow the water and the drivers down to a crawl! :D

[@batley1]

@@ClissaT the gravel stops them filling with crap, it's a French drain they've been used for hundreds of years with perfect results. What you're describing is user error on your end.

[@garysmith5741]

Watching you work makes my back hurt

[@earlsmithson4749]

Glad to see the Ford up and working. Great video as usual.

[@Eagles0690]

If you’d try putting a few very small ditches across the driveway and run them into the woods. Not real big ditches, just small enough that you can still drive across with little bumps. I did that to my drive and my sisters, and it helped slow the water flow.

[@chrischristenson4547]

The best trick is a front loader

[@elricofarmer1561]

& a dump trailer!

[@boyddelk6320]

No duh! The whole point is that not everyone has access to all types of equipment. Here, if you've got a strong back and a shovel this will help.

[@chrischristenson4547]

@@boyddelk6320 yup for fortunate old guys, having a front loader saves the back

[@technicalitems731]

Thanks for the video. Country road water break. Best to scrape the existing road first before placing new gravel on it. Then put on new gravel and then scrape new material on top. It’s hard to find but, an old straight piece of galvanized guardrail turned upside in the water break sure works well. Pin it down with something or some spots of concrete on edges make it even better.

[@waynehayes5273]

Guardrails work best for cross ditches lay it in your ditch you dug and fill in around it

[@sipthewater]

Bigger rock. Use #2 railroad ballast and then gravel crush & run (granite) on top so it goes into the ballast and locks it in. It won't need to be fixed every year.

[@josephwilliamson99]

I do the opposite. I make a burm at an angle or as my wife calls them, speed bumps. I’d rather drive over a bump than across a ditch. Try it, It works really well.

[@2Ryled]

How please?

[@josephwilliamson99]

2Ryled drag up some dirt across your driveway at a slight angle so water will flow into it and run down the angle into the ditch. Kind of like a speed bump but not straight across driveway at slight angle instead.

[@davepane7306]

I know these are frugal times but the EGO Power + 765 CFM leaf blower works great at clearing leaves, debris, but its battery so it only lasts about 45 minutes at high power. They cost $329 at Lowe's.

[@AnthonyAntTony]

First, put down gravel throughout your driveway. You have a dirt road. Then, spend seven more nickels and install proper culverts and drainage ditches as needed. You're just substituting 3 times a year of labor for a small amount of basically one time expense and insuring that you do the labor forever, but never having a good road. There's being cheap and there's being stupid.

[@glorgau]

Similar to ditches dug for hiking trails. Basically, water is shunted off to the side.

[@jonathanharrison4890]

Love your music. Love your place. Thanks for sharing!

[@joshuaparsons9645]

Awesome video. Love the music you use while grading the drive way. Good job. Love the old tractor

[@aaronlocke6294]

What is the music group playing in the background ?

[@user-tv5dt3nm9y]

That is half of a water bar. Some folks set a section of guard rail at a diagonal. Easy to drive over and is tidy looking.

[@trampster7306]

Nice tips Wes! Lovely to see that Ford 3000 is still going strong!

[@WynnW00d]

I just saw where someone was using this method, only they were burying highway guardrails level with the ground in the ditch. Keeps you from having to redig the ditch multiple times.

[@donaldpeck8519]

The hill folk called these " thank you maam's ". Been grading gravel drives over 50 years, have a few neat tricks.

[@fightswithspirits915]

I enjoyed the video. Good job. Luckily my future driveway is flat Nevada desert land so will have different problems concerning mud and snow followed by 120 degrees heat. I have no idea how to do this stuff but will figure it out by watching nice videos like yours.

[@deborahchesser7375]

We put 4x4’s in too to make the trough sturdier when they get driven over.

[@1SNOWMANNH]

I have a water bar in my driveway too. It works.

[@thomasme9676]

Crown your road. Crown it as much as you can. Then watch how you plow snow on it. Put your trick ( water bar) in deeper but also longer (up and down the roadway) . The longer will make your wife happier and easier on your cars. Before retiring I managed miles of dirt roadway and have my own long lane. I like using my 8 N ford with 7 Ft straight blade over a box blade. The only time I like a box blade is if you need to move stone to another area some distances away. The straight blade works good for pulling the stone out of the ditch and putting the stone on top of the crown. The way I would teach grader operators how much crown you need is put a basket ball on the top of the crown and let it roll. The ball should get off the road surface as fast as it can (Flat land scape, straight to the edge. Hilly land scape, Few feet down the roadway before the edge.) The longer water is on the roadway the more damage it can do!

[@joelhenderson5526]

Hey pard make some checks on the hill to slow the water down and it will help slow it down. I've been in road construction for 38 years and I've built many this way and it helps. Not trying to be a know it all thanks.

[@christyb7590]

Ha! This will help me on a problem area on our small horse farm. Nice. Thank you.

[@DovetailTimberworks]

Good job! Twenty years ago I worked in big timber operations in California and when they decommissioned roads they used to put what they called "rolling dips" on them with a skidder on the last trip out. Push a little dirt down the hill on an angle so the water hits the trough and runs off sideways instead of down the road. They're on an angle so you can drive straight over them with a pickup without bottoming out.

[@williamevans6522]

Rainbars.

[@jamesshuler4703]

with what you got you did a great job, remember give out but don't give up...

[@1TexasKid]

Fall leaves & downed tree limbs are a never ending problem. The rain will wash dirt & rocks blocking your drain. A plastic drain will work wonders under the driveway. Your method is cheap & effective. But it will not last. I also suggest heavy large or medium sized rocks along your water drain evacuation from your driveway will help to prevent (reduce) water erosion. Several bags of concrete or martar spread over gravel & rocks will help to prevent erosion over your driveway drain. Just set it by setting it with water before it rains. It will also give your vehicle a bit of traction. Plus you will not have a pot hole in your driveway. Large rocks often pop upfront the ground. You can put them to use by lining the downhill water evacuation route.

[@donmacdonald7758]

love that old ford it s a real work horse

[@JB-mf1zc]

I believe It mite be worth the investment of a front end loader. Good job!

[@falllineridge]

Don Macdonald Yes it is. Unkillable.

[@sipzter]

That sure is one heckuva nice property. Love to have something like that.....next lifetime:)

[@serengetilion]

There's only 1 life, this one.

[@hawaiiangunner]

Where I live you better use baseball-sized Rock's first. Then chip rock after. Or after the first rain it'll be gone.

[@robertn2813]

that's the same song that Shawn at My Self Reliance uses.......love the banjo

[@falllineridge]

Robert N Cool! He’s a talented dude.

[@callspreadzero854]

My Ford 3000 is still running strong, passed down from my grandfather. Glad to see another running strong out there Anyways, I think i would find me a more permanent solution.

[@philipnavin9134]

There's a lot to be said for getting out in nature and doing hand work. I'm 71 and still like to get out and use hand tools. Don't get me wrong still use the tractor, chainsaws, blowers, and the like.

[@GreatPlainsCraftsman]

Love running my tractor. Good times

[@falllineridge]

Great Plains Craftsman Nothing like it. Thanks for dropping by, Tim.

[@rconradvt]

We call them water bars in Vermont. On the ski trails they can be 5’ deep. Hang on to your wheeler!

[@Wildernesbear]

Find you a few pieces of guardrail and bury them where you want a water break. It will save you from having to re dig them every year.

[@783342]

God, how I love that music, and I've taken some hints from the video, thank you.

[@ev2sqd]

Great use of the drone!

[@markconner5446]

1 roll plow and a leaf blower might make that job easier

[@grennhald]

At 6:02 i thought a My Self Reliance video had started up randomly in another tab. You got me bud!

[@johncriswell1106]

How about a concrete culvert? Dig once, fill once, walk away .

[@wooddoug1]

You don't seem to understand the problem.A culvert directs water horizontally from one side of a driveway to the other. His problem is water running straight down the driveway longitudinally. So he uses and berms and swales to divert the water to diversion ditches on the low side of the drive. This technique and a couple others are used in both trail building and driveways.

[@BoB-Dobbs_leaning-left]

Just put in a concrete road, cheapskate.

[@buelowexcavating]

Nice gate! What powers it? You have a really nice piece of property. On areas that are prone to washing out, I use asphalt millings. Try to get them at least 3" thick, place them early in the season so they compact well in the heat of the summer. They hold up very well and cost less than gravel here in Minnesota. If you find a road milling project close by you can sometimes get them delivered cheap or for free.

[@patmason7276]

Put a plastic box below and use metal grate on top hang over on each side would stay for awhile. Or cow crossing grate . U box in the ground would keep it from washing away fast. Good idea.

[@thomasme9676]

If you crown the road your drive surface will stay better.

[@everettsams349]

Looks like you could use a good Westendorf loader. They make front loaders for all types of tractors.

[@dennisbailey2829]

was that a hand shovel you were using ??? I thought those were outlawed nowadays !!!

[@backachershomestead]

If you get rain like we do ,that's the only thing you can do. It will wash a culvert right out of there or fill it full of stone. I that sucks digging out to fix several times a year.

[@123prestolee]

Just found and subscribed -thank you. What a truly charmed life you must lead.

[@jamesl.winter5552]

You did what dad and I did on our farm but, we had to put a culvert in also.

[@straubdavid9]

I have to laugh ... 115 people went out of their way to downgrade this video. What about this video would make anyone give it a thumbs down. In my mind ... you either like a video like this or you just don't care. 115 people having a bad day, so they go around and downgrade what amounts to fairly innocuous videos. Anyhoo .... as a young man I worked in the summer with the state Forest Fire Warden and one of the things our crew did was put in those diversion ditches across the steeper portions of forest access roads leading to things like fire towers. Mostly we cleared fire breaks that were very labor intensive. It was tough at times, but also rewarding. I walked many of these dirt roads as a kid, and still walk many of them. We were even mobilized to help our city clean out after Hurricane Agnes. Hard work that did build character and friendships/teamwork. Take care ... always enjoy your vids .... subscribed.

[@truckerdaddy-akajohninqueb4793]

Although our driveway is built on top of a marsh, the many loads of light shale have compacted themselves over the years. I don't think I could ditch by hand like you just did.

[@benjaminhdavies]

Have you tried to use the box blade on an angle to cut a swale on the low side of the drive? Enjoyed the vid - nice work!!

[@carlthornton3076]

Very Good!.. I would find an old 1 bottom breaking plow and plow those ditches. It would be a lot faster...

[@franchase279]

Love this! Thanks

[@PhezStyr]

Love watching your videos and your calm demeanor. Thank you for your channel. Whats the name of the music you’re playing in this video?

[@VeryVocalViking]

Anyone else see the fish hit the surface of the pond at 5:35? LOL

[@davesilvia9711]

My driveway is short and flat, thanks for the video.

[@davidgagnon2849]

At 1:28-1:30 I had to go back and listen. I think I heard a chickadee! Mr. Chickadee isn't the only one with a chickadee in his videos! Also, your videoing/editing is really improving. I can't do it myself, but I notice it. :-)

[@falllineridge]

David Gagnon Thank you! I think you’re hearing the gate opener though. Thanks for stopping by as usual!

[@jordancalhoun9152]

As someone that has been to the property. I can confirm the hill is pretty steep going up to the house

[@willwade1101]

If you were to put a short cylinder where that adjustment bar is it would make your life easier. Using the pulling cylinder from a Porta-Power set would allow you to adjust it up while the weight would drop it back down and you could still use the Porta-Power in other apps because the pumping device is easily removed from the cylinder .

[@genedameier8746]

Nice under the tractor shot at 6:04 showing the box blade doing it's job.

[@truckerdaddy-akajohninqueb4793]

The road on our property going to the cabin was always a mess. Instead of having someone bring us fill and just dump it, he dumped slowly along the parts where we wanted to build up the bed. Eventually, in recent years, maintaining it hasn't been necessary. I'm 54. I remember Dad bottoming out many times when I was a kid. There's a quarry nearby, so getting a load was $50 of light shale.

[@georgevacherlon931]

Thanks

[@mp-xt2rg]

If you build up the driveway so it's higher than the surrounding area you won't have to do so much maintenance.

[@1herbert100]

Hey Buddy, I been wanting to ask you if you have an outside job or if you just work your farm. Yet when I watch your videos I wonder if that's even possible. I enjoy your videos and remember, you can't do it all in one day.

[@falllineridge]

mac garner I have a full time job besides working around the place. I need 48 hours of daylight most days 😜. Thanks for watching!

[@1herbert100]

@@falllineridge That's amazing to me. Running a farm and a full- time job would try any man's endurance. God bless.

[@davidfricker3258]

Do you know about geogrid systems for roads and pathways. for a DIY tires can have the shoulders removed and faces, when linked together used for the cells in a grid to hold the stones.

[@PeterLawton]

Gravel costs money and could be purchased forever. Geogrid costs, too, but does not need replacement. Any idea of the breakeven time? 1 year? 20 years?

[@polarbear5740]

@@PeterLawton I think it's about 20-30 years from what I was told, but don't quote me on that.

[@davidfricker3258]

for some DIY geogrid. 1 way: buy a role of non-wolven geofabric that can be thermo bonded. cut strips the required depth ( 4 or 6 inches) Fuse bond the strips into a diamond pattern the required length and width. 2nd way: Get smallish, old discarded tires, non steel belted. cut out side wall and set aside. use the treaded cyclinder, rows offset and linked linked together, as the geogrid. use good road building practices; build in layers, compact them, lay down fabric, lay down geogrid.

[@jamesnm21]

Crowning the driveway will help keep the water off and keep it level.

[@rockymountainrockhound4393]

A culvert works too.

[@moyomongoose1980]

14:50 I'm not a big fan of that hump in the road idea. I live on a dirt road in Arkansas, and occasionally someone with a tractor will form up those humps in the road, which is a public road. Only thing is, for someone like me who has a small car that sits low to the ground, I bang up the bottom of my car driving over them. Who ever's making those humps obviously has a truck that has a good ground to bottom clearance.

[@BFTEgodswarrio5939]

It's called arching the roadway so water runs to the ditch and not puddling in the middle of the driveway. If you don't arch it you'll have deep ruts in it and really tear your car up.Your suppose to drive on one side of the driveway not in the middle of it

[@christopheryurkiewicz7395]

Applaud the effort making this video. Did you ever run over your hat?

[@gordo4559]

Real nice piece of property

[@David-fv7zg]

I had similiar issues. I filled the ditch with gravel, it fills the void of the “bump” and still allows for drainage. Not as good as a. Pipe under, but it is better than a bog old ditch in the middle. Thanks for sharing this.

[@mikehornsby599]

Great job enjoyed that thank you !!!

[@falllineridge]

Mike Hornsby Thank, Mike!

[@mikerogers9711]

That is the same thing we always do for the camp road, we called my Uncle the road commissioner, 2-3 times a years ditch the road. Awesome.

[@olben1095]

Wish I had a place like that. Plenty of room to breathe.

[@miketost6552]

wE DO BUT WITH A MILE LONG DRIVEWAY THAT KINDA ROAD IS A LOT OF WORK. We keep the rock quarry in business

[@joseph78e4n6]

maybe Crown the driveway more

[@ghostriderwashere]

Bury some perforated tile under that with gravel over it.

[@hymlog]

...I MISSED THE TRICK...!

[@natevanlandingham1945]

Basically your creating a broad based dip as it's called. You could do that with your box blade.

[@augustreil]

''Water Bars''

[@natevanlandingham1945]

@@augustreil water bars and broad based dips do the same thing, get water off the road. His is more a water bar, since it's like a speed bump/bar that diverts water. On a road you want a broad based dip though so you can drive over it more smoothly, yet still get the water off the road.

[@HiddenValleyHomestead]

YES it will!!! Great vid