Guys, I'm a Navy retired Senior Chief (E8) residing in Puerto Rico. I am bilingual. If you ever need someone to translate for you, I would be more that happy to do so. Been following you guys for a while and you are an inspiration and fun to watch. Please reach out any time day or night if you need a translator. Lots of positive energy and stay strong. You are a beautiful team.
your property project is a lifetime project so don't sweat the individual hours or days just enjoy the adventure. every sunrise holds new hope and possibilities.
Also was wondering if you've already considered providing a grove along side the road in order to give the water a direction. In traveling we noticed tropical places have these grooves where the water runs to and away from the road or sidewalks. Just a thought. 🤔
I’d think you might want to work on getting a drain solution down at the bottom of the hill. If the water will run off you need to open up that port and let it go. That little bobcat can do more then move gravel. Get rid of the water first.
@@oyedeb4614 - That was exactly my thought. He needs to take ground from any side that is higher than the road and make the road itself more of a dome with water been able to drain on either side. In some areas if it rains heavily the water is going to run across the road and take the gravel with it. He needs to follow how the water will flow if it rain heavily and adjust the side of the road to prevent cross-road water flow.
Tip Matt if you put a layer of stone driveway fabric on top of the first layer of rock this will stop the clay from pumping up through to second layer of rock. This also allows water to drain WITH the second layer or rocks instead of soaking into the soil.🧐🧐👍👍
This may sound strange but typar fabric is common but...we tried something unusual...i collected old carpet from installs and stores for free they just give it to you.. layed it down with overlaps and gravel on top now 20 years with no problems..but i dont think epa alows this use of old carpet..but it works amazing..just a tip may help in you trouble areas
@@reelmatthewswinslow Right on👍👍 I still can't believe some poeple who even do this for a living DON"T know what works in thier area doesn't work for the REST of the world.😢😢The one sighted DUMB mind. That THEIR WAY is the ONLY WAY. Is all situations. WRONG. Example the military building the first ALASKIN HIGHWAY.
I'll tell you an Old saying from my Uncle in the Construction Business . Anyone can work with brand new tools ,But when you can work with Junk thats when you know your good , That's for you Matt.Your Good
An old saying that has always lived with me and helped me through the hard times. "When you see a man walking sideways through an airport, he is going to Bangkok".
There is a thing called "road cloth." One roll is about 300 feet long and 12 feet wide. You put it down UNDER the rock to keep the rock from sinking into the mud. It also helps keep weeds from growing up in your road. When it comes time to put down another layer over the rock that you've already laid, just put the cloth on top of the existing rock and put another layer on top. It works great on the road I built at my farm. It will do you much better than just putting rock on the ground.
You will need to form a camber to the road to encourage runoff to the sides where you will need to put in a gutter or narrow trench to guide the runoff away. Every twenty yards or so, put a cutout to divert the water away from the road. You two have an enviable work ethic.
I would add some cross cut french drains as well - otherwise yu are going to get a lot of gravel wash off if there is any amount of grade on that road.
I lived on a road exactly like it in Hawaii. It's a constant battle to keep rock on the road. It's like quicksand, but after a bunch if loads and a few years it starts to get better and better
Tuber, what size rock are you speaking about? Driveway rock called gravel are easily washed away on a slight grade. If you are speaking of larger rocks say 4” and larger used as base then you are correct. They don’t wash normally and water does flow between them.
Prep road. Lay ground filter cloth. Apply base course(larger rock). Apply one or two smaller rock grades. Go over entire road with a vibrating compactor. Now’s the time to Cut your losses. Spread out your base and start again with your ground cloth over your base. As it is now, your two tracks will sink quickly and you’ll have a big hump in the middle of your road. Trial and error but not too late to save your road project. Good luck.
I have been spreading 12 Yards of 5/8s minus for the last 4 days and this 69 year old dude is whooped. Being young makes a big difference your doing great
If you use a woven driveway fabric it will prevent your gravel from being pushed down into the mud also use a vibro plate to pack down the gravel so the fines in it will lock it together. Keep up the good work🤙
Matt Not sure what gravel you got, but in the US we call it SB-2. it has lots of powder mix with crushed gravel, which solidifies better and makes a better road. Unfortunately, you should’ve put filter cloth underneath the rock as it will continue to sink into the ground and it will cost you a fortune over the long-haul.
Many of us who have done all this building work and have plenty of helpful knowledge & actual experience (including building in the tropics) have commented & made recommendations....but ol' Matty boy just doesn't get it....and pushes on with his trial & error technique. Its ok for content creation....but just a hard & expensive way to do it! ..but wait till they have to battle the weeds in the poorly prep landscape stone work, etc.
You are probably going to need gravel trucks forever. It will get a little better in time, but my parent's 300 feet of flat driveway needs a truck load every year or so.
Just a word of advise, you need to start with a 2-3" size crushed rock first then fines small mix after to lock int the big rock and then your gavel as a smoother.
I think this is correct. It is similar in concrete. You have your aggregate in a balance. Big with the medium and the small. They all fit together much tighter this way.
Without putting something under the gravel when it rains the rocks will go down and the mud will come up . This happened all around our house . Love your videos!!!!!
Guy keep the positive attitude! You are doing great and as usual you guys are impressive by your "can do" attitude. You are willing to learn and try stuff that you have not done before. You are building a life for yourselves and its not being handed to you on a plate. As you build your homestead you are building character. Good character is like fine gold! Keep up the good work!
Few suggestions. Using small stone is a mistake because the small stones just push into the mud Possibly too late now but road fabric and larger crushed stone as the base is needed to not redo the stone frequently
Having built a driveway on dirt/mud, I can advise you used the wrong base layer of gravel. Use 3" or 75mm or a bit bigger. Smaller gravel, as you found out, will simply push down into the mud. Use the one inch (25mm) for a top layer once the 3" quits sinking. Also, at least 12' width is minumum. 16' is better, especially with a trailer. Also, you didn't explain the time crunch...
Check seatbelt connections. If it starts to unlatch or doesn’t get completely clicked in it will set the park brake. Seen it a lot when I used to work on skid steers. Especially seemed to be a problem with bigger operators. 🤷♂️
Hey you 2 I'm a fan....I'm a experienced road builder. If you put porous landscaping cloth down first to separate the mud from the gravel things will go better for you. Hersh from Canada
Matt, there are layers of soil... you need to remove the "Top Soil" before you lay down your gravel. then lay your base rock, the big stuff... then lay down the 3/4 minus rock
Wow, seeing the goats 🐐 and chickens 🐓 at the beginning of the video made me smile. I love all of the critters on your property.. How are all of the cats doing? How's Bear doing?? ❤ I can't thank you both enough for sharing your life adventures with us all. It's my favorite part of the morning. I'm five days post op from a total knee replacement surgery and being able to follow your progress is a lot of fun. Take it easy, stay safe. Hugs 😊❤
look this up. it is what you may need to do in some spots "Corduroy Road" we have them here in michigan some have been around since the 1800s use a 6 to 8 inch logs and dump your rock on top of that. they last for ever because they always stay wet. we find them in swampy spots they were used in the logging days.
Matt there is an attachment for a tractor called "land plane", it is awesome for leveling out out roads and land. If you purchase a tractor (Kubota hint hint) I suggest you get one of these to maintain that road. Kristin as usual your smiling face makes my week. Wishing you two awesome luck on the road. God bless in all things. Love from The Great State of Texas.❤
get a steel girder with a chain attached to each end and pull that behind you and itll level out your road. we do that at work with a tractor after the snow melts
It's gonna be OK. Everything's gonna work out. Y'all will be spending the rest of your lives together. Taking an extra hour, taking an extra day ain't no biggie because it's all part of the wonderful adventure. Y'all are doing great.
Oh my! Totally understand! My driveway when I grew up was about a 1/2 Mile of red clay! My parents had a company come in and put gravel down twice! The red clay just swallowed the gravel! They must have put 100 loads of gravel down! Took two weeks each time!
I see people attempt a lot crazy shit on YT, and i often wonder if they are actually going to get the job done, not with Matt, he's got it, maybe not the straightest, easiest path, but this man will get it done, no question. Enjoying the journey, Keep up the hard work you two!
You would be surprised how much that gravel will sink The answer is the big rock and more crushed limestone ,you'll get it eventually Try to get a better machine if possible . Good luck .
Matt, love you guys & your new projects. I had to do this to my driveway when I bought my little farm. I asked to see the gravel in person and picked up the sample put it in a little plastic ziplock bag and showed the clerk my sample to place my order. I had them to write out on a piece of paper the type of rock in the bag, with their name & date & price per ton/truck load and put that paper in the bag. No way to misunderstand what I ordered. As a female I have learned to be certain about what I am paying for. 😉⛵🌴 It's gonna be O-K. Love you both. 💖
DL,you should get a old GoPro you can edit from your iPhone. I have 4 GoPros. Then show them to us I will watch what your doing. I’ve been following Matt and Kristen since they were in key west and the rudder drop to bottom. I. Think that I was watching this channel like six yrs now. I’m doing a vid today I hope. JT HOOKED N ROLLING OFFSHORE 2009 🇺🇸🇺🇸🐟🎣🐠🎣🛥🌴
I will mention again. I built a lot of construction haul roads, mainline roads and fair amount of freeway reconstruction (46 years in construction). Geo textile fabric material (required for most civil project in my area) if available placed on the soil and rock placed on the fabric. It keeps the soil from penetrating into the rock and bridge the weight of traffic. The fabric if not exposed to sunlight will last a lifetime so you only place it one time. Soil in my area is various clay depending on elevation and layers of different clays in the Willamette valley in Oregon.
I have a 100 ft driveway with exactly the same treatment here in Maine. It has worked great with an additional application after a few years. Pro tip: When snow blowing, expect to pick up and throw rocks across your lawn for the wife to find in her gardens when spring comes. So, be careful with all of that Puerto Rican Snow.
I remember mom and dad doing this with a 400 ft driveway when I was a teenager. Yes the rock sinks over time but it builds a road base. Every couple of years they would buy a few more loads and it would sink in too over time. On the 5th or 6th year dad bought this concrete truck wash out material that worked best and put a pretty solid cap on top that stayed hard. It will be okay it's just a process. Your main goal is to get the road base established. After that it's a maintenance issue.
You need a couple pairs of Maxtrax recovery boards for the property. They will get you out of mud. But you could probably put a winch on the trunk for the same price
What you need is a local helper. They would have better luck lining up things than a gringo on facebook marketplace does. They can also help do the dirty work while you do something else or help them. That's how many many people who buy property in areas they aren't familiar with get things done.
Matt, I'm an old man that base done any of this stuff for years. BUT, when you said gravel, I truly believed you meant crushed rock !!!!! I am no expert but I live in West Virginia, all hills. You need rock for your drive! Cloth under layment, large rock ( size depends on slope, soil , moisture etc. Rock, sharp edges, that will lock in place. Gravel is akin to marbles. Large rock first layer, smaller second layer, even smaller , third layer. The top layer should lock in the first two layers. Then compact. Otherwise, distaster!!!! I have been following you guys from the beginning and want you to succeed. I have refrained myself from comenting, but ......... 😍
Matt and Kristen I admire your hard work and dedication with your driveway project. Matt, here's a $ HUNDO $ to help with your equipment rental and materials! Keep up the great work you two!
Positive thinking really helped me at my darkest moment some three decades ago along with smile and fake it till you make it. I realized that life is like a novel, when your down and feel at the end of your chapter, just remember the book of life is long and another chapter awaits.
Another tip. Make the road wide enough so that when you drive on the edge the wheels on the other side are on the ridge. As you drive on it and work it in this will prevent the tire tracks you're getting now. Glad you got some bigger rock. My experience with clay is that once that rock gets worked in it sets up like concrete. Keep having fun.
Some type of guttering down the low side of the driveway is needed, some agricultural drainage pipe to give water that sheds off the driveway somewhere to gather and move down to the river/creek without dragging all your gravel away with it
If you use that machine again… a very useful function is the “float” function. Push the toe of the left pedal hard until it moves into a sort of detent. This allows the arms to float and is very useful for back blading. Also, there are two panels on the front of the machine (you have to lift the arms up. Make sure to use the support) that when removed allow you to clean out debris from under the pedals.
Good Job guys, Lots of fun watching. My girlfriend is hook with the videos. She made me buy property near that area. She loves you guys. I was born and raised in Texas, moved to Florida in 99 now ending my contract with Disney and she is from the Island so moving there this summer don't know is I can work that hard. Matt make it look easy and Kris is the hardest working woman ever. I hope my "GF" can imitate Kristin work skills. Lots of Love, Santy
Great work guys, just a bit of late advice, you need to put a couple layers of cloth down (and ideally a base of larger stone) prior to the gravel or you will lose it all in the mud over time….
Matt. You have changed DIY to mean. D _m, Did, it. You guys are kicking the Sh_T out of issues that would have alot of folks bent over in the dark crying it cant be dpne. We only get one life, make worth living. Super Great team work. Great Video!
The sub soil looks clay(ish) as it’s holding water. Consider inserting a drainage ditch down the lower side (track slopes a little left to right). Perforated plastic pipe, covered by gravel, draining to a pond at the bottom.
Its look'n G R E A T !!! I understand the setbacks, but the drone shots really document the length that you have accomplished so far in this episode. I''m proud of all that you do!!
Right on Matt , the rock will sink in a bit but eventually you'll have a stable base course to build on to . Nice job on the bobcat backblading seems to make grading a bit easier ,,less hand work !
Putting a coating of dry concrete powder down before the rock would have been better and provided a stronger base for the rock. All that rock will disappear into the mud when you drive on it several time and you will have to keep buying rock to compensate over time. You can mitigate this by applying the dry cement powder on top of and mix in with the rock. It wont be as good as applying dry concrete powder first to the mud before putting the rock down but here we are. Nice videos and I enjoy watching.
That's why he should be using the island's stone & shell moro roadbase material for a 6" base over structure roadbase fabric layer with a road crown to shoulder drainage. The roadbase makes a hard concrete like surface base, then followed by his choice of stone toppings.
Hey Matt I admire your persistence. One of the things you might want to consider with your road is putting the big stuff down first and then choking it in with the small stuff. That's the way they normally do paving at least in Pennsylvania. The big stuff will give you a good base and then the small stuff will choke it off so that you'll get less mud pumping through
Hay guys, it's been a while since I dropped you a note. You guys are hard at work as always. Your army of viewers are still here cheering you on as always... But this project needed to be done by folks with the right materials and equipment... I still like the gravel road, but this is one thing you can't do without the know-how, my friend... First of all, you really needed to remove 3 to 4 inches of Topsoil, then roll it well, then start with the big rock 4 inches thick, then roll it again. Make good drainage points to help keep it dry after rain... Then start on the 4 inches of smaller rock to seal the large rock, then roll it well over and over again.. remember when we talked about cutting out the road 4 inches that was very important to hold the road in place... Brother, I know you are the man and will attempt anything, but road building is an art form, and when done right, it is your fairway to success on all the other work you will need going forward.. God bless, get help before you spend more money with possible poor out come... Love you guys
Hey Guys, there is Plastic Netting that you put down before you put in your Gravel. It keeps the Gravel in one spot and it will not wash away on the slope… I don’t know why no one told you this before, but that is what you need… I’ve laid Miles of it down in the Everglades over 17 years ago and the road is still there today.
I’m so glad you;re both here every Sunday morning.happy ST Patrick’s day. The highway to hell. What a difficult job.cant wait till next week. You’ll get it done
having that larger stone will mat in the mud and will solidify into a great foundation. you can always scatter some fine stone latter. the big rock works primo.
It's going to be OK. Everything will work out. I can say this with confidence because you guys will find a way to get the job done, just like you always do. I admire you both. What a great team you make!
Please take the time to plant fruit and nut trees when you go to the garden center to get plants for your landscaping. Landscaping will look nice in the front but you need to have fruit trees and nut trees and even berries if you can afford them now …get them into the ground because it will take several years to get established, and in the future you will find that your land is very sustainable, along with the bananas and other fruit trees that you have. You won’t be sorry …we planted fruit trees when we first moved here and now it is flourishing, and we have so much to share with others and always have quality fruit for ourselves.
You two are brave tackling the road down. In your fashion you are doing a great start to being able to traverse the way down to the bottom and your home. Before you know it, you will be moving the chicken enclosure down the mountain. Hang in there, you have proven in the past that you are resilient and know how to pivot when you hit a snag. You got this....🥰
Keep on keepin' on. That's all ya can do, sometimes. I'll always admire the effort...but even more, the tenacity. (I'll bet you have that road paved by next season)
Over 2 or 3 acres ( 1.2 hectares) you need a tractor (John Deere 300 series). You will wear it out if you stay there. Great work indeed! Get a box blade to keep the road neat and tidy. Good luck on the wedding planning too!
Building our home I had a similar situation with our 1,000 foot driveway. it was initially a dirt and mud path cut through the woods. I started by laying a thick layer of 3/4" to 1" diameter blue gravel. This first layer created a solid base for construction trucks to come and go. And the construction trucks acted like a steam roller and really packed this first layer of gravel. A few months later I had a second layer of smaller blue gravel (approx: 1/2" diameter) put down over the larger gravel. This second layer really filled in the gaps and made for a nicer driving surface. (I steered clear of round stone because it tends to wash away much easier than the sharp edged blue gravel. Regardless of the size of stone you have, traffic will slowly grind it into smaller and smaller pieces so periodically you'll need more gravel. Also source yourself some concentrated weed killer and a sprayer with at least a 40" spraying width because in short order weeds grow up through the gravel. Bottom line... your efforts are paying off and looking great, and everything will be ok! 😀
Matty as soon as you're half way established get yourself a skid-steer loader bro that's an excellent start into the heavy equipment world without going too crazy all at once it's compact and a workhorse it'll save your very important back and get the job done around the property...Kristin it's your job to convince him so go ahead with that signature back-of-hand-palm slap and get it done💯
Matt and Christine, I think the gravel company is taking advantage of you. The first layer should be large stone (2-3 inches) and the second layer #57 stone then Crush & Run. Also, the driver could have spread most of the gravel with his dump but was probably afraid of getting stuck.😊
I posted weeks ago you needed large base rock 3"4" or even up to 6" rock then you go over with the small rock. The large rock builds the base. It is how logging roads are built.
Get a 7-day free trial and 25% off Blinkist Annual Premium by clicking: bit.ly/SailingGoodBadAndUglyMar24
If they have limestone probably not on the island
I feel for you bud .
I'm a builder.Before you do anything else just ask and I'll tell you 34 years experience
Guys, I'm a Navy retired Senior Chief (E8) residing in Puerto Rico. I am bilingual. If you ever need someone to translate for you, I would be more that happy to do so. Been following you guys for a while and you are an inspiration and fun to watch. Please reach out any time day or night if you need a translator. Lots of positive energy and stay strong. You are a beautiful team.
Good man.
B.rgds
❤❤❤
Necesita poner tosca en el camino. Por favor oriéntalos
Great work in the face of adversity!
@ramondejesus6151 You're a very nice dude to reach out like that to these awesome folks.
your property project is a lifetime project so don't sweat the individual hours or days just enjoy the adventure. every sunrise holds new hope and possibilities.
I agree. Everything you do makes it better and better. 👍🏽
Jump wire the seat sensor and try that see if it shuts down still
Also was wondering if you've already considered providing a grove along side the road in order to give the water a direction. In traveling we noticed tropical places have these grooves where the water runs to and away from the road or sidewalks. Just a thought. 🤔
I’d think you might want to work on getting a drain solution down at the bottom of the hill. If the water will run off you need to open up that port and let it go. That little bobcat can do more then move gravel. Get rid of the water first.
@@oyedeb4614 - That was exactly my thought. He needs to take ground from any side that is higher than the road and make the road itself more of a dome with water been able to drain on either side. In some areas if it rains heavily the water is going to run across the road and take the gravel with it. He needs to follow how the water will flow if it rain heavily and adjust the side of the road to prevent cross-road water flow.
Yeah, you need a road base rock…..which is a bigger rock and you build the road up and then lock it together with the smaller rocks
#2 - #4 SIZE ROCK (4" DEPTH) AS A BASE WITH 3/4" (2" DEPTH) CRUSHED ROCK ON TOP !!!
Tip Matt if you put a layer of stone driveway fabric on top of the first layer of rock this will stop the clay from pumping up through to second layer of rock. This also allows water to drain WITH the second layer or rocks instead of soaking into the soil.🧐🧐👍👍
Won't work. You have to start with the correct base material. And you put that fabric under the base, not on top of it.
This may sound strange but typar fabric is common but...we tried something unusual...i collected old carpet from installs and stores for free they just give it to you.. layed it down with overlaps and gravel on top now 20 years with no problems..but i dont think epa alows this use of old carpet..but it works amazing..just a tip may help in you trouble areas
@@TimTimTomTom Normaly up here in the 48's yes, but in wet climates and jungles the base first to lockup the clay after removing the top soil.
@@kaydog2008 even better if compacted then geomat
@@reelmatthewswinslow Right on👍👍 I still can't believe some poeple who even do this for a living DON"T know what works in thier area doesn't work for the REST of the world.😢😢The one sighted DUMB mind. That THEIR WAY is the ONLY WAY. Is all situations. WRONG. Example the military building the first ALASKIN HIGHWAY.
I'll tell you an Old saying from my Uncle in the Construction Business . Anyone can work with brand new tools ,But when you can work with Junk thats when you know your good , That's for you Matt.Your Good
Let's not get carried away dude 🤨 as much as I admire Matt's work ethic he definitely is going to end up paying for the 💩 paving job
@@mr.vancouver007 We' ll see .are you a betting man?
An old saying that has always lived with me and helped me through the hard times. "When you see a man walking sideways through an airport, he is going to Bangkok".
There is a thing called "road cloth." One roll is about 300 feet long and 12 feet wide. You put it down UNDER the rock to keep the rock from sinking into the mud. It also helps keep weeds from growing up in your road. When it comes time to put down another layer over the rock that you've already laid, just put the cloth on top of the existing rock and put another layer on top. It works great on the road I built at my farm. It will do you much better than just putting rock on the ground.
You will need to form a camber to the road to encourage runoff to the sides where you will need to put in a gutter or narrow trench to guide the runoff away. Every twenty yards or so, put a cutout to divert the water away from the road. You two have an enviable work ethic.
I would add some cross cut french drains as well - otherwise yu are going to get a lot of gravel wash off if there is any amount of grade on that road.
I hope he listens to what you are telling him. I he doesn’t then he will just watch those gravel wash down the sides of the hill!
I lived on a road exactly like it in Hawaii. It's a constant battle to keep rock on the road. It's like quicksand, but after a bunch if loads and a few years it starts to get better and better
Rain doesn't run off of rock. It flows between them.
Tuber, what size rock are you speaking about? Driveway rock called gravel are easily washed away on a slight grade. If you are speaking of larger rocks say 4” and larger used as base then you are correct. They don’t wash normally and water does flow between them.
Prep road. Lay ground filter cloth. Apply base course(larger rock). Apply one or two smaller rock grades. Go over entire road with a vibrating compactor. Now’s the time to Cut your losses. Spread out your base and start again with your ground cloth over your base. As it is now, your two tracks will sink quickly and you’ll have a big hump in the middle of your road. Trial and error but not too late to save your road project. Good luck.
I have been spreading 12 Yards of 5/8s minus for the last 4 days and this 69 year old dude is whooped. Being young makes a big difference your doing great
If you use a woven driveway fabric it will prevent your gravel from being pushed down into the mud also use a vibro plate to pack down the gravel so the fines in it will lock it together. Keep up the good work🤙
Relax ! Take a look around where you are living . So beautiful where you are ! It will all come together .
It looks like landscaping rock to me ,certainly nothing to build a road out of ,it will disappear into the mud very quickly.
It's a little too late now
Matt
Not sure what gravel you got, but in the US we call it SB-2. it has lots of powder mix with crushed gravel, which solidifies better and makes a better road. Unfortunately, you should’ve put filter cloth underneath the rock as it will continue to sink into the ground and it will cost you a fortune over the long-haul.
In North Central Kansas we use AB-3 (Shoulder Rock). Also use something we call Road stone , has some sand in it to compact and hold together.
Road fabric would have been good !
Many of us who have done all this building work and have plenty of helpful knowledge & actual experience (including building in the tropics) have commented & made recommendations....but ol' Matty boy just doesn't get it....and pushes on with his trial & error technique. Its ok for content creation....but just a hard & expensive way to do it! ..but wait till they have to battle the weeds in the poorly prep landscape stone work, etc.
You are probably going to need gravel trucks forever. It will get a little better in time, but my parent's 300 feet of flat driveway needs a truck load every year or so.
That is far from S B-2.
Some small palm trees in the front will look beautiful
Just a word of advise, you need to start with a 2-3" size crushed rock first then fines small mix after to lock int the big rock and then your gavel as a smoother.
I think this is correct. It is similar in concrete. You have your aggregate in a balance. Big with the medium and the small. They all fit together much tighter this way.
Been saying this for a month. Oy.
Crushed is key otherwise it just doesn’t interlock well.
You should load up the taco bed with rock and do it that way over the wheelbarrow method
You need much bigger size rock for the road bed.
You two are one of the hardest working couple. I’m amazed at the amount of work you accomplish in those conditions. Look forward to each week episode.
Matt has had a lot of good advice on building the road, I think Matt is the kind of guy that just does it his way.
Without putting something under the gravel when it rains the rocks will go down and the mud will come up . This happened all around our house . Love your videos!!!!!
Matt...your time line for building up your property is the rest of your life...relax, it will get done. Enjoy the trip...
Guy keep the positive attitude! You are doing great and as usual you guys are impressive by your "can do" attitude. You are willing to learn and try stuff that you have not done before. You are building a life for yourselves and its not being handed to you on a plate. As you build your homestead you are building character. Good character is like fine gold! Keep up the good work!
Put down road fabric next to prevent the next layer from pushing down.
Few suggestions. Using small stone is a mistake because the small stones just push into the mud
Possibly too late now but road fabric and larger crushed stone as the base is needed to not redo the stone frequently
Having built a driveway on dirt/mud, I can advise you used the wrong base layer of gravel. Use 3" or 75mm or a bit bigger. Smaller gravel, as you found out, will simply push down into the mud. Use the one inch (25mm) for a top layer once the 3" quits sinking. Also, at least 12' width is minumum. 16' is better, especially with a trailer. Also, you didn't explain the time crunch...
Check seatbelt connections. If it starts to unlatch or doesn’t get completely clicked in it will set the park brake. Seen it a lot when I used to work on skid steers. Especially seemed to be a problem with bigger operators. 🤷♂️
Hey you 2 I'm a fan....I'm a experienced road builder. If you put porous landscaping cloth down first to separate the mud from the gravel things will go better for you.
Hersh from Canada
Matt, there are layers of soil... you need to remove the "Top Soil" before you lay down your gravel. then lay your base rock, the big stuff... then lay down the 3/4 minus rock
Wow, seeing the goats 🐐 and chickens 🐓 at the beginning of the video made me smile.
I love all of the critters on your property..
How are all of the cats doing? How's Bear doing?? ❤
I can't thank you both enough for sharing your life adventures with us all.
It's my favorite part of the morning.
I'm five days post op from a total knee replacement surgery and being able to follow your progress is a lot of fun.
Take it easy, stay safe. Hugs 😊❤
Large fist sized jagged stones, followed by medium and then the small stuff. That will make a more stable base in the clay.
Make sure you ditch, add necessary culverts for drainage. Do that and a road is easy!
look this up. it is what you may need to do in some spots "Corduroy Road" we have them here in michigan some have been around since the 1800s use a 6 to 8 inch logs and dump your rock on top of that. they last for ever because they always stay wet. we find them in swampy spots they were used in the logging days.
For people with no experience, you are amazing! One reason I and others are still following.
Matt there is an attachment for a tractor called "land plane", it is awesome for leveling out out roads and land. If you purchase a tractor (Kubota hint hint) I suggest you get one of these to maintain that road. Kristin as usual your smiling face makes my week. Wishing you two awesome luck on the road. God bless in all things. Love from The Great State of Texas.❤
get a steel girder with a chain attached to each end and pull that behind you and itll level out your road. we do that at work with a tractor after the snow melts
The A-frame off the front of a mobile home works excellent to drag behind!!!!
It's gonna be OK. Everything's gonna work out. Y'all will be spending the rest of your lives together. Taking an extra hour, taking an extra day ain't no biggie because it's all part of the wonderful adventure. Y'all are doing great.
Love you guys!
PLANT TREES_fruit, nut, timber, etc.
Best time to plant a tree was ten years ago,2nd best time is NOW!
This is excellent advice on something you need to just stop and do because in the future you will be glad you did
Oh my! Totally understand! My driveway when I grew up was about a 1/2 Mile of red clay! My parents had a company come in and put gravel down twice! The red clay just swallowed the gravel! They must have put 100 loads of gravel down! Took two weeks each time!
I see people attempt a lot crazy shit on YT, and i often wonder if they are actually going to get the job done, not with Matt, he's got it, maybe not the straightest, easiest path, but this man will get it done, no question. Enjoying the journey, Keep up the hard work you two!
You would be surprised how much that gravel will sink The answer is the big rock and more crushed limestone ,you'll get it eventually Try to get a better machine if possible . Good luck .
Matt, love you guys & your new projects. I had to do this to my driveway when I bought my little farm. I asked to see the gravel in person and picked up the sample put it in a little plastic ziplock bag and showed the clerk my sample to place my order. I had them to write out on a piece of paper the type of rock in the bag, with their name & date & price per ton/truck load and put that paper in the bag. No way to misunderstand what I ordered. As a female I have learned to be certain about what I am paying for. 😉⛵🌴
It's gonna be O-K. Love you both. 💖
DL,you should get a old GoPro you can edit from your iPhone. I have 4 GoPros. Then show them to us I will watch what your doing. I’ve been following Matt and Kristen since they were in key west and the rudder drop to bottom. I. Think that I was watching this channel like six yrs now. I’m doing a vid today I hope. JT HOOKED N ROLLING OFFSHORE 2009 🇺🇸🇺🇸🐟🎣🐠🎣🛥🌴
Try and enjoy the journey?
I root for you two and your success !
Make it fun!!
Make it fun!!
Make it fun!!
Adaptability is your strong point. Love what you're doing to the facade. Beautiful.
I will mention again. I built a lot of construction haul roads, mainline roads and fair amount of freeway reconstruction (46 years in construction). Geo textile fabric material (required for most civil project in my area) if available placed on the soil and rock placed on the fabric. It keeps the soil from penetrating into the rock and bridge the weight of traffic. The fabric if not exposed to sunlight will last a lifetime so you only place it one time. Soil in my area is various clay depending on elevation and layers of different clays in the Willamette valley in Oregon.
Listen to Jerry, he knows what is true and the right way to do this road one time.
I have a 100 ft driveway with exactly the same treatment here in Maine. It has worked great with an additional application after a few years. Pro tip: When snow blowing, expect to pick up and throw rocks across your lawn for the wife to find in her gardens when spring comes. So, be careful with all of that Puerto Rican Snow.
hahahahaha yeah .
I would have bet there was no snow to be found in Puerto Rico! Then again, you might know something the rest of the world doen't.
That's a good one. Puerto Rican Snow . . . 🤣🤣🤣
You need to create some drainage ditches with pipe assistance.
That will help a lot.
Looking good guys. Yes, big rock first then smaller on top to smooth it out.
The mastery of the bobcat and the mastery of the editing is just amazing. ❤😊
Should use 3 inch minus (bigger type of gravel) for bottom layer and then smaller gravel on top. It would be very smooth and strong long term.
I remember mom and dad doing this with a 400 ft driveway when I was a teenager. Yes the rock sinks over time but it builds a road base. Every couple of years they would buy a few more loads and it would sink in too over time. On the 5th or 6th year dad bought this concrete truck wash out material that worked best and put a pretty solid cap on top that stayed hard. It will be okay it's just a process. Your main goal is to get the road base established. After that it's a maintenance issue.
thanks for sharing
You need a couple pairs of Maxtrax recovery boards for the property. They will get you out of mud. But you could probably put a winch on the trunk for the same price
Fingers crossed! You CAN do it! When someone has the guts and determination you two have, things are boud to go your way!
It will all work out in the end. Just be patient and keep moving Forward!!
Good job!! 🫂🫂🫂🫂
What you need is a local helper. They would have better luck lining up things than a gringo on facebook marketplace does. They can also help do the dirty work while you do something else or help them. That's how many many people who buy property in areas they aren't familiar with get things done.
Matt, I'm an old man that base done any of this stuff for years. BUT, when you said gravel, I truly believed you meant crushed rock !!!!! I am no expert but I live in West Virginia, all hills.
You need rock for your drive! Cloth under layment, large rock ( size depends on slope, soil , moisture etc. Rock, sharp edges, that will lock in place. Gravel is akin to marbles.
Large rock first layer, smaller second layer, even smaller , third layer. The top layer should lock in the first two layers. Then compact.
Otherwise, distaster!!!!
I have been following you guys from the beginning and want you to succeed. I have refrained myself from comenting, but ......... 😍
I think you're going to end up with concrete in the end. Gravel never seems to stay put for long, especially where there is a high rainfall.
Matt and Kristen I admire your hard work and dedication with your driveway project. Matt, here's a $ HUNDO $ to help with your equipment rental and materials! Keep up the great work you two!
Tennessee Ernie Ford ----16 Tons, what do ya get, another day older and deeper in debt. Check out the song. Good job!!!
Thanks!
Positive thinking really helped me at my darkest moment some three decades ago along with smile and fake it till you make it. I realized that life is like a novel, when your down and feel at the end of your chapter, just remember the book of life is long and another chapter awaits.
Kristin, my wife Cary was so thrilled by all the animal footage. THANK YOU.
Groovy episode. I am so proud of you two. I really look forward to seeing a new episode each week.
You guys are living the life that some people can only dream of doing. Enjoy the journey!
I really like the idea of putting relaxing music as background track to a stressful task... great idea😂
Another tip. Make the road wide enough so that when you drive on the edge the wheels on the other side are on the ridge. As you drive on it and work it in this will prevent the tire tracks you're getting now. Glad you got some bigger rock. My experience with clay is that once that rock gets worked in it sets up like concrete. Keep having fun.
Some type of guttering down the low side of the driveway is needed, some agricultural drainage pipe to give water that sheds off the driveway somewhere to gather and move down to the river/creek without dragging all your gravel away with it
If you use that machine again… a very useful function is the “float” function. Push the toe of the left pedal hard until it moves into a sort of detent. This allows the arms to float and is very useful for back blading. Also, there are two panels on the front of the machine (you have to lift the arms up. Make sure to use the support) that when removed allow you to clean out debris from under the pedals.
Personally I think you are doing a great job!
Good Job guys, Lots of fun watching. My girlfriend is hook with the videos. She made me buy property near that area. She loves you guys. I was born and raised in Texas, moved to Florida in 99 now ending my contract with Disney and she is from the Island so moving there this summer don't know is I can work that hard. Matt make it look easy and Kris is the hardest working woman ever. I hope my "GF" can imitate Kristin work skills. Lots of Love, Santy
Y'all are doing a really nice job with your property. You live and learn, don't get discouraged. Love y'all ❤
Great work guys, just a bit of late advice, you need to put a couple layers of cloth down (and ideally a base of larger stone) prior to the gravel or you will lose it all in the mud over time….
Awesome!! Things really moving now. Great job.
Matt. You have changed DIY to mean. D _m, Did, it. You guys are kicking the Sh_T out of issues that would have alot of folks bent over in the dark crying it cant be dpne. We only get one life, make worth living. Super Great team work. Great Video!
The sub soil looks clay(ish) as it’s holding water. Consider inserting a drainage ditch down the lower side (track slopes a little left to right). Perforated plastic pipe, covered by gravel, draining to a pond at the bottom.
Its look'n G R E A T !!! I understand the setbacks, but the drone shots really document the length that you have accomplished so far in this episode. I''m proud of all that you do!!
Right on Matt , the rock will sink in a bit but eventually you'll have a stable base course to build on to . Nice job on the bobcat backblading seems to make grading a bit easier ,,less hand work !
Everything will be okay, it will all work out.
Putting a coating of dry concrete powder down before the rock would have been better and provided a stronger base for the rock. All that rock will disappear into the mud when you drive on it several time and you will have to keep buying rock to compensate over time. You can mitigate this by applying the dry cement powder on top of and mix in with the rock. It wont be as good as applying dry concrete powder first to the mud before putting the rock down but here we are. Nice videos and I enjoy watching.
This is in a way ok if it wasn't slopped as steep the problem with this is the hard will allow the grave to slide and go off the sides more
That's why he should be using the island's stone & shell moro roadbase material for a 6" base over structure roadbase fabric layer with a road crown to shoulder drainage. The roadbase makes a hard concrete like surface base, then followed by his choice of stone toppings.
Wouldn’t it be better to put down a base of 6 minus rock… then 2and a half inch?
@@muskyful That would work too.
Hey Matt I admire your persistence. One of the things you might want to consider with your road is putting the big stuff down first and then choking it in with the small stuff. That's the way they normally do paving at least in Pennsylvania. The big stuff will give you a good base and then the small stuff will choke it off so that you'll get less mud pumping through
Hay guys, it's been a while since I dropped you a note. You guys are hard at work as always. Your army of viewers are still here cheering you on as always... But this project needed to be done by folks with the right materials and equipment... I still like the gravel road, but this is one thing you can't do without the know-how, my friend... First of all, you really needed to remove 3 to 4 inches of Topsoil, then roll it well, then start with the big rock 4 inches thick, then roll it again. Make good drainage points to help keep it dry after rain... Then start on the 4 inches of smaller rock to seal the large rock, then roll it well over and over again.. remember when we talked about cutting out the road 4 inches that was very important to hold the road in place... Brother, I know you are the man and will attempt anything, but road building is an art form, and when done right, it is your fairway to success on all the other work you will need going forward.. God bless, get help before you spend more money with possible poor out come... Love you guys
Hey Guys, there is Plastic Netting that you put down before you put in your Gravel. It keeps the Gravel in one spot and it will not wash away on the slope… I don’t know why no one told you this before, but that is what you need… I’ve laid Miles of it down in the Everglades over 17 years ago and the road is still there today.
I’m so glad you;re both here every Sunday morning.happy ST Patrick’s day. The highway to hell. What a difficult job.cant wait till next week. You’ll get it done
don't beat yourself up Matt. Machinery has a mind of it's own. Both of you are doing a great job. I'm watching from the UK.
having that larger stone will mat in the mud and will solidify into a great foundation. you can always scatter some fine stone latter. the big rock works primo.
You can put rubber tracks over the wheels in the future
It's going to be OK. Everything will work out. I can say this with confidence because you guys will find a way to get the job done, just like you always do. I admire you both. What a great team you make!
Please take the time to plant fruit and nut trees when you go to the garden center to get plants for your landscaping. Landscaping will look nice in the front but you need to have fruit trees and nut trees and even berries if you can afford them now …get them into the ground because it will take several years to get established, and in the future you will find that your land is very sustainable, along with the bananas and other fruit trees that you have. You won’t be sorry …we planted fruit trees when we first moved here and now it is flourishing, and we have so much to share with others and always have quality fruit for ourselves.
It’s going to all work out. Everything will be just fine I promise. 👍😎🙏🏼✌️
You two are brave tackling the road down. In your fashion you are doing a great start to being able to traverse the way down to the bottom and your home. Before you know it, you will be moving the chicken enclosure down the mountain. Hang in there, you have proven in the past that you are resilient and know how to pivot when you hit a snag. You got this....🥰
Keep on keepin' on. That's all ya can do, sometimes. I'll always admire the effort...but even more, the tenacity. (I'll bet you have that road paved by next season)
Over 2 or 3 acres ( 1.2 hectares) you need a tractor (John Deere 300 series). You will wear it out if you stay there. Great work indeed! Get a box blade to keep the road neat and tidy. Good luck on the wedding planning too!
Thank you for the video
Everything is going to work out
Always something right.
Hang in there guys it's looking good thanks for the video
Building our home I had a similar situation with our 1,000 foot driveway. it was initially a dirt and mud path cut through the woods. I started by laying a thick layer of 3/4" to 1" diameter blue gravel. This first layer created a solid base for construction trucks to come and go. And the construction trucks acted like a steam roller and really packed this first layer of gravel. A few months later I had a second layer of smaller blue gravel (approx: 1/2" diameter) put down over the larger gravel. This second layer really filled in the gaps and made for a nicer driving surface. (I steered clear of round stone because it tends to wash away much easier than the sharp edged blue gravel. Regardless of the size of stone you have, traffic will slowly grind it into smaller and smaller pieces so periodically you'll need more gravel. Also source yourself some concentrated weed killer and a sprayer with at least a 40" spraying width because in short order weeds grow up through the gravel. Bottom line... your efforts are paying off and looking great, and everything will be ok! 😀
Matty as soon as you're half way established get yourself a skid-steer loader bro that's an excellent start into the heavy equipment world without going too crazy all at once it's compact and a workhorse it'll save your very important back and get the job done around the property...Kristin it's your job to convince him so go ahead with that signature back-of-hand-palm slap and get it done💯
Yeap...we need more people telling him this. He can even farm with it when he is done building.
@nicholasr7987 for sure man..the plus side of that machine is every attachment imaginable is available for it
Matt and Christine, I think the gravel company is taking advantage of you. The first layer should be large stone (2-3 inches) and the second layer #57 stone then Crush & Run. Also, the driver could have spread most of the gravel with his dump but was probably afraid of getting stuck.😊
Just stopped in to check on you two and Hit the THUMBS UP. Best regards.
Thank you!!
It's all going to work out!!! Matt is a fighter!!!!
I posted weeks ago you needed large base rock 3"4" or even up to 6" rock then you go over with the small rock. The large rock builds the base. It is how logging roads are built.
Thats exactly what I said. begin with #1's at least.