sandawg Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 I'm with you Steve. All that grading does is scrape off all the filler that Larry Blaine had put down a few years ago. I'm not a heavy equipment operator but it seems to me that if the loose gravel was pulled from the center of the road to side could be pulled to the road bed and spread over the road it would be smoother. The drag doesn't need to be that heavy either. Other suggestions??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigJon01 Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 Nephew just arrived out there... He said road was decent, 25mph with superduty and nice toyhauler. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bulldogz400 Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 Spoke to lady at Barstow BLM this morning and she says the grader is "On the way there now." - verbatim. I asked twice to make sure I understood correctly. Take it for what it's worth - their main number is 760-252-6000 if anyone has questions for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ngoodey Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 I just called and the lady said she didn't know if it was done or gonna be done but the grader just left the yard but didn't know where it was going. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Svengoolie Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 I'm a heavy equipment operator who has graded for many years. I try to avoid discussing the road as the condition and grading techniques drive me nuts. But what the heck, here goes. First, I would regrade with proper crowning and ditches, next I would have the road sprayed with lignosulfonate. Lignosulfonate is essentially tree sap suspended in a salt water solution so it can be sprayed. With the road material "roughed up" using button bits, the solution is applied,finish graded, then rolled before it dries.The salt water evaporates leaving behind dried tree sap. After it dries it becomes almost as hard as asphalt and is insoluble. The tree sap sticks the particles of dirt together holding the road shape, stopping the road from wahboarding and holding the dust down to below PM10 standards. That means very little or no dust . PM 10 standards:http://www.epa.gov/airtrends/aqtrnd95/pm10.html The cost is low because it uses a waste product, and we would be happy with no washboards or dust. This is what it looks like being applied. It smells like bbq sauce! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SAND~~SNAKE Posted October 24, 2013 Share Posted October 24, 2013 I'm a heavy equipment operator who has graded for many years. I try to avoid discussing the road as the condition and grading techniques drive me nuts. But what the heck, here goes. First, I would regrade with proper crowning and ditches, next I would have the road sprayed with lignosulfonate. Lignosulfonate is essentially tree sap suspended in a salt water solution so it can be sprayed. With the road material "roughed up" using button bits, the solution is applied,finish graded, then rolled before it dries.The salt water evaporates leaving behind dried tree sap. After it dries it becomes almost as hard as asphalt and is insoluble. The tree sap sticks the particles of dirt together holding the road shape, stopping the road from wahboarding and holding the dust down to below PM10 standards. That means very little or no dust . PM 10 standards:http://www.epa.gov/airtrends/aqtrnd95/pm10.html The cost is low because it uses a waste product, and we would be happy with no washboards or dust. This is what it looks like being applied. It smells like bbq sauce! I like like bbq sauce! I say your hired!! Get er done and send the bill to Ynot.. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nwtdiesel Posted October 24, 2013 Share Posted October 24, 2013 (edited) Yes I too have operated a grader for years and the main thing that needs to be done is have a good operator go in and cut ditches with water drains in the low spots and pull all the gravel into the center of the road then lay it out and keep it out of the fresh ditches. The right operator can separate the gravel from the sand. Most operators these days just run up and down the road and don't make a crown and cant lay gravel the way it needs to be laid out. Should only be a days work to turn it into something nice and maintainable. Somebody have a 140G or 140H delivered and ill do it for free. A drag or box will just keep digging a hole and pushing all the gravel out to the edges but will make it smooth. The road needs to be built up with ditches and water bars. Edited October 24, 2013 by nwtdiesel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ngoodey Posted October 24, 2013 Share Posted October 24, 2013 Any word on if the grader made it there? I know the lady at BLM said that iit had just left the yard but she didn't know where it was going and nobody has said if it was done yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Svengoolie Posted October 24, 2013 Share Posted October 24, 2013 Yes I too have operated a grader for years and the main thing that needs to be done is have a good operator go in and cut ditches with water drains in the low spots and pull all the gravel into the center of the road then lay it out and keep it out of the fresh ditches. The right operator can separate the gravel from the sand. Most operators these days just run up and down the road and don't make a crown and cant lay gravel the way it needs to be laid out. Should only be a days work to turn it into something nice and maintainable. Somebody have a 140G or 140H delivered and ill do it for free. A drag or box will just keep digging a hole and pushing all the gravel out to the edges but will make it smooth. The road needs to be built up with ditches and water bars. They're just running with the floats anyway. I can tell. Another reason to crown. (I like 3 1/2 to 4%) is is separates the lanes to drivers. When the road is just flat bladed, people tend to drive in the middle of the road both directions. Just human nature. When there is a clear divider (crown) people tend to drive on their own side. That halfs the wheel impact on the road and it lasts twice as long. And yes, way to many fines on the road. I'm hooked on the new joystick controlled graders. Never thought I'd like them, but after getting used to it, will never go back. I wonder if BLM can be swayed with the tree sap. It would last for a couple years, and the next applications are cheaper and easier as it builds up. The finished product is similar to what oil used to do before the EPA stopped the practice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ltr450rider Posted October 24, 2013 Share Posted October 24, 2013 The GOV hates competition! And common sense logic only travels so far up the chain of command. Spend a little money now to save a lot of money later isn't a phrase that goes to far in the federal gov't! There has been many great idea's about the road. But in the end, you just have to come to terms that you are going to a remote desert location for your personal recreation on gov't owned property. Dumont is pretty damn low on the broader spectrum of gov't spending, therefore, don't expect anything to be done about the condition of the road. And I can tell you right now, the only reason why that road exists, is for the BLM and LEO's! So they can access the area as easily as possible. Kind of like our national highway/freeway system was built for military use. Hence that reason that the road gets graded before holiday weekends when they are out there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DunaticSuzyQ Posted October 24, 2013 Share Posted October 24, 2013 So how much money does something like this cost? In regular dollars not government pricing. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunefreak Posted October 24, 2013 Author Share Posted October 24, 2013 This topic is for updates, not paving techniques. Lol According to my buddy who rolled in this morning, the grader is working on it now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ngoodey Posted October 24, 2013 Share Posted October 24, 2013 Thanks for the update. I will be heading that way in about an hour or 2. I was debating camping at the little dunes until it got there if it hadn't been there yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunefreak Posted October 24, 2013 Author Share Posted October 24, 2013 It's official. The road is as smooth as butter. 25 mph with a toyhauler. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raspadoo Posted October 25, 2013 Share Posted October 25, 2013 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Rhino Posted October 25, 2013 Share Posted October 25, 2013 Lucky. It was the worst I've ever seen it Wednesday. If it's done it was done today. (Thursday) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jordanhiggins2002 Posted October 26, 2013 Share Posted October 26, 2013 Came in this morning and it was perfect. 25mph 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Rhino Posted October 28, 2013 Share Posted October 28, 2013 F on Wednesday I'd give it a B on the way out maybe B + Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunefreak Posted October 29, 2014 Author Share Posted October 29, 2014 Just a reminder... A rating: smooth, little to no washboard, recently graded, able to do the 25 mph speed limit without rattling your rig to deathB rating: slight washboard in some areas, able to do 15-25 mph but having to slow down for some rough areasC rating: rough and washboarded most or all of the way, but no potholes, less than 15 mphD rating: potholes, bad washboard, less than 10 mphF rating: crap, need we say more? ok fine...huge potholes, washboard, even full of whoops at times, you know how bad it can get UPDATE: A rating. The entrance road as of Sunday was already graded and very smooth. You can easily do the speed limit without losing your fillings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam @ GTP Off Road Posted October 29, 2014 Share Posted October 29, 2014 i'd have to agree. It looks like they spent some time on the road and maybe added some rock. It was a nice drive, I've only seen it better once before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Svengoolie Posted October 29, 2014 Share Posted October 29, 2014 Thanks for the update. I'll be joining you in about 12 hours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HelmetPigtails Posted October 30, 2014 Share Posted October 30, 2014 We are heading out in 10 hours! Thanks for the update! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtBikeGuy Posted November 7, 2014 Share Posted November 7, 2014 Went down it yesterday and its an A rating from me... Seveteeemmmuuummm i mean 25 MPH really smooth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DuNe~Rydher Posted November 8, 2014 Share Posted November 8, 2014 Went down it yesterday and its an A rating from me... Seveteeemmmuuummm i mean 25 MPH really smooth Great news, be there tomorrow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BearsZX72 Posted November 12, 2014 Share Posted November 12, 2014 The road is in great condition! Drove it yesterday at 25 mph and it was very smooth! I'll give it an A rating too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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