According to The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Statistics, 30% of all roads in the United States are unpaved as of 2024. That equates to 1.2 million miles of gravel and dirt roads!
If you need to know how to grade a road with a grader, the process comes down to controlling speed, moldboard angle, pitch, and articulation to properly shape and maintain the surface. Whether you’re grading for routine upkeep or restoring a worn gravel roadway, correct technique is essential for achieving proper crown, drainage, and long-term durability.
Budget constraints are also causing some state agencies to rip up paved roads they can’t afford to maintain. With the boom in unpaved roads and the increase in new and heavier equipment, maintenance for these roads has become an ever-increasing priority. Read on for some helpful tips for using road graders to maintain gravel roads.
The road grader is the primary piece of equipment utilized in maintaining gravel roads. When using a motor grader, it’s important to consider the moldboard angle, moldboard pitch, machine stability, and articulation.
Most importantly, remember to check your speed and slow it down! A top speed of 3-5 MPH is recommended for motor graders because as the machines begin to “lope” or bounce, they leave ridges in the road surface. Machine stability can be affected by changes in moisture, material quality, and quality of the subgrade, so going slow will ensure the grader remains stable as you work.
The angle of the moldboard is critical for good maintenance. The recommended moldboard angle is between 30 and 45 degrees for both dirt roads and gravel roads. Operating your grader without enough of an angle on the moldboard can cause material to spill around the leading edge (toe) of the moldboard.
The tilt or pitch of the moldboard can influence productivity as well. If it is back too far, material can build up in front of the board, and cause equipment to be less reliable when leveling and smoothing. If the moldboard is pitched too far forward, the machine basically just drags the material versus carrying it.
The articulation feature is included in most modern road graders. It allows for greater reach with the moldboard. In both routine and rehabilitation applications, it can allow the grader to stay on the roadway for stability while the moldboard recovers material off the roadway. (If you need more aggressive road rehabilitation, some operators replace the moldboard with a scarifier board attachment.)
Remember to make use of it instead of taking the whole grader off the road to recover material! It will save you a ton of time and effort, and it’s much safer.
When operating rotating grading tools, limit penetration depth to no more than ¾’’-1’’. Cutting too deeply increases wear, reduces efficiency, and places unnecessary strain on the grader. A measured approach will lead to more consistent results and it extends tool life at the same time.
Before operating your grader, confirm that all rotating tools move freely. A tool that is stuck will leave drag marks and cause premature wear. If rotating tools stop rotating, a pressure wash can help. Punch out and clean the bore hole and tool sleeve, then punch back in. As center tools wear down, you can extend their usefulness by swapping them for the less worn outside tools.
Road graders are a useful tool for maintenance, but it’s important to make sure you use them correctly to avoid wear and tear. After all, graders don’t come cheap! Remember these tips next time you’re in the operating seat of a grader and your budget will thank you!
Proper technique protects your equipment, but the right wear parts make just as much difference. High-quality motor grader equipment reduces downtime and extends service life. Contact the Winter Equipment team to find the right grader components for your equipment and road maintenance applications.
