A gravel driveway is a compaction project that happens to have rock on top. If you skip fabric and lifts, you own a mud rut by April. The CTL spreads. The roller (or plate) densifies each lift. The mini cuts the ditch and the crown. No paver, no oil, no “we will compact it later.”
In This Guide
Equipment for building a gravel driveway
Primary machines
Compact track loader
PrimaryT550 class is the usual residential machine.
Spread and grade each lift without turning the subgrade into soup.
Skip it when you are only topping an already-tight drive with a few yards and a rake.
BrowseRide-on or plate compactor
PrimaryRD12-class roller for length; WP1550 plate for short drives and edges.
Lock the stone. Loose gravel is a decoration.
Skip it when you are placing decorative rock on a patio, not building a drive.
BrowseOptional / nice to have
Mini excavator
OptionalE35 for most residential; 305.5 for a long rural cut.
Ditches, culvert inlets, and cutting into a slope.
Skip it when the grade is already there and you are only placing stone.
BrowseDump trailer
Optional7×14. Do not overload — wet base is heavy.
Self-haul base when the truck cannot get down the lane.
Skip it when the quarry truck can dump on the alignment.
BrowseTypical pairing
CTL + roller is the gravel-drive package. Add the mini if you are cutting ditches or setting a culvert. Fabric down before the first load of base, not after the ruts appear.
Shape before stone
Crown or cross-slope so water leaves. A mini cuts the ditches; a CTL pulls the grade. Dumping gravel on weeds is how you buy more gravel every year.
Lifts and fabric
Geotextile on soft Utah clay, then base in lifts you can actually compact. RD12-class roller for the field; plate for the edges against a garage. A jumping jack is the wrong tool on a driveway.
Rural vs subdivision
Long county lanes want more roller time and a plan for culverts. Short HOA drives want protection on the concrete approach and a smaller machine. Culverts are their own guide.
FAQ
How deep should the gravel be?
Enough compacted base for the vehicles you will park — often 6–8 inches of processed base plus a wearing course, more on clay. Ask the city if they have a spec. We compact what you place.
Can I compact with the skid steer?
You will densify the top and leave the lift loose. Rent the roller. See plate vs roller.
Will this work for an RV pad?
Same machines, more base, maybe a thicker section. If it is a poured pad, see pour a slab.
Machines on the lot
Live inventory rotates. These are current machines in the related rental collections — not a promise that a specific used unit is still here.
Need a quote on the right class?
Call or text — we'll match height, width, and capacity to the job instead of renting you a bigger machine than you need.