I'm planning to put 1/4" pea gravel in my backyard. I live in the Arizona suburbs, and my yard is about 2400 square feet. The landscaper suggested I buy around 24 tons of gravel (not sure how to convert that to cubic yards), and I'm also considering getting mortar sand for underneath. How challenging will it be for me to do this by myself? If they deliver the gravel in front of my drive, do you think I could handle it in a day (under 10 hours) with just a shovel and an 8 cu ft wheelbarrow? I'm thinking it might make sense to do the sand and gravel on separate days. I'm also curious about leveling things out between deliveries, or maybe having my wife help while I do the hauling. This might sound like a silly question since so many factors influence what's doable, but I'm just looking for some common experiences. Any tips would be appreciated!
3 Answers
There's no way you’re moving 24 tons in a single 10-hour day by yourself. That’s a lot of gravel, and it would probably block your driveway for quite a while if you tried. A tandem axle dump truck can carry about 15 tons, and that's just the gravel. You might really want to hire someone or rent a small machine to get it done more efficiently!
Honestly, you might want to rethink your plan. With that much gravel, you could be looking at a huge pile sitting in your driveway for a long time. I helped a buddy put in pea gravel recently; we moved about 12 tons with a small tractor, and it took us around 6 hours. Just a heads up—if you decide to go for it yourself, consider renting some equipment to speed things up! It could really save you a ton of time and effort.
You could definitely handle this, but I suggest spreading it out over two days instead of trying to rush it. Just a regular wheelbarrow will be heavy enough when loaded with gravel, so keep that in mind. When you're shoveling, try to work from the top of the pile to minimize lifting. It might be tough, but it's totally doable! As for the sand, I'm not sure what your plans are, but I’d focus on moving the gravel first.