Gravel pad for bins

[Ronski]

Its a crappy time to build bins but my 8,000 bushel wooden ones started splitting as I filled them so its time for plan B. I have 21' flat bottoms with steel floors coming but I'm not sure what to do for site prep?

I plan on digging out 18" of topsoil (should put me down to a sand type base), compacting it with a tamper, then filling with either sand/clay or 3/4 crush in 6" layers compacting each layer until I'm 6" above grade.

Will the 3/4" crush compact enough or should I use clay underneath?

I don't want cement as they are going to be moved in the next few years to the cement pads my partially filled 8,000 bins are sitting on when/if everything is empty.

[Guest]

we usually use fill gravel with clay in it . packs much better and will be more stable. can put 3/4 crush on top to level better , easier to work with , when your leveling. we use loaded grain cart , or back wheels of partially loaded tandem , if in a tight spot , to pack fill gravel . has worked well.

[AlbertaFarmer5]

I park flat bottom bins directly on sod. Even have some. Of my hoppers are directly on sod. But our clay is not much different than cement.

[Quadtrack]

Have done several using crusher dust. Dig topsoil off and then layer in about a foot to 18 in of it, packing with a loaded bucket on the FEL. Works good. No settling. This has been for hopper bins on skids.
It used to be cheap but now costs about the same as road gravel. Packs well and easy to work with.

[biglentil]

Clay sub base followed by type 32 clay gravel mix, crusher dust, slag, crushed rock which ever you like all work.

[Guest]

Have done several using crusher dust. Dig topsoil off and then layer in about a foot to 18 in of it, packing with a loaded bucket on the FEL. Works good. No settling. This has been for hopper bins on skids.
It used to be cheap but now costs about the same as road gravel. Packs well and easy to work with.

I agree crusher dust the best , but near impossible to get here and expensive . fill gravel cheap and easy to get around here

[seabass]

A-base gravel compacted then a layer of crushed stone. Works good water gets away and stays firm.

[jamesb]

For our Darmani bins we removed the top soil to the clay base and then hauled in a couple feet to pit run gravel , worked good

[Rareearth]

It shouldn't be about what people do but why they do it!

Drainage is everything. Grade and elevation is key a new bin flat bottom or otherwise must be a minimum of 6 inches and better yet 12 inches above the area where auger wheels or trucks will park to load out. Where trucks park it must be sloped to drain water away. This is the area where crunched rock is best, road gravel next and sand least.

Flat bottoms don't really require dirt (top soil) to be remove. This is usually done where there is traffic and the top soil - squishes up to the top. What holds more water top soil or clay? I don't know but I think they are close enough to the same that the frost heave is a non issue. Do put gravel - (pit run cheapest) down so moisture can (gravity) move away from under the grain bin.

Hopper bins on crushed rock is best, larger the better, similar to rail line bed. Pit run squishes out. They will likely need levelling or lifting. Front end loader lift bin and rake gravel level again. Easy and as cost effective as you can get.

When we put bins on hoppers we use a full tandem truck to pack it harder than rm roads.

My 2 cents, hope that helps.

[ado089]

I build clay pads thick enough to get level. Pack it with the tractor and slide the bin on. If it's well packed it will sink in to the top of the skids and stay there. Solid and won't blow away.

[Rareearth]

Also a good idea to use the 3 foot bin screw in anchors. If the bin sinks in to far it is difficult to get the auger under the unloading s huge. It's ok in the summer with a spade, but in the winter ...