Curbs, ground clearance, and 1200 lbs of river stone

[Wood_workur]

This weekend I'm going to be placing about 1/4 yard of river stone between two fences (over landscaping fabric to stop plants from growing there) and then another 1/4 yard under our porch to do the same (though without the fabric there)

Anyways, I'm able to get it there, assuming I can get the truck behind the fence. On our side is a 6.5 foot privacy fence and the other side is a 3 foot chain fence. Naturally, since I can get the truck on the other side, I'll be putting the stone in from over there. (The truck is a F-150 4x4 BTW) The problem is getting it up and onto the dirt area to the side of the driveway there to make putting the stone in place easier and to not restrict the traffic flow as much as possible. There is about 3' of space between the curb and the fence. I've got a drawing here, and the green is the curb that is less than 8" high, and the red is the curb that is more than 8" high (I think it peaks at 10")

The road next to where the curb is 10" dips a lot at the edge for a sewer gate. I think that it remains about 6 or 7 inches above the road.

The problem is the truck has 8" of ground clearance. And the front being independent suspension I'm sure will bottom out more easily than the rear axle. I figure I can approach the curb at 15° most, so how would you guys go about getting the truck up there.

And if that isn't enough there is a telephone pole in this 3' wide dirt area just to the left of our property that I'm sure will be in the way somehow.

[ragswl4]

Drawing? Mi Ojitos no mira. (My eyes don't see) Learned that from my framer. In short sounds like you need to build up a ramp to the curb. Not sure that will work as I don't know the approach angle but sounds like you might be putting only the wheels on one side of the truck on the dirt area while the wheels on the otherside are still on the pavement. Is that right?

[Wood_workur]

Here is the picture.



And what you described with the wheels is right.

[JR]

I'm not sure I entirely understand your problem. You want to get the truck as close to the fence as you can, is that right? I guess you're worried about the truck bottoming out on the curb?

You might be worried about a problem that doesn't exist. You won't nead the full 8" of ground clearance. The two right-side wheels will rise up onto the area between the curb and fence, so the necessary ground clearance will be much less than 8".

As for getting up onto the curb, I'd put a chunk of 4x4, next to a chunck of 2x4, creating a little ramp. Just parallel park yourself right on up there.

JR

[pelligrini]

I would say the same thing as JR; stacked 2x scraps will work as an impromptu ramp.

[dbhost]

My advice? Lift the truck to provide more ground clearance... Works for me anyway...

The 2x4s idea is a fair one, but not likely to be stable enough...

I would say build up a temporary ramp out of soil & gravel, take it out when you are done...

[Wood_workur]

You might be worried about a problem that doesn't exist. You won't nead the full 8" of ground clearance. The two right-side wheels will rise up onto the area between the curb and fence, so the necessary ground clearance will be much less than 8".

As for getting up onto the curb, I'd put a chunk of 4x4, next to a chunck of 2x4, creating a little ramp. Just parallel park yourself right on up there.

JR

That sounds like it'll work with the ramp. And I guess the ground clearance isn't that much of an issue really.

[Wood_workur]

Okay, so I got the stone and it went well, however I when I went up the curb the second time, I had some problems.

I put it in 4x4 to back it up (I was going straight only) because I figured the unlimited axle would throw a good bit of dirt trying to move. I got up no problems, though it did take some effort (aka a lot of gas).

So then when I went to go down, I started the truck and put it in drive. I hit the gas and it didn't move, then I remembered the parking brake. Released that, put it in 4x4 low and I gave it a lot of gas and it got out. But there was a kinda loud bang when I got over. Nothing to indicate and curb-truck contact on either the truck or the curb (no damage to either before or after). Put it back in 2WD right after I got on the ground as I know about 4x4 and dry pavement.

No problems with the truck after (though I didn't try out the 4x4 at all)

What do you think it was?