Backhoe Making rocky terrain into a road, looking for thoughts on ways to do it better, etc.

[SilverState]

I'm an owner of a large lot in Nevada that's never seen anything more than a horse hoof. The raw terrain looks like this:



I have an L2501 with a loader up front and a BH77 in the back. I've been tackling the problem like this:

• Rip up the soil and dig down a couple of feet across a 10' wide swath. I move big rocks to the side of the would-be road.
• I hop out and grab any rocks that are toaster sized to fist sized. Basically anything that doesn't require "proper lift technique" but that's bigger than a "small rock". I throw them all to the side.
• I flip the tractor around and back drag with the front loader.
• Any big rocks stuck up I throw out by hand.
• I back up again on the new batch of road, trying to stop down as much of the new dirt as I can with the back tractor wheels.

Here's a shot mid stream. Still digging, but I think I was near the point of throwing the smaller-than-the-backhoe-can-get-them sized rocks.



I'm making about ten feet per hour, with a pathway about 10-12 feet wide. So on a big day I can make about 80 feet, and here's about what my progress looks like:





So just wondering what people are thinking. It's a $1,000 delivery charge each way to bring in something like a mini x. I'm planning on level the best I can then having type 2 road base dropped off which I will spread with the fel and back dragging.

 

[airbiscuit]

So, how long will the road be?

What will you be doing on the land - building a home, camping, etc.?

Might it be easier to hire a contractor with a bulldozer?

 

[SilverState]

I'm at ~115, and guessing another 300 feet to go. So a solid week's worth of work based on my current schedule. I don't mind doing it; I throw my earbuds in with a podcast and throw my hearing protection over that. There's just not a lot of people around here to do that work or places to rent equipment.

Building a home is the intention.

 

[airbiscuit]

Nice job so far. Now to find a way to sell that rock piled on in the sides.

 

[SilverState]

Nice job so far. Now to find a way to sell that rock piled on in the sides.

I'll sell it for $1 a ton, buyer pays shipping :laughing:

 

[airbiscuit]

You could pile it up and make a pondless waterfall.

 

[SilverState]

That's a neat idea, never thought of doing something like that.

 

[Johnkn]

Can you get a rock bucket to sift through that stuff?

 

[SilverState]

Can you get a rock bucket to sift through that stuff?

I actually had day dreams of taking my second backhoe bucket and drilling 1" swiss cheese style holes in it. So I could dig in hard with the back hoe but let the sand and silt fall out. I have a feeling the steel is a bit hard on the bucket. It's hard to "dig" into the material with the loader bucket.

 

[4570Man]

I don’t imagine you’d sort much with only 1” holes. Maybe if you could cut a rock bucket down to 3’ or so you’d have better luck with one.

 

[Aquabird]

I have to agree that it does look good. With all those rocks a rototiller would be out.

 

[airbiscuit]

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Interesting. I've had a dealer tell me tractors aren't construction/dozers equipment after I've damaged the FEL parts and other parts of my tractors. I've owner several different Kubotas over the past 16 years on my rocky gullied hillside property and recent bought an additional adjoining 28 acres with most of it being mountain and owning up to the top and around the sides. I've hired people with dozers and track loaders and bigger skidsteers about 5 different times over those years and probably saved my life and saved thousands of dollars in tractor abuse, use and damage. Here there are several people that "run" dozers, track loaders and bigger skid steers so hourly rates aren't to bad. They usually don't advertise one just has to ask around to find them. I've spent days working on inappropriate for a tractor and chain saw jobs and then hired the proper equipment and experienced operator come out and in about 3 to 5 hours do what would have taken me weeks to do and some of the work I wouldn't have been able to do with a tractor. I currently want some more trails cut around the sides of my mountain and it's scary and difficult with my tractor soooo I'm nearing finally calling the Sheriff's Deputy that owns a small dozer and does dozer work during his off hours for I think $75 an hour and if he's not available Karen Exxx husband Kenny probably still does dozer work so can call him.
Not saying your going to tear up your L or wear it out but your probably not saving any money by doing that work yourself and if your going to build a home there is probably lots of work you can be doing with that tractor that may be more appropriate for a tractor that size but your job looks good.

 

[Aquabird]

Interesting. I've had a dealer tell me tractors aren't construction/dozers equipment after I've damaged the FEL parts and other parts of my tractors. I've owner several different Kubotas over the past 16 years on my rocky gullied hillside property and recent bought an additional adjoining 28 acres with most of it being mountain and owning up to the top and around the sides. I've hired people with dozers and track loaders and bigger skidsteers about 5 different times over those years and probably saved my life and saved thousands of dollars in tractor abuse, use and damage. Here there are several people that "run" dozers, track loaders and bigger skid steers so hourly rates aren't to bad. They usually don't advertise one just has to ask around to find them. I've spent days working on inappropriate for a tractor and chain saw jobs and then hired the proper equipment and experienced operator come out and in about 3 to 5 hours do what would have taken me weeks to do and some of the work I wouldn't have been able to do with a tractor. I currently want some more trails cut around the sides of my mountain and it's scary and difficult with my tractor soooo I'm nearing finally calling the Sheriff's Deputy that owns a small dozer and does dozer work during his off hours for I think $75 an hour and if he's not available Karen Exxx husband Kenny probably still does dozer work so can call him.
Not saying your going to tear up your L or wear it out but your probably not saving any money by doing that work yourself and if your going to build a home there is probably lots of work you can be doing with that tractor that may be more appropriate for a tractor that size but your job looks good.

I agree John. Many years ago, I had my Ford tractor then. A neighbor wanted to use my tractor and rear blade to plow a truck load of dirt around his property.
I told him Ok. He called me a week later and told me he needed the tractor as he had the dirt delivered. I said I would come do it for him so I could abuse my tractor myself.
I did not live at my property, so, I drove over and was shocked to see 55 mounds of topsoil sitting to be leveled at his house. 55!!
I told him, why don't you do what I would do if I had that much....hire a bulldozer.

I am not saying the OP should do that, he might really enjoy doing that himself and maybe being out in the boonies, it might cost a lot to hire that done.

 

[SilverState]

Interesting. I've had a dealer tell me tractors aren't construction/dozers equipment after I've damaged the FEL parts and other parts of my tractors. I've owner several different Kubotas over the past 16 years on my rocky gullied hillside property and recent bought an additional adjoining 28 acres with most of it being mountain and owning up to the top and around the sides. I've hired people with dozers and track loaders and bigger skidsteers about 5 different times over those years and probably saved my life and saved thousands of dollars in tractor abuse, use and damage. Here there are several people that "run" dozers, track loaders and bigger skid steers so hourly rates aren't to bad. They usually don't advertise one just has to ask around to find them. I've spent days working on inappropriate for a tractor and chain saw jobs and then hired the proper equipment and experienced operator come out and in about 3 to 5 hours do what would have taken me weeks to do and some of the work I wouldn't have been able to do with a tractor. I currently want some more trails cut around the sides of my mountain and it's scary and difficult with my tractor soooo I'm nearing finally calling the Sheriff's Deputy that owns a small dozer and does dozer work during his off hours for I think $75 an hour and if he's not available Karen Exxx husband Kenny probably still does dozer work so can call him.
Not saying your going to tear up your L or wear it out but your probably not saving any money by doing that work yourself and if your going to build a home there is probably lots of work you can be doing with that tractor that may be more appropriate for a tractor that size but your job looks good.

I actually talked to a guy last night that has a dozer and it's sitting ~1,000 yards from my property right now. I do enjoy doing the work myself but indeed there are other jobs I could knock out with the tractor. I'll definitely be talking to him to see how much work he thinks something like this would take.

I'm not really using the loader for anything other than back dragging, but if the backhoe isn't for digging I don't know what else one would do with it.

 

[4570Man]

I agree John. Many years ago, I had my Ford tractor then. A neighbor wanted to use my tractor and rear blade to plow a truck load of dirt around his property.
I told him Ok. He called me a week later and told me he needed the tractor as he had the dirt delivered. I said I would come do it for him so I could abuse my tractor myself.
I did not live at my property, so, I drove over and was shocked to see 55 mounds of topsoil sitting to be leveled at his house. 55!!
I told him, why don't you do what I would do if I had that much....hire a bulldozer.

I am not saying the OP should do that, he might really enjoy doing that himself and maybe being out in the boonies, it might cost a lot to hire that done.

It’s more than I’d do for free but I wouldn’t hesitate to spread 55 piles with a tractor especially a decent size one. You can knock down a dump truck load of dirt pretty quick as long as you not scooping and moving them.

 

[deezler]

Sorry, can't help as I barely have any rocks in my sandy Michigan soil.

Just wanted to compliment you for the most unique misspelling of your tractor brand that I've seen, lol. Kabuta.... kind of like it.

 

[deezler]

Ok here's a thought though - why dont you just get some gravel brought in and laid on top of the rocky ground? you could still do a light pass like you've been doing (looks pretty good to me) but then cover it with 3-6" of gravel and you'd never have to worry about what's underneath it. WOuld cost some money, but you'd have a nice looking, smooth driving layer and be done with your road much, much faster.

 

[bcp]

I hope you aren't interrupting a surface water flow during a heavy rain and channeling it all to your house site.

Bruce

 

[Mat4644]

How are others in the area constructed? Looks like a dry area. How often does it rain?