MTGreen
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Oct 12, 2022
- Messages
- 989
- Location
- Montana, USA
- Tractor
- Deere 5220, Ford 1720, Deere Progator 2030
I have a need to cut a new road around 1500' long and make a pad ~80' foot square in a mixed pasture/sagebrush area on a 2-4 degree slope (no trees in the way). The road runs generally across/along the slope. The dirt is a loam/clay mix which I would call mildly rocky. I have not cut a new road or made such a large pad before, but I would like a road with good drainage that will last more than a few years and I would like to do both the road and pad with the equipment I have along with a rented ride-on compactor or maybe a rented excavator if possible.
Unfortunately, in the area I'm located in, hiring a professional involves being deeply gouged and waiting 8+ months. I have been trying to find a rental dozer, but they are also several months out.
Here is what I have available that may be of use:
I also understand that I don't own "earth moving equipment" and my 8500lb 53hp package is going to take considerably more time/effort than an 18000lb 100hp dozer.
I don't currently own a scraper blade -just the box blade above.
So far my understanding for the road is to cut the brush down, pull up the roots with harrow and/or ripper, cut in and lay several drainage culverts with gravel at strategic places, tilt the box blade and start cutting the ditches on either side of the road, then adjust tilt to smooth to crown, run the compactor over the road, lay the 3/4 roadbed, compact again, lay the smaller gravel, compact again.
For the pad, my understanding so far is to clear the vegetation as above, then start ripping and pulling the soil in the box and/or in the bucket depending on how loose from the uphill side to the downhill side and repeat until I'm somewhere in the neighborhood of level, then compact and use the laser transit to determine high/low spots and cut/fill/compact as needed.
First off, is this feasible with the equipment I have?
Am I on the right track here?
Any feedback and suggestions from folks that have done this before would be greatly appreciated.
Unfortunately, in the area I'm located in, hiring a professional involves being deeply gouged and waiting 8+ months. I have been trying to find a rental dozer, but they are also several months out.
Here is what I have available that may be of use:
- Deere 5000 series MFWD 53hp with 541 loader & 7' bucket ~7000lbs total
- Gannon/Woods brand professional model 7' box blade with hydraulic rippers and hydraulic top link ~1500lbs
- Bosch laser transit
- Have smaller backhoe but can rent excavator if needed/useful
- Rented ride on compactor
- 5' bush hog
- 5' flail mower
- 6' 3pt spring harrow
- 8' towable heavy spring harrow
I also understand that I don't own "earth moving equipment" and my 8500lb 53hp package is going to take considerably more time/effort than an 18000lb 100hp dozer.
I don't currently own a scraper blade -just the box blade above.
So far my understanding for the road is to cut the brush down, pull up the roots with harrow and/or ripper, cut in and lay several drainage culverts with gravel at strategic places, tilt the box blade and start cutting the ditches on either side of the road, then adjust tilt to smooth to crown, run the compactor over the road, lay the 3/4 roadbed, compact again, lay the smaller gravel, compact again.
For the pad, my understanding so far is to clear the vegetation as above, then start ripping and pulling the soil in the box and/or in the bucket depending on how loose from the uphill side to the downhill side and repeat until I'm somewhere in the neighborhood of level, then compact and use the laser transit to determine high/low spots and cut/fill/compact as needed.
First off, is this feasible with the equipment I have?
Am I on the right track here?
Any feedback and suggestions from folks that have done this before would be greatly appreciated.