Building a road down to the river

[Old Guy in Tenn]

Several years ago we sold some timber from our property in Tennessee. The Forester I dealt with told me about the attached document, and put it in the contract that the loggers would follow it. About half of the document describes building roads, controlling water and runoff, etc.

A good read, with a lot of good info.

https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/agriculture/documents/forestry/AgForBMPs.pdf

 

[EddieWalker]

Learning should always be a life long endeavor, and when someone buys a tractor, why not use it, especially on their own property? I cannot imagine anything more invigorating than making a road on my own property down to a place I enjoy. To be able to say, "I built the whole road" would have more meaning to me than saying, "I just put in the gravel." Study road building, grub it out, then refine, refine, refine...over time that road could be something to be really proud of. $2000 is cheap, but not when it cheats a landowner out of a priceless accomplishment.

To me the mind-set quoted is so self-defeating.

As an example, I have a bulldozer, and while I could easily hire someone to fix it for me who has worked on my make and model for years and do so in an hour while I might take all day; that experience is invaluable! At the same time I have been surprised that things I thought would take forever to fix, were fixed in 2 hours time because they were easier to do than I thought. The same thing could occur here? What harm does it to try?



I disagree with this statement as well, and looking on here (the forum on various threads) a person will see where using the most basic of equipment I have accomplished some rather nice looking feats. It comes from thinking through a problem, using what I have, and staying profitable as a farmer by not falling into the mind-set that I must buy implements and equipment to get things done. My inspiration has always been my family; back in the 1800's using oxen, axe and stone boat to do everything I do today with modern equipment. They would not be amazed at me; they would be angered that I don't accomplish more considering what I have!



What I am about to say pretty much sums up the entire human race and in particular the internet, but I have found that when questions like these are asked, 1 out of 15 people will say that whatever is proposed cannot be done. And while thinking through their points has merit, again by thinking through the problem should keep the injuries and damage to a minimum. The biggest step I have found in any project is often just starting. Last year I was on a land clearing job and it was daunting. Standing from the road it was 18 acres of mountainside, and one guy quipped, "It would take 5 years to complete." It actually only took 5 weeks! I have found that just starting is the first step, then the energy of the project just keeps it plodding along, so I encourage people to just start. Modern tractors can accomplish a lot!



ANY road is an ongoing project...refine, refine, refine, but it is also immensely gratifying. It is also incredibly convenient. After years of extending a network of heavy haul logging roads outward from the main road, watching loaded logging trucks ply my roads always make me smile. It has also made my farm very productive and really reduced soil erosion. But that is just icing on the cake; gratification in a project comes from enjoying actually doing it, and not looking forward to it being complete.

here are two before and after photos taken last spring, then after my road was completed. The only thing I used was a Kubota 25 hp tractor, my Ford Explorer, and my log trailer. (My bulldozer was broken during the project with a busted transmission pump).

That was a fun post. I'm not sure what it has to do with whether it's better to use a 24 hp tractor to build a road on a steep hill after removing a bunch of trees instead of paying a guy with a 128 hp, 36,000 pound track loader to do it for you for only $2,000? If learning how to build roads yourself is the goal, what will he do with that skill on 18 acres when this road down to the river is done? Hopefully it's not a contest to prove it can be done, but instead it's a question of which of the two options is the best choice for this project? If the $2,000 isn't available to spend, can it be saved to do this job over time? If done with the 24 hp tractor, will it be an actual road or an ATV trail that can only be used when the weather is just right, in 4 wheel drive and sometimes impossible to get back up from time to time?

What I fail to understand is why give advice to do something half way instead of offering the best possible way to do it?

And I'm not saying it can't be done, or that I wouldn't attempt to do it myself. What I am saying is that if somebody offered to do that for me, for such an affordable price, with that big of a machine, I would jump all over that deal!!! There will always be plenty to do with your tractor to keep busy, owning land means the work never ends, and the projects keep coming.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Gary, thanks for the info. How do you keep the chain from sliding up the tree?

Just put a double wrap of the chain around the tree then hook back to the chain. It works 99% of the time that way. The smaller the chain, the better it bites.

 

[gersus]

Awesome, I’m gonna give it a try tomorrow.

 

[airbiscuit]

That was a fun post. I'm not sure what it has to do with whether it's better to use a 24 hp tractor to build a road on a steep hill after removing a bunch of trees instead of paying a guy with a 128 hp, 36,000 pound track loader to do it for you for only $2,000? If learning how to build roads yourself is the goal, what will he do with that skill on 18 acres when this road down to the river is done? Hopefully it's not a contest to prove it can be done, but instead it's a question of which of the two options is the best choice for this project? If the $2,000 isn't available to spend, can it be saved to do this job over time? If done with the 24 hp tractor, will it be an actual road or an ATV trail that can only be used when the weather is just right, in 4 wheel drive and sometimes impossible to get back up from time to time?

What I fail to understand is why give advice to do something half way instead of offering the best possible way to do it?

And I'm not saying it can't be done, or that I wouldn't attempt to do it myself. What I am saying is that if somebody offered to do that for me, for such an affordable price, with that big of a machine, I would jump all over that deal!!! There will always be plenty to do with your tractor to keep busy, owning land means the work never ends, and the projects keep coming.

I pretty much agree with this post. If the OP wants to do it himself because he doesn't have the money, I get that. If he wants to do it for the fun or self satisfaction of it, then I guess that's okay as long as he understands the trade offs.

• Stumps are hard on CUTs and loaders
• Digging in root infested ground isn't easy BUY A TOOTH BAR
• The Cat will do a better faster job job of it
• The professional will have experience with contouring a road on a slope
• This may take longer than you think
• You may end up needing repairs

That said, if you have lived a good and pure life, you may get this job done without incident, and it will look as well finished and contoured as a professional with a Cat would have done. Then you can post pictures and say "I told you so".

 

[/pine]

One factor not mentioned is what federal and state regulations will or will not be regarded?
States have their own definition of what constitutes a river from streams, creeks and springs etc...often federal (EPA) regs also exist...

Here, if I wanted to operate a machine that is considered a piece of "construction equipment" within 50' of the river I would need special permits, silt screening, inspections etc. etc...but If I am running a machine that is considered to be "agriculture equipment"...(and doing the same type of work)...the regulations are minimal or non existent...

 

[airbiscuit]

Why would a person choose to not put up silt screening and allow sediment to run into the river?

 

[/pine]

Why would a person choose to not put up silt screening and allow sediment to run into the river?

I can only guess that it would be the same reason they would disregard any other regulations...

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Why would a person choose to not put up silt screening and allow sediment to run into the river?

On many projects, silt fences never see a spec of dirt from construction. More damage is done installing the silt fence.
Looking at the ops pics, i cant imagine that happening from a road thru the trees. The need for fencing can depend on the surface area being disrupted.

And before you say it, i have seen the case of silt fences loaded with mud, but rarely on jobs ive dealt with.


We still dont know the intended use of the road. Is it for cars, only tractor and utv? Intended Road type can be different than we imagine.

 

[Citydude]

Post #6 in the thread says trail not road. Paying someone 2K for busting a trail for couple hundred yards is pretty pricey.