Building Lake Corona

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Good work.

So, do you have an occupation/job besides your wedding venue and fireworks?

 

[jk96]

Good work.

So, do you have an occupation/job besides your wedding venue and fireworks?

No. I wish I had the time for another. Our fireworks business is almost year round. We start shooting shows for MLS soccer in March and stay busy with sporting events, fairs, festivals, corporate events, etc through November. We are also a supplier to a lot of other pyro companies so we are busy through the week as well with day to day operations. There is plenty of work just keeping up with compliance of all the government regulations since we are considered an explosives and hazmat company. The wedding venue fills any extra spare time I might have.

On the plus side the wedding venue is allowing me to slow down a bit on the fireworks side. We have started limiting the amount of shows we are shooting and is giving me more family time. Eventually I would like to get out of shooting shows and move to a supplier only.

 

[jk96]

How much dirt does that bucket hold?

Eddie looks like my 84" bucket is spec'd for 2/3 yard. Not sure how that is measured so to be more specific it holds this much.

2020-06-16_09-22-59


Shot a video from my phone yesterday evening moving dirt off the hillside. Going downhill I can pile a large amount at the base of the hill and then make quicker runs back and forth to the dam. Also setup my lazer level last night at dusk so I could see where I was at. I have about 6 feet to go on average across the dam which at the height it is now is a lot of dirt. If I can get it there the water level in main pond will be an average of 8-9 foot with the deeper hole at about 15 foot.

 

[deezler]

Dang that thing can doze pretty good! Sweet video.

 

[jk96]

Dang that thing can doze pretty good! Sweet video.

It does. 90hp and 11,000 lbs with case weights added. Gravity helps.

 

[Citydude]

Nice video! You’ve got skills.

 

[KubotainNH]

Would love to see an hour of this at higher video speed. Amazing how smooth a track that machine will make. I assume the tracks help with that.

 

[dragoneggs]

Yep... impressive!

 

[two_bit_score]

Would love to see an hour of this at higher video speed. Amazing how smooth a track that machine will make. I assume the tracks help with that.

Yes very!

 

[ovrszd]

Nice work.

Takes a LOT of dirt to add a foot to a dam.

For those who haven't been around one, a CTL makes a skid steer look silly. Much more productive!!!!

 

[4570Man]

Nice work.

Takes a LOT of dirt to add a foot to a dam.

For those who haven't been around one, a CTL makes a skid steer look silly. Much more productive!!!!

A skid steer is about junk. A CTL puts tractors and skids to shame moving dirt.

 

[dodge man]

Another thing nice about them is getting a nice smooth grade. Anyone who has finished graded with a tractor knows the wheels hit a bump or low spot it moves the bucket or the rear blade up and down. A CTL’s tracks tend to not do this so grading is easier.

 

[4570Man]

Another thing nice about them is getting a nice smooth grade. Anyone who has finished graded with a tractor knows the wheels hit a bump or low spot it moves the bucket or the rear blade up and down. A CTL’s tracks tend to not do this so grading is easier.

Plus the bucket is a lot closer to the frame and it’s not riding on a pivoting front axle. Grading with these is a world of difference compared to a tractor.

 

[KubotainNH]

Another thing nice about them is getting a nice smooth grade. Anyone who has finished graded with a tractor knows the wheels hit a bump or low spot it moves the bucket or the rear blade up and down. A CTL’s tracks tend to not do this so grading is easier.

That is my thought too. The shape of the bucket looks to also help, bottom is quite flat and deep.

 

[jk96]

It helps that you can see the cutting edge as well.

 

[bindian]

A skid steer is about junk. A CTL puts tractors and skids to shame moving dirt.

That depends on the size of 4WD tractor.
hugs, Brandi

 

[bindian]

Another thing nice about them is getting a nice smooth grade. Anyone who has finished graded with a tractor knows the wheels hit a bump or low spot it moves the bucket or the rear blade up and down. A CTL’s tracks tend to not do this so grading is easier.

True, but moving them at top speed makes for a truly bumpy ride. At least in a Bobcat 770. I have hit bumps traveling with dirt in the bucket and have hit my head. Seatbelts after that!
hugs, Brandi

 

[bindian]

It helps that you can see the cutting edge as well.

That, is a BIG plus!
hugs, Brandi

 

[4570Man]

That depends on the size of 4WD tractor.
hugs, Brandi

The CTL is still far better. A big 4wd tractor loader is made to move round bales not dirt. It would be hard pressed to beat the CTL in volume of dirt moved and it definitely can’t do as good of a job. If the biggest 6 ton 100 hp CTLs won’t do the job you need to go get a D6 and forget about the tractors. Maybe if you had big tractor towing a dirt pan but the tractor loaders are junk for moving dirt.

 

[ovrszd]

The CTL is still far better. A big 4wd tractor loader is made to move round bales not dirt. It would be hard pressed to beat the CTL in volume of dirt moved and it definitely can’t do as good of a job. If the biggest 6 ton 100 hp CTLs won’t do the job you need to go get a D6 and forget about the tractors. Maybe if you had big tractor towing a dirt pan but the tractor loaders are junk for moving dirt.

I've got a 5.5 yd clamshell scraper I pull behind my 95HP 4wd tractor with FEL. I carry dirt in the FEL bucket for traction only.

In the OP's situation he has the best equipment for the job. He's severely limited in working space. The CTL will turn 360 degrees within it's own footprint. Invaluable under these conditions. Anything else would get cumbersome very quickly.