Driveway Widening and a few other projects

[knute_m]

After another winter of freezes/rains/thaws/snows/repeat, etc., I've decided it is time to completely rework my 1/2 mile mountain driveway.

I'm not as young as I used to be. Machinery has really changed. I need some advice.

Several years ago I got rid of my CAT 953, my 45 hp Kubota baby excavator (KX-121?? -- anyway about 10,000 lbs., and 45-50 hp) and a well my well used GEHL 60-70 hp skidsteer with a quick-hitch bucket and dozer blade. I was hardly ever using this stuff, including the trailer, and the truck needed to move this stuff. My tiny little toy tractor, my little pickup truck, and lots of implements do 95% of what else I need to do these days.

The driveway was put in 30-40 years ago. The twigs that were at the edge of a 16-foot roadway then, are now 12-16 inches DBH. The driveway has some big drops/hills and some big watersheds -- as much as 150 foot of drop over about 250 feet of driveway in one place.

I need to take out a number of trees up to 12 inches (and one that is about 18 in and one that is about 24 in -- but I may just cut them off at ground level and not worry about the roots), and do a lot of shaping before I start bringing in rock and gravel. I've also got to put in at least four more culverts (I've got a backhoe for this). But, then I'll have to place a lot of 6-8 rip-rap before I start bringing in other smaller stone and gravel that can be spread by the drivers.

I raise fish as a serious hobby and money-eating business. I need to clean out some settling ponds, build a few more settling and rearing ponds, and rework a couple of levies/dams.

So, I'm wondering, what is out there these days that I can use? In the old days I'd have used the track loader, excavator, and skid steer to do this work.

Are there modern rental pieces, such as skidsteers/track loaders with quick attaches that will let me go from a loader bucket with a tooth bar (for ripping roots, etc., yet allowing me to move tons of rip-rap) to a reasonable dozer blade? I figure I need tracks for traction, and preferably metal tracks because of a lot of sharp rocks. I'm looking at a one or two week rental. I'd like just one piece of equipment, and I'm thinking it should be something that is at least 10,000 lbs.

For the trees, I really want to get their roots out of the ground. After I push them over, I can buck the logs, trim and push the brush, but, I'd sure like to put the roots in my burn hole. My old excavator had a thumb to grab the roots. But, it sure was a slow process to move them up to a quarter mile with the excavator.

I could call on several local excavating companies, but as I start the project, I know I'm going to need to make unforeseen changes that I can personally handle -- but will cost me dearly with a contractor and young operators. With outside contractors, I'm afraid my little project will end up being a major project that could put me into bankruptcy.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Knute

 

[yellowdogsvc]

A large frame CTL would do what you need to do. A 2 speed option would make that 1/2 mile seem shorter. You could also rent a wheeled unit but as you know, it won't do anything in the settling ponds.
I'd look at a grapple, maybe a shear, and a if they have one a dozer blade and compactor to go with a rock bucket.
What brands are nearby? I've owned CAT and Bobcat and both are up to that task and I do a lot of 1/4- 1/2 mile projects on my own place and commercially with the above equipment and a 10,000 mini ex.

 

[knute_m]

A large frame CTL would do what you need to do. A 2 speed option would make that 1/2 mile seem shorter. You could also rent a wheeled unit but as you know, it won't do anything in the settling ponds.
I'd look at a grapple, maybe a shear, and a if they have one a dozer blade and compactor to go with a rock bucket.
What brands are nearby? I've owned CAT and Bobcat and both are up to that task and I do a lot of 1/4- 1/2 mile projects on my own place and commercially with the above equipment and a 10,000 mini ex.

I'm fairly close to two moderate sized industrial towns, so brands should not be an issue. Also, in my nearly 67 years on this earth, I've never been seriously dedicated to any particular brands/colors. The good equipment is usually good, the bad equipment ... well, if it hasn't been on the market for at least 10-20 years, I stay away from it. I'm sure I can find good rental access to CAT, John Deere, Case, Bob Cat, Komatsu, Gehl, Kubota, and others I can't even think of.

I'm easily embarrassed about bothering the people at the rental companies if I don't know what I'm looking for. I've been in line too many times when city-to-converted new country folk have been looking for things they just shouldn't rent -- and especially shouldn't use.

I agree about a grapple. I've got some huge piles of brush and branches that need to get moved to a large pit I have for burning. As I mentioned, I'm mostly convinced that I want steel tracks. I sure tore up the rubber tracks on my Kubota excavator, and I've had to replace too many tires on skid steers and my tractors. We've got a lot of very sharp mountain rock. I've got a thumb for my frame-mount tractor backhoe for lifting downed trees enough to easily buck them and cut off the root balls, but I need a good way to move the 1-2 ton root balls at least a quarter mile.

If I had unlimited fortunes, I'd just go rent a CAT 953/963, a D-6/D-8, and a 920 series track hoe -- or I'd call in a contractor. I just don't want to spend $25,000-$50,000, plus gravel, to just widen my driveway so it is easier to plow in the winter, and so that it drains well during mud season.

Based on your suggestion, I'm going to see if I can rent a large frame CTL for a week, if I can find one with a quick attach 5-way dozer blade and a bucket with a grapple.

Now it is time to go back out and dig more holes for a new field I'm fencing. I'm thinking I'm getting too antique to be doing this. The holes are easy to dig with the PTO post hole digger. Putting the poles and some gravel in is easy. The tamping sure takes a toll on my old body, as does putting in the metal T-posts. I'm doing two T-posts between every pressure treated pole. They go in a lot faster, but they sure let me know that my chest and arms aren't as young as they used to be.

Thanks all,
Knute

 

[batwing]

I can't help you on what equipment to rent but would be real interested to here how you make out.
Ron

 

[Verticaltrx]

I would rent a decent sized (maybe 12-ton) excavator for a day to remove the large trees, dig in the culverts and do any heavy reshaping. Then I'd rent a compact track loader with a root grapple and a bucket to clean up after the excavator, spread the rock and do the final grading.

 

[yellowdogsvc]

I'm easily embarrassed about bothering the people at the rental companies if I don't know what I'm looking for. I've been in line too many times when city-to-converted new country folk have been looking for things they just shouldn't rent -- and especially shouldn't use.

Knute

Warning.. Soapbox..
That's their job to talk to you, get to know you, and educate you. It's part of customer service and how they build a relationship. Too many guys with egos sit behind parts or rental counters. I've been there and been talked down to a few times.. and I'm closing in on 12,000 hours in a skid steer alone. If you find that rental department or sales staff that treats you well, that's worth a lot, too, just as the service department would be. I wouldn't give my money to a jerk or I'd go above them. I can't tell you how many out of area calls I take or emails I return to folks who just need someone to listen or get an idea from. Many can't get a contractor to return a call much less return an email. That's what's wrong with the customer service industry. Too self-absorbed, out to lunch, or goofing off.

 

[RDrancher]

Warning.. Soapbox..
That's their job to talk to you, get to know you, and educate you. It's part of customer service and how they build a relationship. Too many guys with egos sit behind parts or rental counters. I've been there and been talked down to a few times.. and I'm closing in on 12,000 hours in a skid steer alone. If you find that rental department or sales staff that treats you well, that's worth a lot, too, just as the service department would be. I wouldn't give my money to a jerk or I'd go above them. I can't tell you how many out of area calls I take or emails I return to folks who just need someone to listen or get an idea from. Many can't get a contractor to return a call much less return an email. That's what's wrong with the customer service industry. Too self-absorbed, out to lunch, or goofing off.

I love a nice soapbox! Especially since you've been so kind as to answer my questions recently regarding a project.

Ironically, I just got off of the phone with a homeowner that told me right up front that she didn't have the money to hire me, but her husband could probably do the work over a few weekends...if he knew where to start. She just had a few questions and I was happy to answer them.

Back to goofing off! :laughing:

 

[yellowdogsvc]

I love a nice soapbox! Especially since you've been so kind as to answer my questions recently regarding a project.

Ironically, I just got off of the phone with a homeowner that told me right up front that she didn't have the money to hire me, but her husband could probably do the work over a few weekends...if he knew where to start. She just had a few questions and I was happy to answer them.

Back to goofing off! :laughing:

It will come back to you... I promise.