OK to drive over septic system ???

[bebster]

I've got a standard (not "heavy duty") concrete box septic system in my back yard, and would like to drive my JD 4410 tractor over it. But with FEL and backhoe on it, it probably weighs about 4,500 lbs. What do you think my chances are if I drive over it?

 

[Bird]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( What do you think my chances are if I drive over it? )</font>

'Bout 50/50. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif How deep is it, what kind of lid or top does it have, how firm is the soil on top? In other words, I don't really know, but I do have an idea of how bad it is if you fall through. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[tc35dforme]

Hmmmm.. just a hunch, but if the tank is fairly new ( < 10 yrs ) I'll bet is is constructed for H-20 loading. This is capable of supporting something like a 35000 # axle load.

Most of the failures you hear of, involve one of three factors...

-gross excess point load ( cement truck )
-unstable soil or backfill around the tank allowing it to settle creating a dynamic load
- substandard tanks ( wood plank tops / drylay cement block )

If its new, check with the supplier. Our local only ships H-20 tanks. Once installed and backfilled, you won't hurt it by driving a tractor over it.

As Bird noted, the burial depth is also a consideration. The load speads with depth so if its 3 feet deep, the load is spread over a large area minimizing stress.

I think you'll be fine, but I'm no expert.

 

[bmac]

I have a NH 29D w/ FEL and backhoe. Drove over my septic tank several times. Had the septic tank cleaned out a few weeks ago and they found one of the concrete lids was broken. Apparently it happened when the phone company ran the telephone line over the tank and the vibratory plow broke the concrete. This was over a year ago that the phone line was laid.

The septic man asked if I had a riding mower, which I do. He said that I was lucky that I didn't end up in the tank. When I told him that I had driven over it with my tractor, well, he couldn't believe it.

My tank is 12-18 inches deep and covered with hard clay. Maybe this is one instance where having clay is a good thing.

 

[bebster]

Thanks for the suggestions. The tank was put in 11 years ago, and sits about a foot of so below the suface in medium sandy soil.

50/50 are odds that say I'd better wait. I think I'll have the septic tank pumped, and then ask the "pro" who does it what kind of tank it is. Better safe than sorry.

 

[MadReferee]

My cement tank has been in since 1979. Its only about 6 inches below the surface. I drive over it with a B2710 all the time. Even had a dozer drive over it a few years ago. Pumped it this spring. Nothing looked cracked. If I were you I wouldn't worry, I'm not.

 

[thcri]

My tank was put in the year of 2000 and I drive over it all the time with my TC29D

 

[JASTN70D]

It seems that there is a good chance the installer drove over it to backfill with quite possibly a heavier machine than you have. or the finish dozer on a new lot. Just a guess though

 

[Junkman]

My tank was put in back in 1983 and after we did some landscaping and leveling in the back yard, the tank now resides about 15' below the surface. I have risers to service it. Even being buried so far down, when they were working in the back yard, they stayed away from driving the bulldozer or excavator over it. I go over it with the tractor, but it only weighs about 3000 pounds. At my old house, a small dump truck went into the leach tank because we didn't know that there was one there..... If you can go around it, it is safer than going over it.... I just hope that I will never have to do any service to the tank that requires digging it up......

 

[Bird]

My tanks were only about 6" deep, too, and I routinely drove over them with the B2710 mowing, but I didn't figure the B2710 weighed near 4500# and I knew exactly where the tanks were and they were fairly new; 5 and 7 years old.