Traction issues

[Indygunworks]

I have 30 tonnes of recycled roadway base that need to be spread this week. The stuff is packed solid and is harder than **** to get a loader full. It took me 3 hours to spread 1/4 of a load at the front of the driveway, and that was where I already had base for traction. the remaining 1 3/4 loads needs to be spread in an area that is overly slick and I just cant seem to get a loader full. To make matters worse there really isn't an area where I can get much traction at all. I have a box blade that worked pretty well for the other spot, but I had traction on existing base ( was making the driveway wider)... In the next spot I will not be able to get enough traction to "pull" gravel from the pile with the box. Being on a time crunch I don't think I have many options. Any tips or tricks to getting this done?

Here is the space



and here is the pile

 

[davesl708]

Can you add more weight to the tractor? Also, is spreading some sand an option?

 

[Indygunworks]

I don't have time to fabricate adding weight, unless its a super easy method. spreading sand is not an option.

 

[Citydude]

I have 30 tonnes of recycled roadway base that need to be spread this week. The stuff is packed solid and is harder than **** to get a loader full. It took me 3 hours to spread 1/4 of a load at the front of the driveway, and that was where I already had base for traction. the remaining 1 3/4 loads needs to be spread in an area that is overly slick and I just cant seem to get a loader full. To make matters worse there really isn't an area where I can get much traction at all. I have a box blade that worked pretty well for the other spot, but I had traction on existing base ( was making the driveway wider)... In the next spot I will not be able to get enough traction to "pull" gravel from the pile with the box. Being on a time crunch I don't think I have many options. Any tips or tricks to getting this done? Here is the space http://s659.photobucket.com/user/jacq220/media/Mobile Uploads/photo_zps6dfc06cb.jpg.html and here is the pile http://s659.photobucket.com/user/jacq220/media/Mobile Uploads/image_zpsbf60fb9a.jpg.html

Did you try scraping the mud down to dry around the pile?

 

[Indygunworks]

No... Just stepping one foot into the area where the gravel needs to go gets you a boot full of sticky goo. I am thinking I am going to have to spread by driving over already spread gravel. Its to the point where I really cant even get much traction on the grassy area. The existing driveway base is the ONLY place I can get traction. I have 4 hours tomorrow morning, and one day next week to get this spread. I am wondering if I should bite the bullet and pay someone with a skid steer.

 

[davesl708]

No... Just stepping one foot into the area where the gravel needs to go gets you a boot full of sticky goo. I am thinking I am going to have to spread by driving over already spread gravel. Its to the point where I really cant even get much traction on the grassy area. The existing driveway base is the ONLY place I can get traction. I have 4 hours tomorrow morning, and one day next week to get this spread. I am wondering if I should bite the bullet and pay someone with a skid steer.

Might be cheaper and quicker to rent a skid steer and do the work yourself.

 

[Citydude]

No... Just stepping one foot into the area where the gravel needs to go gets you a boot full of sticky goo. I am thinking I am going to have to spread by driving over already spread gravel. Its to the point where I really cant even get much traction on the grassy area. The existing driveway base is the ONLY place I can get traction. I have 4 hours tomorrow morning, and one day next week to get this spread. I am wondering if I should bite the bullet and pay someone with a skid steer.

That or build a path from the pile with the material to where you need to spread it.

 

[Parkanzky]

Do you have a tooth bar on your loader? That might lessen the force (traction) you need to fill the bucket enough to make it work.

 

[Indygunworks]

No I do not... I am not sure where I could pick up a tooth bar, and get the install done before next week. Its on my list though.... but its a very very long list.

 

[tractorshopper]

+1 on the tooth bar. Install is not difficult if you can find a dealer that has one already in stock. Just drill 2 holes and bolt it on. This will make driving into the pile very easy and you can then spread the material in front of you creating the non-slick area as you go.

 

[Indygunworks]

I have no idea where I could find one of those instock quick enough... or if it will even make enough of a difference to be worth the risk of loosing a couple days.

 

[lostcreekranch]

Are your rear tires loaded with fluid? Makes a world of difference.

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[Indygunworks]

No they are not... I would like to avoid that if I can as well since I will be using this tractor on manicured lawn in the future. Right now its just a construction site.

Is there an easy way to fill the rear tires?

 

[Walkin Horse]

I take a 55 gal drum and sit it on the box blade and fill it with water. Can't be much quicker or cheaper. Unless you don't have water at your site.

 

[Indygunworks]

No water on site.

 

[kevin37b]

You have frozen ground , virgin and fill thawing out . NOTHING WORSE . You can try everything in this book but it is not going to work .You might bust up that pile with a hoe , but running around in that mud is going to create a whole new mess .If you walk where you want to spread it and sink in a foot you are wasting your time . Mother Nature will work with you one of these days .

 

[Indygunworks]

I do have a backhoe attachment.... that might just be the ticket. If anything else it will add a bunch of weight.... I don't have a ton of confidence that it wont bust a hose though... there are still several that have SLOW leaks and need replacing. I think I will give that a try tomorrow, and if that doesn't work then I will bite the bullet and pay someone.

 

[kevin37b]

Neither weight or hiring is going to help . Stay away from that block wall also .

 

[Indygunworks]

Neither weight or hiring is going to help . Stay away from that block wall also .

You don't think a tracked skid steer could handle it either? Am I understanding that correctly?

 

[s219]

One thing I have learned many times over in construction is that if the weather and mud aren't cooperating, you just have to wait it out. You can plan stuff to stay ahead of the weather, but once the rain/snow/mud does it's thing, you just have to wait it out.

Even if traction wasn't an issue, you'd find that sticky packed fill will make a mess in your front bucket and box blade and neither will work they way they should (i.e., won't scoop or dump cleanly in front and won't spread in back). There are even times when damp fill will defeat a box blade, in which case I spread what I can and wait for a few hours of sunshine to dry it out some.

For foot traffic, I have found that putting down cardboard or plywood scraps will help. But a tractor or other heavy equipment will make a mess of that in no time.