Thanks for advice. I know where the lid is and it's right in the middle of where I would like to mow unfortunately. The system was put in 1988. I've seen the septic company come and drain the tank and it didn't look like he had to dig that far to get to the lid of the tank. I've already driven my BX 24 (listed at 1500-1900 lbs depending on implements, etc) right over it without much thought. Maybe I should rethink that. Any further thoughts are greatly appreciated.
weight of tractor on septic/well systems
- Thread starter dghecas
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kwolfe
Platinum Member
I have a BX1500 and have been mowing overall all 3 holding tanks for 3 years. Although small, the tractor wieghs in at about 1400lbs with the 54" deck. Remeber, the entire weight of the tractor is not in one small spot. It is distrubted over all 4 wheels. I don't think you would have a problem inless you are driving something very heavy.
jsborn
Gold Member
dghecas,
As UncleBubba said :
"if you are gonna drive the mower over the septic tank, weigh yourself first so I know how much scoop out when you fall in." If he said it once he said it a hundred times.
You may have driven over it many times with no problem but when you do fall in and you will sooner or later. It will not be a fun thing.
Just because you do something and get away with no problem is no reason to temp fate especially when what your are going to land in is not so sweet.
As UncleBubba said :
"if you are gonna drive the mower over the septic tank, weigh yourself first so I know how much scoop out when you fall in." If he said it once he said it a hundred times.
You may have driven over it many times with no problem but when you do fall in and you will sooner or later. It will not be a fun thing.
Just because you do something and get away with no problem is no reason to temp fate especially when what your are going to land in is not so sweet.
VABlue
Platinum Member
If the lid is covered with ~12" of dirt, you should be fine. Try to come up with a mowing path that will keep your tires off of it (good luck) and DON'T STOP ON THE LID! Otherwise, you should be fine. I used to drive my pickup and trailer over the leach field at my old house without any problems. If it were a brand new field, I'd recommend staying off it with anything over ~3000# for a year, or so...
Z-Michigan
Veteran Member
Just as an aside, at our house the tank is surrounded by a ring of 1' size boulders, and the interior has mulch and landscape flowers instead of grass. Story from prior owner is that when he bought the place, the moving truck for the first owner backed up right on top of the tank and fell right in. First owner had to pay for and get a new tank installed pretty quickly!
PBinWA
Platinum Member
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I drove over my Distribution Box once - with my box blade down.
I then got to learn how to replace a Distribution Box (it needed it anyways).
Some of the newer fancy leech fields are more sensitive to soil compaction. The older ones that are filled with lots of drain rock are a little tougher and can easily take a 3500 lb tractor.
I then got to learn how to replace a Distribution Box (it needed it anyways).
Some of the newer fancy leech fields are more sensitive to soil compaction. The older ones that are filled with lots of drain rock are a little tougher and can easily take a 3500 lb tractor.
Liquidops
New member
I am in the business of supplying septic system materials. There are two things to consider when driving over a septic system:1) the tank and 2) the tilebed or leachfield.
Most tanks are concrete, but there are a lot of plastic tanks (Fralo for example) being used now. The plastic tanks are not rated for regular vehicular traffic. Always watch out for plastic lids on tank risers. Both concrete and plastic tanks can have risers with plastic lids at the lawn surface. Distribution boxes are also to be avoided. Lots of them being put in now are plastic and can also have risers to bring the access lid to the surface.
Your tilebed may not be damaged immediately with a vehicle driving over it, but over time, with excessive traffic, the soil in the bed can become compacted. This can cause bed failure. Effluent from the septic tank is distributed to the tiledbed where some percolates down and some travels up to grass roots and is absorbed by roots. Compacted soil prevents the effluent from moving upwards throught the soil to the grass roots. You can effeftively lose %50 of your tilebed's disposal capacity when this happens.
Lawn cutting and occasional traffic will not damage the bed as long as the bed is not wet(as mentioned by others). Turning your tilebed surface into a parking space for your vehicles is however, a bad idea. Avoid excessive traffic if possible, but don't be afraid of driving over your bed to cut the lawn. If your leaving ruts you're very likely compacting soil too.
Most tanks are concrete, but there are a lot of plastic tanks (Fralo for example) being used now. The plastic tanks are not rated for regular vehicular traffic. Always watch out for plastic lids on tank risers. Both concrete and plastic tanks can have risers with plastic lids at the lawn surface. Distribution boxes are also to be avoided. Lots of them being put in now are plastic and can also have risers to bring the access lid to the surface.
Your tilebed may not be damaged immediately with a vehicle driving over it, but over time, with excessive traffic, the soil in the bed can become compacted. This can cause bed failure. Effluent from the septic tank is distributed to the tiledbed where some percolates down and some travels up to grass roots and is absorbed by roots. Compacted soil prevents the effluent from moving upwards throught the soil to the grass roots. You can effeftively lose %50 of your tilebed's disposal capacity when this happens.
Lawn cutting and occasional traffic will not damage the bed as long as the bed is not wet(as mentioned by others). Turning your tilebed surface into a parking space for your vehicles is however, a bad idea. Avoid excessive traffic if possible, but don't be afraid of driving over your bed to cut the lawn. If your leaving ruts you're very likely compacting soil too.
Liquidops
New member
Driving over a concrete tank with concrete lids is fine. The concrete tanks they make these days are rated for something like 16 000 lbs.
Concrete tanks can break down over time. I don't think I'd park a 10 000 lb tractor over a 35 yr old tank. The gasses produced in the septic tank can break down concrete pretty well over a 35 yr period.
Concrete tanks can break down over time. I don't think I'd park a 10 000 lb tractor over a 35 yr old tank. The gasses produced in the septic tank can break down concrete pretty well over a 35 yr period.
marcus402
New member
I have two types of leach field on my property. The one for our house is a raised mound type. Our neighbors is a gravity type (old style) that is on our property. What types of concerns should I have about the different types.
I have a JD 4310 w/FEL and try to stay off both leach fields. I do consistently mow over both with my riding mower.
I have a JD 4310 w/FEL and try to stay off both leach fields. I do consistently mow over both with my riding mower.
