PatasColo
Silver Member
- Joined
- Nov 23, 2010
- Messages
- 236
- Location
- Front Range of Colorado, USA
- Tractor
- Kioti CK20S HST and Gravely walk-behind (2 wheel tractor - 700 lbs.).
Howdy all,
I've been reading this website for a few months, and lots of great info. Thanks for such a great resource.
I have about 1.2 acres of farm-y land, coupled with 14 acres of mountain-y land that we just bought this spring. I'm thinking I'll need a tractor, but am slow to make such a big purchase... So, this weekend will be the first time we have a tractor on the property to do some long-delayed chores. Renting a JD 3320 (I believe; if not, it's close to that model) with FEL and BB. I'd like to 1) move rocks (20-150 lbs each) 2) neaten up the 300 ft driveway (it is rutted from rainstorms last spring), 3) cut a swale for better drainage across our field, and 4) move dirt from a long berm uphill to backfill an area near the house. (I've attached a pic of the land to this post.)
The last task is most critical (backfill); Then the driveway, then the others. I've read plenty of safety and "how to" info on here, but anything else you think is key (for a person getting on and operating a tractor for first time), feel free to chime in. I have the tractor for one full day.
Here's a couple specific questions:
1) The land slopes from the road where the berm is up to the house. It's probably 150 feet distance and 10 to 15 foot rise. How do you best get a feel for turning around on slope and knowing you're not going to tip over? I don't even want to come close! :ashamed:
2) The destination area needing backfill is tight; I don't think the tractor will fit/maneuver with the BB on. The BB is my rear counterweight. My thought is to move all the dirt as close as possible to backfill area (it's going to take a bunch of 150ft trips) with the BB on... Then only remove the BB for the final last bit of pushing all the backfill into place in the tight quarters. Your thoughts?
3) The driveway is dirt and rock... lots of varied broken rock (sandstone) from the slope I live on. It is solid rock on one side and there is a short wall on the other which serves as a retaining wall to hold the driveway in (mortar and big rock wall... very solid). I'm thinking to make a pass with the BB and see if I can even out the ruts. I'll likely grab some rock mixed with dirt from other parts of property to fill in as well. I know this is not permanent, but it'll serve our needs for now. One option is to buy some half-to-inch sharp gravel/roadbase to lay in, but I don't want to create too many jobs, and I'm under no illusion that this'll be the only time I'll grade the driveway.
OK, thanks for your time and input, and if you need more detail, just ask. This'll be my first time on a tractor, so I figure it's a "learning day", but I don't want to learn any "bad" lessons.
Patas
P.S. I can tell you that neither rented tractor nor one I buy is going to get taken up the mountain part of the land... It's a Rocky Mountain foothill, and goes 1200 feet horizontal to the butte crest, with a 300 foot rise. However, way in the future we may take a tractor around to the valley behind via a fireroad (I have a fantasy of building a little stone & wood cabin back there).
I've been reading this website for a few months, and lots of great info. Thanks for such a great resource.
I have about 1.2 acres of farm-y land, coupled with 14 acres of mountain-y land that we just bought this spring. I'm thinking I'll need a tractor, but am slow to make such a big purchase... So, this weekend will be the first time we have a tractor on the property to do some long-delayed chores. Renting a JD 3320 (I believe; if not, it's close to that model) with FEL and BB. I'd like to 1) move rocks (20-150 lbs each) 2) neaten up the 300 ft driveway (it is rutted from rainstorms last spring), 3) cut a swale for better drainage across our field, and 4) move dirt from a long berm uphill to backfill an area near the house. (I've attached a pic of the land to this post.)
The last task is most critical (backfill); Then the driveway, then the others. I've read plenty of safety and "how to" info on here, but anything else you think is key (for a person getting on and operating a tractor for first time), feel free to chime in. I have the tractor for one full day.
Here's a couple specific questions:
1) The land slopes from the road where the berm is up to the house. It's probably 150 feet distance and 10 to 15 foot rise. How do you best get a feel for turning around on slope and knowing you're not going to tip over? I don't even want to come close! :ashamed:
2) The destination area needing backfill is tight; I don't think the tractor will fit/maneuver with the BB on. The BB is my rear counterweight. My thought is to move all the dirt as close as possible to backfill area (it's going to take a bunch of 150ft trips) with the BB on... Then only remove the BB for the final last bit of pushing all the backfill into place in the tight quarters. Your thoughts?
3) The driveway is dirt and rock... lots of varied broken rock (sandstone) from the slope I live on. It is solid rock on one side and there is a short wall on the other which serves as a retaining wall to hold the driveway in (mortar and big rock wall... very solid). I'm thinking to make a pass with the BB and see if I can even out the ruts. I'll likely grab some rock mixed with dirt from other parts of property to fill in as well. I know this is not permanent, but it'll serve our needs for now. One option is to buy some half-to-inch sharp gravel/roadbase to lay in, but I don't want to create too many jobs, and I'm under no illusion that this'll be the only time I'll grade the driveway.
OK, thanks for your time and input, and if you need more detail, just ask. This'll be my first time on a tractor, so I figure it's a "learning day", but I don't want to learn any "bad" lessons.
Patas
P.S. I can tell you that neither rented tractor nor one I buy is going to get taken up the mountain part of the land... It's a Rocky Mountain foothill, and goes 1200 feet horizontal to the butte crest, with a 300 foot rise. However, way in the future we may take a tractor around to the valley behind via a fireroad (I have a fantasy of building a little stone & wood cabin back there).