Cutting side hill trails

[CDN Farm Boy]

I agree completely with the last 4 posts and the OP with using the bucket. If it's uncomfortable to walk on due to the amount of side slope, there is zero chance of driving across it comfortably or safely.

I would work top down if at all possible. Makes pushing into the bank much easier and the spoils are much easier to make the low side fill when you can just flip it in front of you and the slope will help move them down hill. Disk and back blade to suit after you get the rough part done with the FEL.

A tooth bar for your bucket will make things much easier and might be well worth the few hundred bucks to get one.

FWIW:
12" slope in 60" is 11 deg
18" slope in 60" is 16.6 deg
24" slope in 60" is 22 deg
Most people are really bad at judging the amount of slope by eye.

 

[pwright]

And in % slope those are:
12" slope in 60" is 20%
18" slope in 60" is 30%
24" slope in 60" is 40%

Most people are really bad at judging the amount of slope by eye.

Especially from the seat of a tractor.

 

[bfisherman11]

You guys are awesome. Thank you so much for all this advice. I have been away from these boards for a while due to concentrating on my bow hunting season. My land is in WI so we started on 9/12 this year I have hunted carefully and tweaked some stand locations to match what sign I see. As we get closer to the first few weeks in Nov. things start to get real serious. Ha. Anyhow, that planning and hunting keeps a guy busy.

The trail will be my first project this spring. I do plan on buying a tooth bar for my bucket, well actually asking Santa for one. I have read several threads so confused enough, Ha that is another thread.

My current trails are mostly grass with no visible roots and only a few rocks. The bulk of it was pasture land. I do agree and think if I get the back blade at an aggressive angle I can cut the high side and level off. I can use the bucket on any rocks I encounter or the tough or hard ground areas. I may also invest in a compactor. I need one anyway for my food plots and that might come in handy setting the dirt on the trails. I will also sew in grass seed. Run-off is not a big concern because this is a gentle grade. More just uncomfortable to walk, and that is why I am undertaking this project.

Again, there is a lot to thank you all for. You provided a wealth of information on this topic and shared YEARS of experience.

Bill

 

[Gordon Gould]

Thanks for the update - always good to hear back. Make sure you report again when you have a go at your project

I know exactly how you feel about your important hunting business - Good Luck

gg

 

[MMagis]

I assume by compactor, you mean cultipacker? They’re nice to have when putting in food plots (though certainly not necessary), but honestly it won’t help you with this project. They do very little (nearly nothing) in the way of soil compaction. Driving up and down the freshly graded path will yield much better results. I only mention this so you don’t buy one thinking you need it for this project, and end up paying more than you could if you waited.

 

[jenkinsph]

I assume by compactor, you mean cultipacker? They’re nice to have when putting in food plots (though certainly not necessary), but honestly it won’t help you with this project. They do very little (nearly nothing) in the way of soil compaction. Driving up and down the freshly graded path will yield much better results. I only mention this so you don’t buy one thinking you need it for this project, and end up paying more than you could if you waited.

He may mean a plate compactor which could really help imo. While I have one in my business for one time projects you can rent one for a weekend.

 

[bfisherman11]

Yep I was talking cultipacker. Good point!

Bill

 

[pat32rf]

I always prefer to work from the bottom up as I can always back down to safety but it can be hard to back UP when the rears start to slide sideways ...

 

[dragoneggs]

I always prefer to work from the bottom up as I can always back down to safety but it can be hard to back UP when the rears start to slide sideways ...

Agreed but I find it much easier (not safer) to cut and move the cut dirt to the downhill side if working from top/down.

 

[dragoneggs]

I always prefer to work from the bottom up as I can always back down to safety but it can be hard to back UP when the rears start to slide sideways ...

Agreed but I find it much easier (not safer) to cut and move the cut dirt to the downhill side if working from top/down.