SCUTs and SepticTanks

[Diggin It]

I hate when my brain gets idle and wanders aimlessly.


Are the small SCUTs I've been considering heavy enough that they can't (or shouldn't) be driven over a concrete septic tank?

I mow and drive over it all the time with my two LTs, but they only run 800 lbs or so. Tank is 30-40 years old, octagonal concrete and buried in red rock gravel, probably 2' or so between the top of the tank and the lawn surface. It's in a place that could be avoided, but it wouldn't be real easy to do so all the time. Most of the time it would be with the MMM only as I'm not planning on keeping the FEL and BH on unless I need them.

I need to dig it open again in the next year or so to be pumped out anyways. I did it by hand with a shovel last time, but I dun growed older since then and don't cotton to doin' it that a'way again.

Drain field runs out across the yard at an angle and there really is no way to avoid driving over that either.

 

[4570Man]

I’ve driven over established drain fields with everything. Best idea maybe not, but we’ve never had problems. I don’t think the little tractor is going to hurt the tank either.

 

[Fallon]

I’ve driven over established drain fields with everything. Best idea maybe not, but we’ve never had problems. I don’t think the little tractor is going to hurt the tank either.

I drive my 5klbs tractor with a 2klbs flail mower over leach fields all the time no problem. I wouldnt even drive my old 3klbs tractor & 1klbs flail over a tank. I'll back the flail over the tank maybe a foot from each side, but that's it. The risk vs reward is just to crappy.

I asked my septic guy about it when he was pumping our tank last time. He indicated there are many lighter tanks around & it was a very iffy proposition.

From an engineering point of view, a round structure (culvert) with properly tamped backfill is extremely hard to crush. The vertical loads get translated to pushing out on the sides & held in by the dirt on the sides. A square tank is just the strength of the concrete holding up a lot of dirt ontop of it plus whatever drives over.

 

[bigtiller]

I drove my JD 2305 over our concrete 500 gallon tank with no problem. It weighed about 1700 lbs. with mmm deck and cab.

My JD 2720 weighs about 2500 lbs with loader sub-frame, mmm deck, wheel weights and cab. It doesn't get close to the tank.

 

[Coyote machine]

Old concrete tanks have seams midway down the side walls, which can and will leak and then are useless. Ask how I know.
What weight is your tractor stripped of FEL and hoe?
Driving over the same area where the tank resides will tend to compact the soil above and possibly surrounding it.
Note: when you dig to the pump out hole on your tank I suggest buying and installing a riser and cap that allows the cap to sit flush to or just under the surface of your lawn for future easy access. Also, and possibly more important if your tank doesn't have a,( removable for cleaning), filter at the outlet to your leach field- definitely install one. They only cost about $40 and can save your leach field from becoming clogged, and thus unusable.
Trust me on this, I am currently forced by circumstances, and septic inspectors who don't know how to determine septic system failure, to install a mound type leach field, along with two new 1000 gallon tanks, one for septic, one as pump tank to the new mound system, (at a specific location determined by a designer B status field tech), certified to design septic systems by my State.
A holy cluster ...k, that will likely cost over $30K when all said and done!
Do everything possible to prevent septic system 'failure' unless you want to have a huge headache and hole in your wallet.
ANYONE who wants to know more, PM me.

 

[fried1765]

I hate when my brain gets idle and wanders aimlessly.


Are the small SCUTs I've been considering heavy enough that they can't (or shouldn't) be driven over a concrete septic tank?

I mow and drive over it all the time with my two LTs, but they only run 800 lbs or so. Tank is 30-40 years old, octagonal concrete and buried in red rock gravel, probably 2' or so between the top of the tank and the lawn surface. It's in a place that could be avoided, but it wouldn't be real easy to do so all the time. Most of the time it would be with the MMM only as I'm not planning on keeping the FEL and BH on unless I need them.

I need to dig it open again in the next year or so to be pumped out anyways. I did it by hand with a shovel last time, but I dun growed older since then and don't cotton to doin' it that a'way again.

Drain field runs out across the yard at an angle and there really is no way to avoid driving over that either.

I have what is locally referred to as a "Heavy Top" tank.
How heavy......who knows what load any particular tank MIGHT actually support?
I would not even consider driving my VW over my "Heavy Top" tank.
Why take the chance?
My 3400 Ford TLB weighs about 7000 lbs, so of course, that will never go closer than a couple feet from the edge of the tank.
Your drain field should be just fine with your SCUT going across.

 

[4570Man]

My grasshopper lawnmower weighs 1900 pounds. It’s weight per tire is probably higher than the scout unless you have a load in the loader.

 

[Fallon]

My grasshopper lawnmower weighs 1900 pounds. It’s weight per tire is probably higher than the scout unless you have a load in the loader.

True. While lower ground pressure matters for compaction or soft surfaces, it won't help driving over a box. Ground distributes weight more or less in a cone or pyramid under the load. So loads spread out further down they go. Unfortunately distributing the load over a septic tank doesn't really help the unsupported top.

 

[4570Man]

True. While lower ground pressure matters for compaction or soft surfaces, it won't help driving over a box. Ground distributes weight more or less in a cone or pyramid under the load. So loads spread out further down they go. Unfortunately distributing the load over a septic tank doesn't really help the unsupported top.

I didn’t mean ground psi. My grasshopper is back heavier with nearly all the weight on the back wheels. The scout without the loader is much closer to 50/50 weight distribution. I doubt it outweighs the grasshopper by much without the loader anyway.

 

[oosik]

The WORD is: some type of grass should be planted over the drainfield area to hold the soil and help with evapotranspiration. NOTHING should be driven on, across or over the drainfield other than the equipment required to maintain the grass. Any equipment bigger or heavier than a riding lawnmower should not be driven on, across or over the djainfield area.

Like it or not - that is the recommendation of the National Environmental Health Association.

Its kind of like playing Russian roulette - if you are lucky, five times out of six it will be blank. However - the sixth time you WILL pay the piper.

Eighteen years in the Environmental Health field - we ALWAYS recommended against heavy equipment on, over or across drain fields.

Besides - good planning, ahead of time, will put the drainfield in an area where you will never have to drive heavy equipment on it.