Trail maintenance

[972500]

So I will be adding pictures to this but wanted to get it written out while I was thinking of it...I've started working for the local county parks. Our trails are mostly limestone, 304 base and crushed fines topcoat. It holds up rather well aside from the occasional washout after a good downpour....anyways my question is about laying new trail, we use pavers to spread the material and it is a slow process because of the fact that we put it down rather thick and have to use 5ton trucks to fit down most of the trails. Our pavers are showing their age, 26 years, and lack of maintenance.

Is there something else out there that I don't know about that could do a decent job of spreading the material?

Boxblade behind a tractor is even slower and not even enough over the whole trail. I'm wondering about the box blades that get pulled behind a tractor to level a field, not 3 point type but a pintle hitch. We could hook that to the trucks and tailgate the material and pull the blade as we're going. I'd have to sort out the hydraulics but it's doable.

The trails for the most part are 10 foot wide, for perspective think of old railroad beds. Not usually real twist and turn.

Sorry for the long read, like I said just wanted to get it out there while I was thinking of it. I'll add pictures tomorrow sometime hopefully. Thanks in advance for any ideas!

 

[RNeumann]

Sounds like the limiter is the 5 ton trucks....not the spreader. You aren’t going to be happy with much if you don’t think a skip and drag is smooth enough......theirs a lot of flat earth that has been made with a good skip and drag.

Are you using TnT with the box?

 

[Ken45101]

Perhaps a "land leveler" would help? It's a scraper blade on long side skids. A simple thing to try would be a landscape rake with gage wheels.

I have also seen a box blade with adjustable wheels behind it which holds the blade even over a distance.

Sounds like you have some pretty good trails there. I've done volunteer bridle trail maintenance in a couple of state parks but that's been mostly rerouting trails around washouts or mudholes.

 

[972500]

Sounds like the limiter is the 5 ton trucks....not the spreader. You aren’t going to be happy with much if you don’t think a skip and drag is smooth enough......theirs a lot of flat earth that has been made with a good skip and drag.

Are you using TnT with the box?

The 5 tons are certainly the limiting factor, but the machines aren't helping make it quicker ha ha. I know a box blade is a great tool and we use it to prep the surface but it just isn't the ticket when there is 150+ miles of trail to resurface on a rotating schedule.

I'll show my ignorance here, what do you mean by TnT?

 

[MtnViewRanch]

T&T

The top link and side link of your 3pt hitch are changed to hydraulic cylinders. Making adjustments without leaving the seat really changes things. Get good at making adjustments and you never even stop, just make them as needed on the move.

 

[972500]

Perhaps a "land leveler" would help? It's a scraper blade on long side skids. A simple thing to try would be a landscape rake with gage wheels.

I have also seen a box blade with adjustable wheels behind it which holds the blade even over a distance.

Sounds like you have some pretty good trails there. I've done volunteer bridle trail maintenance in a couple of state parks but that's been mostly rerouting trails around washouts or mudholes.

Yea a land leveler is along the lines of what I am thinking, just not sure its the ticket either. we will probable end up sticking with what we are doing but thought i would tap into this wealth of knowledge to find out.

I like to think we are doing a pretty good job on the trails, 150+ miles and growing. A couple pictures below to give an idea of what we are working with, of course every trail is different.

 

[972500]

T&T

The top link and side link of your 3pt hitch are changed to hydraulic cylinders. Making adjustments without leaving the seat really changes things. Get good at making adjustments and you never even stop, just make them as needed on the move.

I see, i didn't know that is what those are called. No, we do not have them. I will look into them.

 

[bcp]

Something like this?

Spreading and leveling
7 EZ Grade | K-Tec Earthmovers Inc.

Spreading and leveling, with angle capability
Johnson Manufacturing | Home of the HyGrade Pull Type Graders

Bruce

 

[MtnViewRanch]

If you guys are getting it close tailgating the material, A LPGS will finish the job as well as being the best implement for general maintenance IMO. :thumbsup:

 

[RNeumann]

I see, i didn't know that is what those are called. No, we do not have them. I will look into them.

Thousands of miles of roads, driveways and trails have been preped and or leveled with a box blade with hydraulic top and tilt. Something like a JD210 skip loader or skip and drag would be great.

If you notice the levers by the guy’s right hand- he can control up/down, side to side, rippers and the amount he can cut or lay. The cut or lay is known as the top link.

JOHN DEERE SKIP LOADER 210 - YouTube

If you don’t have access to a “full size” tractor with top and tilt I’d invest in a TnT setup for the biggest machine that has a 3pt and loader.

If the 5 ton trucks are tailgate spreading I’m betting a competent operator could have the 5 tons or 250’ done in 10 min or less. Then make runs the entire length of the section after the trucks are done.