Drain field vs tractor

[1930]

Should I be concerned with running over my drain field with my L2501 FEL backhoe assy?
New construction home I’m building, corrugated half round plastic drain field maybe 2ft in diam.
I installed myself while the experts watched me clean up their installation.
I’m assuming that the old story of don’t run over drain field was when we had clay pipe that could easily snap?

 

[WM75Guy]

Should I be concerned with running over my drain field with my L2501 FEL backhoe assy?
New construction home I’m building, corrugated half round plastic drain field maybe 2ft in diam.
I installed myself while the experts watched me clean up their installation.
I’m assuming that the old story of don’t run over drain field was when we had clay pipe that could easily snap?

My place is deep sand. The pipes in the leach field are at least 24" deep. I have run over mine with tractors, trucks and trailers. So far there doesn't seem to be any damage. Grass gets green and there is not any water coming to the surface.

 

[Rdrcr]

My place is deep sand. The pipes in the leach field are at least 24" deep. I have run over mine with tractors, trucks and trailers. So far there doesn't seem to be any damage. Grass gets green and there is not any water coming to the surface.

This has been my experience too. I’m mindful of the drain field and I don’t spend any more time than necessary but, after many years, there hasn’t been any issues.

Mike

 

[nyone]

Your machine is roughly 3,500lbs. I believe those leach chambers have a spec on what weight rating they can withstand if you search long enough.

I have them in my yard also but avoid that area with my tractor because it's easy to. I have lots of clay so when its soft I avoid useing the tractor at all costs. When the clay is hard I dont worry about driving on things. I have driven over both my plastic septic tanks many times.

 

[JJT]

I keep the heavy tractor off mine, better safe than sorry.

 

[kneedeep]

Not unless it is unavoidable. Takes a while for soil to settle in.

 

[aesanders]

Been running over mine for years. Trucks tractors etc. never an issue. Do avoid the septic tank itself though.

 

[Thomas]

I void driving on drainage/leach field,for it's 40+ years old and still working very well.

 

[Farmer495]

If in doubt stay off it, expensive and urgent problem to fix when it doesn't work.

 

[4570Man]

I’d drive that tractor over a gravel leech field everyday and not worry. The plastic chambers aren’t as durable. As long as the soil has sufficiently settled in and it’s sufficiently dry it should be ok over the chambers. The best answer is still to not do it.

 

[1930]

Been running over mine for years. Trucks tractors etc. never an issue. Do avoid the septic tank itself though.

Yes, I definitely do this

 

[etpm]

Should I be concerned with running over my drain field with my L2501 FEL backhoe assy?
New construction home I’m building, corrugated half round plastic drain field maybe 2ft in diam.
I installed myself while the experts watched me clean up their installation.
I’m assuming that the old story of don’t run over drain field was when we had clay pipe that could easily snap?

I installed an infiltrator type septic drain field for my house. If your system is similar to mine then there is only 1 foot of dirt over the very top of the domed infiltrators. The ditch is approximately 30 inches wide. I would avoid driving your tractor over the infiltrators for about a year, and then

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

I would say that it dramatically depends on your specific drain field design, and your specific soil type.

When I asked the septic guy who inspected our system during the home buying process, he started off saying sure thing. Until I told him my tractor weighed 7k lbs, in which he emphatically said "NO!".

He was thinking I meant a riding mower (which is fine) until I described to him what I had and how much it weighed.

Some septic fields may be deeper, or soil types different enough that it wouldn't be a problem to drive the same tractor at a different site.

At our old house, it was not a problem. House was much older, septic field was different and much deeper.

I wouldn't let a few random guys across the internet tell you if it's safe or not.

Just my 2 cents worth.

 

[Williy]

If you leech field has the units like a box with no bottom
I would deffently say no as they are hollow and very little
dirt on top. Now if you have the schedule 40 pvc pipe with
the holles in the bottom I don't believe you will have any
problem but that's just my opinion

willy

 

[CliffordK]

Different tractors will be rated with different ground pressures. I'm not quite sure what my drain field looks like. However, around here it dries out a lot in the summer, so I'd think it should be OK.