Advice on How to reduce slope on dirt roads
- Thread starter katyhorn
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dragoneggs
Super Star Member
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I hope he does come back. Some here did imply that he was basically crazy for attempting the project. I was not one of them but there are concerns that need to be understood and addressed.
Hello Fellow Members,
My apologies for my absence. I kept up with the posts the first few days, then stopped. I was not getting any notifications that you all were posting so I apologize for my absence. I am still working on my project. I took the advice of some of you and got a Landprice BB1248 box scrapper, just yesterday. The pictures are for the 2nd elevation. THe bottom of this hill is level with the bank of the Colorado River, so when the water goes over the banks, this area all fills. In the 2 yeas, I've owned the property, it has happended twice up about 5-7 feet. The hill itself is about 12 ft high. The work you see was my first attempt trying to scrape the slope with just the FEL. Today and tomorrow, I'll use both the FEL and the box scrapper. I'll post pictures. THe other hill is about 30 ft high, but that has already been resloped by a dozer then a skid steer. The fellow I contracted just left it too steep still, so my plan is to gradually reduce the slope further over time.
My apologies for my absence. I kept up with the posts the first few days, then stopped. I was not getting any notifications that you all were posting so I apologize for my absence. I am still working on my project. I took the advice of some of you and got a Landprice BB1248 box scrapper, just yesterday. The pictures are for the 2nd elevation. THe bottom of this hill is level with the bank of the Colorado River, so when the water goes over the banks, this area all fills. In the 2 yeas, I've owned the property, it has happended twice up about 5-7 feet. The hill itself is about 12 ft high. The work you see was my first attempt trying to scrape the slope with just the FEL. Today and tomorrow, I'll use both the FEL and the box scrapper. I'll post pictures. THe other hill is about 30 ft high, but that has already been resloped by a dozer then a skid steer. The fellow I contracted just left it too steep still, so my plan is to gradually reduce the slope further over time.
old and tired
Veteran Member
If you know how to use a box blade... stop reading now.
If not, here a little advise: to cut into the dirt and fill the box, you'll want to shorten the top link so the front blade hits the dirt before the rear blade does. The rear blade is good for smoothing the surface out, you need to extend the top link so that the rear blade needs to touch the ground first.
It doesn't look like you need side to side adjustments.... but If you ever need to cut along a side hill, you'll want to tilt the blade with the 3ph. It helps to place a 4x4 to take weight off the screw, you'll need to raise and lower back to the 4x4 to reset the pressure on the screw... Anyway, practice, practice and practice more... good luck.
Hydraulic top and tilt makes this SO much easier!!! And shortens the learning curve...
If not, here a little advise: to cut into the dirt and fill the box, you'll want to shorten the top link so the front blade hits the dirt before the rear blade does. The rear blade is good for smoothing the surface out, you need to extend the top link so that the rear blade needs to touch the ground first.
It doesn't look like you need side to side adjustments.... but If you ever need to cut along a side hill, you'll want to tilt the blade with the 3ph. It helps to place a 4x4 to take weight off the screw, you'll need to raise and lower back to the 4x4 to reset the pressure on the screw... Anyway, practice, practice and practice more... good luck.
Hydraulic top and tilt makes this SO much easier!!! And shortens the learning curve...
First time using the box blade, for that matter the FEL and tractor, so I'm up a very steep learning curve - thank you for the advice. Quick request for advice. I'm going to have to make the trail wider. Should I be doing it all at once? What is the best way to cut onto the sides to make the trail wider?
airbiscuit
Super Member
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I would cut into the sides as they are now with the bucket. After that use the box blade on the full width.
old and tired
Veteran Member
How firm is the dirt on the edges where you've dragged down from the top? It looks a bit loose on the right side... I would load up the FEL with dirt/rocks (for weight) and compact the soil as much as you can. You compact dirt a few inches at a time. Drive the thin yellow line (see photo) and gradually move outward to the thicker yellow line...
Once the edges are firm (so the tractor will not rollover from the edge giving away). I would cut the top (area above the blue line) with the box blade off-set as much as possible to the side (without it touching your tire). You are going to need the rippers down since you'll be cutting roots... you might need to only use a couple of them if there's to many roots. Think, smaller bites, more trips which only help to compact the dirt...
Do you have extra rock or dirt you can bring in? Also, that small tree needs to be taken out...
Once the edges are firm (so the tractor will not rollover from the edge giving away). I would cut the top (area above the blue line) with the box blade off-set as much as possible to the side (without it touching your tire). You are going to need the rippers down since you'll be cutting roots... you might need to only use a couple of them if there's to many roots. Think, smaller bites, more trips which only help to compact the dirt...
Do you have extra rock or dirt you can bring in? Also, that small tree needs to be taken out...
Thank to all of you who provide some great insight. Progress after about 6 hours over two days of reducing slope on the hill with FEL & Box blade. I also started clearing out and leveling out the trail that goes out to the river. The slope is such that my riding lawnmower and tractor go up and down comfortably. It needs more work, I think, to get a golf cart up and down with ease. 
airbiscuit
Super Member
- Joined
- Aug 28, 2004
- Messages
- 6,459
- Location
- NW Wisconsin
- Tractor
- New Holland T2310 (40hp), Kubota L3010 GST, New Holland TC21DA *** Previously - Farmall H, 1941 John Deere B, Shibaura SD1500, John Deere 850, Bobcat 642, New Holland 1925
Fun, right?
That little tree has to go!
That little tree has to go!
Egon
Epic Contributor
Might consider starting your cut a little farther back. Your bucket will work better than the box blade.