Building a road on contour with box blade

[kvmapr]

Jay, Thanks. That's what I'm thinking, too. I read the thread about how a toothbar equipped FEL and box scraper can turn a tractor into a respectable excavator. My birthday is next month, so I'll be telling folks to just give me cash, and maybe I'll scrape up enough for that toothbar.

Spiveyman. I did read your box blade Width and Brand thread. There was a lot of great info there that convinced me I should buy a 6 foot box. My tractor, a 25hp Jinma with the wheels set wide, is 5 feet wide. So there will be six inches of box extending off either side to cover my tracks. And I'll need that extra length to help carve into the slope as I try to build this road. I know a 6 footer vilates the 5hp per foot of width rule, but I think I can swing it as long as I don't get too aggressive with the box.

Unfortunately a box blade is not in the cards this year. After laying out the cash for the tractor, with FEL and rotary mower, wifey made me promise no more expensive goodies for a while. But I think I'll be able to get by till then if I can score that toothbar for my birthday.

I'll give your suggestion to start from the top a try. I know I could approach it from the bottom and possibly get it done that way. But coming from top down may work better, using more of the tractors weight to dig (although I'll have to be careful not to shock load the FEL arms). I can see how getting a level pad to start from would be key to continuing the same grade. That's obviously what happened in my first attempt. Start on a 10 degree slope, and wind up with... a 10 degree slope. Go figure.

Thanks Scott_vt. I was wondering if anyone would notice that. I've seen some nice photos of other people's spreads on TBN. Someday maybe I'll post a "real" glamor shot of my place. The view from my neighbor's farm, looking across my spread is really nice.

Anyway, what you're seeing in the background of that photo is the Allegheny Front, the highest ridge of the Appalachian mountain chain where it passes through West Virginia . It's a beautiful area, but the mountain's so **** big it casts a rain shadow for miles (which includes my place). Rain on the west side if 60 inches a year. On my side it's about 24.

Thanks all for the great feedback. I'll give your suggestions a try and post photos of the results.

kvmapr

 

[sandman2234]

Welcome to TBN,
It is a very pretty view, but it looks like the houses up there are a little smaller than around here.(lol) Just keep after that road, it will eventually get done, no matter which way you tackle it.
David from jax

 

[Spiveyman]

kvmapr, I did go back and take a closer look at the picture when scott commented on it. That's just the man in me. I was focussed on the TASK at hand!!! But yes, that is a great view. I got snowed in one time at a place called Cranberry Mountain lodge, near Canaan Valley. The place had a mile long driveway that looked a lot like your road there. That was a blast ripping out of there in my 4X4 in a couple feet of snow. We'll be looking forward to the view from the neighbor's place. This is a great place to share the wonders that we are privileged behold out our back doors.

Also totally understand the "no more expensive goodies" promise. At least you got a real nice toy, er I mean necessary tool for working your land. That will hold you over for a bit. I was in a similar spot after buying my tractor and didn't have the FEL yet. The fever got me though and I had to sell a couple of guns and include my birthday and anniversary money to get the FEL.

As for taking a chop at the road from the sides, I was just thinking I'd come at it from the top because that's where most of the dirt would come from, but if you've got the power and weight to do it from below that may feel more comfortable. The problem working from the top is that you are creating a ledge so to speak that you'd have to be well aware of, and would probably have to come at it from the bottom too in order to get the width you'd need on the road. Should be fun figuring it out.

 

[kvmapr]

Yeah! But the views are GREAT!

Truth be told I don't live on that place. What you're looking at is a small farm I bought about 3 years ago. The original farm house was torn down and the logs from the original log cabin were sold (cabin was built in 1880's). All that's left are a couple of outbuildings and a pole barn. That crummy looking building in the photo is a root cellar with a workshop on top. I cleaned it out (found lots of 1950's era vintage farming stuff) and turned it into a bunkhouse (with electric, woodstove, and well water). It's pretty humble but it's good enough to keep the rain off, and we've spent some great weekends up there. Someday we'll get around to building a real house on that property, but right now we're just having fun getting our hands dirty with small projects.

kvmapr

 

[kvmapr]

Spiveyman. Canaan Valley is just the next county over from me, and sits up on top of the mountain in the background of that photo. Beautiful place up there and lots of folks come from all around to enjoy the scenery of this area. I've been down through Kentucky a time or two as well, and I could easily see myself living there. Basically any place where the ground's not level will feel like home to me.

You have a good point about coming at the project from the uphill side. I don't think the ledge I cut will be too severe, but it will be a matter for caution. I'll definitely have to spend some time tinkering with the approach.

kvmapr

 

[Spiveyman]

Cool. I love Canaan Valley, it's not as crowded as Snowshoe. Kentucky will always be my home, but I spent 6 years in CO at the base of the Rockies, so that's put our KY hills in perspective. They may not be mountains, but at least you can't see Missouri from here. I spent a few years in school in a flat state that will remain nameless so as not to offend, but the interstate overpasses were the only things with any elevation. Drove me nuts and makes me appreciate the gentle rolling hills I'm on now. I had a buddy who was local to the school come home with me one time and he cracked up seeing corn planted on the side of a hill. Just looked silly to him, but I asked him where we should plant it since most of central KY is on the side of a hill one way or another!

 

[sandman2234]

So you went to school in Florida?
David from jax

 

[Spiveyman]

Ha! Nope, way colder than that. Had some -60°F windchills one winter. Brrrrrrr. There are probably a few states that could qualify on flatness though, all wonderful parts of the US I'm sure!

 

[dentonsisk]

I have made several roads like what you show, with and without a box blade. If you want the best results you do need a box. When I have done it without a box blade I have always faced the tractor uphil and cut a terrace and left the dirt on the down hill side. Takes time though. To get a road that doesn't wash out you will need to cut the deepest part on the uphill side and drain water "uphill" then under road with a pipe. hope it goes well

ds

 

[SkunkWerX]

kvmapr,

A lot of good suggestions here. Since $$$ are an issue, I'd look at the Toothbar in the short run. Will increase your digging capability 200%.
They are not prohibitively expensive, and are UPS shippable.

Following Egon's idea:
Make a level spot to start from, use your middle buster to run several parallel "rips" where your road will be, then, with the FEL and toothbar, start from your level spot, and scoop forward. Away you go!

Markham always comes up as one of the top picks here on TBN for Toothbars.
Markham ToothBar

I got mine from these guys, as an alternate to Markham, good quality, fast shipping, competitive prices.
Farm Equipment 24x7

The Toothbar is one of the biggest bangs for the $Buck$.