Building a switchback in a road

[Ken45101]

Well, you probably can do just about anything with a TLB. Or a SS or a mini ex. It's just an issue of how easy and how quick you can do it, and safety is an issue too. The previous owner here put in a waterline straight down a hill what I wouldn't take any equipment (or a 4 wheeler) down. He also said that several contractors turned him down, so he did it himself. I put a trail down that hill a few months ago but it was 4x as long and has three switchbacks on it. Some of the cuts are 5' high on the upside. I guess you could do it with a B21 but it would take a long time. Also, the B21 would have a lot of trouble with some of the rocks I ran into which probably weighed more than the B21. It all depends on the terrain.

I took some pictures of the switchbacks this afternoon. I'll post them after I get the phone recharged.

 

[Ken45101]

Okay, here are some trail pictures with switchbacks that I did a few months ago.

First is an easy switchback but I needed a fair amount of fill on the far side of the turn


Here is a tight one. I really need to dig out more on the left bank and fill in wider after the turn, on the outside. Right now it's a three point turn.


Here is the bottom of that turn, looking up the trail

It doesn't show very well but there is about 5 feet of fill on the right side.


Here is a trail junction/switchback. A lot of dirt was dug out coming down here and used to raise the main trail a couple of feet and widen it.


I hope these help somewhat.

Ken

 

[Rio_Grande]

Ken mine is similar to your first pic, but mine falls a little quicker. I am going to try to hunt tomorrow and will try to get some pix.

 

[mattbatson]

I agree on the b21 being a little small if you have big rock...which we do here in western NC...which is one reason we were considering the l39. Lot more machine.
I might even need to purchase a big stone chisel...they sell a couple of high powered ones at harbor freight....for a couple of the big granite pieces
that I ran into while building my driveway up to the ridge.

thanks a lot for the pics, it is always nice to see what others are working with, with regards to their properties...
that looks quite a bit like parts of western NC

 

[rd_macgregor]

It sounds like good info exchange so far, but I'd like to get back to the issue of kids on 4-wheelers. Maybe R_G's kids are ultra-cautious operators (or maybe I'm just an overly-protective parent), but I'd be tempted to put some sort of berm or guard-rail or something (tires; big round bales; ??) on the outside of the switchback, just in case somebody (unsuccessfully) tries high-speed turns through it.

 

[Rio_Grande]

I would tell you my kids are ultra cautious and the safest riders ever however my daughters broken collar bone and my sons skinned up face this year would make me a liar.

 

[/pine]

I wouldn't mind adding some (golf) cart trails on our property...but with steep terrain like here in the mountains the real issue is with dealing with storm run-off...if not properly planned, top coated and drained... I could end up with major washouts after one decent storm...for me switchbacks end up requiring a culvert at some point...

interesting project...

 

[Rio_Grande]

Not saying you are wrong pine but I have been amazed at how well my roads have held up in rocky clay soil. I think the key in my case is tree cover. I only cut my roads wide enough for my jeep and a small trailer. We haven't had a wash out yet. We do slope our roads slightly low on the hill side so water runs in instead of off. I don't even know if that is right but I have seen the county do it that way. They add gravel to the inside. It makes kinda a French drain.

Our trails get muddy and the specific trail we are talking about for my switchback I can't travel when it has been raining for a few days. I think if I level it out some and add som rock from the creek that we will be able too, or I will spend a bunch of money in fuel for nothing.

 

[BigEddy]

I've done a few cross slope cuts with my 855 TLB. My approach is to start at the bottom and work up moving backwards all the way. Dig from the up hill side and deposit on the downhill side. All logs and rocks are used to stabilize the bank. I cut past level so the uphill side is lower than the downhill side. I make sure my outside wheel stays on original dirt and not fill. For drainage I put Big O drains under the trail every so often. This way water runs along the uphill edge for a bit then crosses under and is directed away. No erosion this way.

Switch back turns should be level. Stop climbing and level out then make the turn before starting to climb again. I try to pick a good spot on the slope where there is a natural level spot or depression to minimize the digging. Add some drainage features around the turn to assist with moving the water away.

Typically I will cut and fill all the way up before I go back to do any final grading or smoothing. That way I have the length of trail to drive along and am not trying to turn or maneuver on a narrow ledge.

Wear your seat belt

 

[Rio_Grande]

See if they show up