Concrete slab with 3pt mixer

[Superduper]

Nubota. Again as I mentioned earlier, you should check with your local concrete provider and see if they have ready mix available in a buggy. It holds 1 cu/yard and by my calculations, you need 4.5 yards. The cost should be comparable to mixing it on your own and all you really need to do is pour it. As you know, 1 cu/yd is equivalent to 27 cubic feet: That is a LOT of mixing, anyway you cut it (equivalent to 41 bags of 80lb mix). The amount of time required for this project really just depends upon how fast you can make 5 trips to the concrete supplier to refill. You tow it back, pour directly into forms or into wheelbarrow or into your loader bucket. The buggy also comes with hydraulic dump ram to help with the pour. Frankly, I can't see why anyone would want to mix their own if this option is available.

 

[NuBota]

Super. I agree with completely. But the buggy would be hitched to my RAM2500 QUAD LB - to the site 300 ft from the road - down a 20 degree slope then across the face of a slope - all on a narrow trail cut through the woods with my BX24. And pretty sure I could not get turned around with truck and trailer to get back out. Could possibly get the trailer within 150 feet then move the mud with the FEL - but still slow going as the trail is not level

Other option is turn trail into "road" bringing in several loads of fill, bank run and CR-6 and then get cement truck to back in.

Believe me - this is not a cost saving attempt - just a logisical issue. A concrete pump truck setup would be ideal, but I've never seen one run 300 feet....

 

[Superduper]

I only made my suggestion because for me, I look for the easy(er) way out and "3 or 4 weekends...hmm teenager + 12 hr day...maybe 6 weekends" does not sound very appealing. If I could bring the buggy as close as possible and haul several tractor loads the rest of the way, I would do that in a heartbeat because while it might take some time, how hard can it be on the bod to drive up and around and down to the site? And whenever I get tired of it, I'll always have the alternative to motivate me. Man, I hate mixing cement. That stuff turns your skin dry as an alligator, turns you grey from head to toe, makes you sore as heck, takes forever to recover from and, well.. you get the picture.

 

[marimus]

I've done a lot bigger pours than that by hand, but you really need at least two and better three people. One to mix and dump and two to screed and trowel. This way it isn't too bad, and you can easily finish in a day. But one man doing it is a heck of a lot of work, and you will wish you wouldn't have done it this way!

I agree completley with kmdigital. My dad and I have done many (and larger) pours using just an electric mixer. We usually do 4 mixes into the bucket of the tractor, and then take the tractor to the slab and pour it where we want.

Between the two of us, we can easily mix 3-4 times what we can do individually. We take turns batching the concrete, and the little rest between shovelling lets you go much longer.

I once tried to do a 10'x10' pour by myself. It was 8" thick around the edges, but only 3" across the bulk of the pad. IT NEARLY KILLED ME. Well, not really, but I was still shoveling hours after I estimated, it was dark, I was sore, and no matter what, I couldn't stop or the pour would be ruined.

marimus

 

[NuBota]

I only made my suggestion because for me, I look for the easy(er) way out and "3 or 4 weekends...hmm teenager + 12 hr day...maybe 6 weekends" does not sound very appealing. If I could bring the buggy as close as possible and haul several tractor loads the rest of the way, I would do that in a heartbeat because while it might take some time, how hard can it be on the bod to drive up and around and down to the site? And whenever I get tired of it, I'll always have the alternative to motivate me. Man, I hate mixing cement. That stuff turns your skin dry as an alligator, turns you grey from head to toe, makes you sore as heck, takes forever to recover from and, well.. you get the picture.

I appreciate the input - I had discarded the buggy idea intially because of how heavy the load would be on uneven terrain. And I cringed at the idea of FEL bucket full of mud through said terrain multiple times. Had enough pucker moments hauling fill.

But you have me re-thinking it. It was almost 20 years ago last time I did this stuff.....

 

[EddieWalker]

I'm not sure I understand your goals for the concrete. From your description, it's a remote site on your land that is dificult to get to. You are looking for a solid surface to park on that is perminent. You don't have allot of help to do this, maybe none, and you are willing to spend a little more to get it done right.

Instead of concrete, have you considered cement patio pavers? Pricewise, they will cost you more per square foot over doing a full slab with premixed concrete, but with what you are doing, I'm not sure if it is all that much more money to use pavers.

You are already going to put down rock, which is the first step of pavers. Then you level the rock with an inch of sand and lay out your pavers. The beauty of pavers is there is no rush to finish and you can do as much or as little as you want. Cutting them is pretty simple with a diamond saw blade in a circular saw if electricty it available. I use a metal chop saw with a 14 inch diamond blade when I do pavers, but have also rented a wet saw on jobs. With your job, I don't see why you would have to cut any, just lay it out and work with what size you end up with. If you want it bigger, it's very easy to add on to it, and again, time is never an issue since nothing is drying on you.

Eddie

 

[NuBota]

Thanks Eddie. You're right, there are multiple options. Originally I was thinking just a pole barn with crushed aggregate/CR6 and leave it at that. Just need to park the tractors and store implements and use as workshop (either with my generator or run electric). But then I like the idea of a solid floor for dropping BH/FEL/MMM and when working on the tractors. So then I start thinking garage kit with wood or concrete floor. I could live with the wood, which would probably be easiest, but I worry about the weight and durability.

Wishy-washy I know

Will most likely opt for pole barn with CR6, with the option to always go with some form of slab later. And, unlike the garage, won't need footers

 

[Superduper]

Since originally, you mentioned the desire for a garage, your road situation should really be addressed anyhow. A 24x36 garage out in the middle of nowhere really doesn't make a whole lot of sense anyhow. You'll want to be able to reasonably access it. Why not start with the road first and improve that so accessibility is improved. Then a garage DOES make sense.

 

[MrJimi]

You will need about 143, 60# bags or 108, 80# bags to do your 12' X 16' X 4" slab
Thats lots of mixing and pouring and weight

 

[NuBota]

I feel bad - I did not intended to hijack the thread from the OP - I originally replied to indicate that his project by hand was not necessarily out of the question.

My impression for the portable mixers was that they are good for post hole footings, brick mortar, etc. And for projects like Eddie mentioned. Not for big pours

SuperDuper - your idea is definitely the best way to go for most small jobs - I agree completely. In regards to my post, a garage is really barn/shed. I do not need a full blown road/driveway. The trail is fine for tractor and my 4x4 truck. I have attached garage on the house (left side) for my road vehicles. The intended site is only about 100' from the back right corner of my house which is perched on hill with 15-20 degree slopes on the sides and back (front yard is open and flat) - all wooded. So it's not in the middle of nowhere, just extremely hard to get to with large, heavy, equipment. Was mainly interested if anyone else had a similar issue. Have read many posts where folks mention having a trail to their tractor shed. I am not a creative minded person - but you guys have got me thinking in more directions than when I had started - which is good

I appreciate the responses!