Dig septic bed with front end loader

[grsthegreat]

Where i live your not allowed to dig septic field with loader. The excessive driving compacts the field. We use excavators only to dig field and to cover the field pipes.

 

[MossRoad]

Given that I'm digging a bed and not a trench I tend to agree. My sandy dirt is easy digging. Only difficulty is keeping things level with a FEL. Once the tractor is tilted, so is the loader.

Dig the ramp down to the final level first.

With that said, I also live on sand and would have no problem doing what you're doing with my FEL. I dug out a 24x24 pad for a garage addition about a foot deep in an afternoon with my little PT425.

(click to enlarge)

Last photo shows water level on stick I used to set grade lines on 2x2 stakes to set limestone base depth and start of spreading.



Good luck with your decision process.

Don't discount an excavator. They are designed to dig.

 

[MossRoad]

Where i live your not allowed to dig septic field with loader. The excessive driving compacts the field. We use excavators only to dig field and to cover the field pipes.

That is a good point. Around here, the soil has to be undisturbed. That means excavator removing topsoil down to depth.

 

[MossRoad]

That is a good point. Around here, the soil has to be undisturbed. That means excavator removing topsoil down to depth.

For that matter, as soon as you get approved for a leach field, they mark off the area and no one is allowed to drive over it.

Rules vary by location, of course.

 

[4570Man]

My biggest concerns are how long the ramp will need to be, and how to at least get a half baked level grade for the bed. I do have a laser transit but am not sure how to make use of it with a FEL. I guess with depth stakes. At the end there will be some hand leveling for sure. Could also use box blade to pull dirt out and further help with leveling.

Then there is the issue of getting the gravel in for the base of the perforated pipe laterals. Honest not sure a backhoe would help.

Like I said, lots of videos showing this done with backhoe and trenches, but none with a septic bed.

I dug this 15’x30’ actually more counting over dig hole with my KX-040. When you’re digging holes bigger then the machine can reach you just have to start in the center, move the excavated material and make another pass farther over.

 

[not2old]

I dug the foundation for my shop ,with the loader on my GC2610 Massey. the excavation was about 42" deep and was about 40'x50'. This was in gravel ranging from sand to about 6" rock with the occasional rock to 12". I also dug a dry well. First was a hole about 15'x30' and 6' deep with a ramp to the bottom. I then dug another 12'x12' 6', deep using my hoe and did the last foot by hand. I'm supposed to be retired so I have the time.

 

[JasperFrank]

Though this is certainly doable, as DIY, I'd get a bid anyway for digging the 14 X 40 X 2. That's a whole lot a sand to move around with just an FEL. Its no sweat if the bids come in too high. Just do it your self if it seems high. Get bids for just the digging. But ask about the back fill. And you are going to do some trenching anyway. I'm just thinking of all the forward and backing, and dumping you are going to have to do with the FEL, when 14 feet is an easy reach for an excavator. A good operator, with the right equipment, can knock this out in a day and do the trench to the house. Its something you have to pencil out with a con and pro list. What is your time worth, what are your maintenance and fuel costs, what is your time frame..... etc. Inspectors......... oh..... inspectors. Having it done by XYZ, inspectors just sign off. DIY, they tend to look at everything, looking for something.
Best of luck.

 

[mikester]

All I have is a Kubota 2650 with FEL...

...Anyone tackle such a project with a FEL?

Yes you can dig your septic bed with your 2650 and FEL!

Make a time lapse video of the job! Post a video on you-tub. You will get rick quick and google will pay you thousands of dollars a month.

The secret to making good youtube videos is to have long graphic intro's and be able to talk incessantly about nothing. You can be a social media influencer and star!

 

[woody]

Could septic chambers be used for this and would they be a better option?

 

[wacnstac]

Could septic chambers be used for this and would they be a better option?

That's what I'm replacing. I would never recommend that junk to my worst enemy. Mine are only 12 years old, only used seasonally, and are almost entirely filled with sand.

In order to do chambers so they won't fail, I would recommend stainless steel chicken wire underneath to prevent burrowing animals from messing with them (don't think this was my problem), and geo fabric over the top to prevent sand infiltration (maybe that's why they call them infiltrators, lol), from the top. If you are going to do all of that, just use the old school pipe and rocks and get something that will last!