Dig septic bed with front end loader

[bdhsfz6]

FWIW, I made a 40' x 24' x 36" deep excavation for a slab barn using my little B7100HST:

I had to remove unstable soil down to ledge rock, and fill the excavation with coarse stone. The ramp from the excavation only had to be 10' long. It took some time, but the little tractor did the job.

I used the backhoe (not shown in the pic), to place sand on top of the coarse stone. I leveled it with a plumb line, using a 2x10 clamped to the hoe bucket. It was easy to keep the 2X10 level using the hoe outriggers.

Although not a septic field, the same principle could be used for your project.

 

[scootr]

How are you supposed to backfill without driving over the pipes again and again?
2 ft deep doesn't sound like enough cover prevent pipe damage while backfilling with sand.

 

[dodge man]

Put in one pipe, then backfill with the stone, put in another pipe, put in the stone………….

 

[bdhsfz6]

Backfill with the backhoe, a bucket full at a time from outside the excavation. It helps if you can get a 24" bucket.

 

[dodge man]

Backfill with the backhoe, a bucket full at a time from outside the excavation. It helps if you can get a 24" bucket.

I think the point of his post was can it be done without a backhoe.

 

[wacnstac]

Put in one pipe, then backfill with the stone, put in another pipe, put in the stone………….

Something like this. I do have a friend with a small backhoe, but I think this will be painstakingly slow. I would love to see a video on YouTube on how professionals do this but septic beds don't seem to be very popular.

 

[bdhsfz6]

I think the point of his post was can it be done without a backhoe.

The OP said he didn't think a backhoe would be of much help. I was just pointing out that it can.

 

[wacnstac]

Backfill with the backhoe, a bucket full at a time from outside the excavation. It helps if you can get a 24" bucket.

My friend's backhoe bucket is small. Maybe 12". Will take a week of Sunday's to do that way not to mention that I don't think it will reach to the middle of the bed. Was thinking I need a conveyor belt.

 

[grsthegreat]

Something like this. I do have a friend with a small backhoe, but I think this will be painstakingly slow. I would love to see a video on YouTube on how professionals do this but septic beds don't seem to be very popular.

Im not sure what you mean by septic beds. If your referring to infiltrator beds, there popular up my way. My system is like the one pictured, its 29 years strong. It was covered using large excavator. We dont drive over it with anything larger than lawn mower.

 

[bdhsfz6]

My friend's backhoe bucket is small. Maybe 12". Will take a week of Sunday's to do that way not to mention that I don't think it will reach to the middle of the bed. Was thinking I need a conveyor belt.

The contractor who built mine used a mini ex with a 24" landscape bucket. Took him about half a day to backfill & level the drain field. Anywhere around where you can rent one?