Forest Homestead Work in Progress

[Headshotfox]

So....bought a piece of land in the woods, has great views, 7 different species (at least) of trees with some as big as 46 DBH. Sounds great right.......well it is great with some caveats, the last people to step foot on this property did so close to 100 years ago and it needs some work to make it a future home site. And the property is on a slope (ranging from 10% grade to 25% grade).

I have some limited experience running equipment and figured screw it I can figure it out as I go. So we bought a 1988 John Deere 210c TLB after looking for one for months. I do have experience fixing everything from Jets to Diesel trucks and some work on TLBs so if something breaks (which on 30+ yo equipment it will) I'm OK with fixing it.

30 minutes off the truck I had It stuck 3 feet deep in mud lol. Gotten it unstuck since pretty easily (in part thanks to this forum) so figured I'd make an account and post my project and ask all of you knowledgeable people for advice when I hit an issue.

Finally got it off the top of the property and down to where I am building a small 10x12 Shed to do some of my work out of as I build. The pictures are of my grading progress (making an area to skid logs to as I cut trees to make my road). Working in the forest with a 2wd Backhoe isn't the easiest that's for sure but I've got 30 hours on it since I bought it and I'm learning (and willing to learn a lot more).

Let me know what you think and offer any advice you have (I've figured out how to rough grade level). But advice like best way to move lots of logs, how deep do I need the gravel for the road etc.

This backhoe will be the backbone of me building a home. Everything from setting up my septic to clearing a build site and building my roads.

 

[Headshotfox]

Here's photos from the top of the property. It is 11 acres of costal wooded area in the Puget Sound WA for reference. From the slope I have potential for awesome ocean views and views of the Mt. Baker Volcano. Property has no utilities, no roads, so I'm starting from scratch. There is a few old logging roads with almost 100 years of rubbish on them tho.

Added where I got stuck right after we got it there lol. Luckily pulling myself back up hill with straps and chains was easy enough. Drove it around to the bottom of the property on the road since its a short trip around thankfully. I originally planned on cutting down the old logging road from the top but due to the steep slope and wet soil I moved to where the slope is shallower and will clear that forest road this summer when it's dry (and likely working up from the bottom)

 

[Headshotfox]

And last photo, panoramic of where I graded today. Before I started it was all brush and sloped so I cut a flat pad and worked from there. Then started contouring up towards the shed and will go up winding through the woods up the slope (keeping to around 10% grade or less) to where we want to build a home (might go manufactured home).

Got a lot of work to go yet but I'm looking forward to it.

 

[MoKelly]

Thanks for the pictures. Very nice. Good luck.

MoKelly

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

Good luck! Looks like you will have an awesome homestead when you're done. Hopefully it will dry out some for you and will get a little easier.

 

[ArlyA]

Nice to have you here with us Headshot! You should try making your photos smaller. At 10mb in size, I won't take the time to open them.

 

[chief1950]

Where your road gets wet, if you excavate down below the organics, to rock or sand, & fill with rough gravel to finer at 45deg each side to a 12'wide top your base will stay for up to 50 years. You,'ll always have to dress the top. I have a 2000' drive, 1000' thru a swamp, 10' deep gravel. Built by a local guy who got wealthy building airport runways (his advise). After 35 years, I still only top-dress. Regular truck traffic from oil deliverys, tri-axles. If you plan to stay, get a land plane w/ adjustable height rippers and a vertically curved & slightly angled blades. A roller every 5 years and your grandkids will love your judgement. Last advice, don't drive across hills, takes tremendous skill not to roll, especially with the hoe, and the front bucket - never above the top of your hood, except when loading a dump on flat ground. A work buddy drove up an interstate highway bank, tipped back onto the hoe till straight up in the air, then miraculously pivoted a full 180, fell down the hill and rolled to the bottom, unconscious after hitting his head on the wheel, but he lived. Died 10 years later from lupus. Same sized machine as you bought. If a hill is 15 degrees or steeper, never sideways! Good luck with your place, sounds beautiful.

 

[MossRoad]

Welcome to TBN!

 

[joeyd]

Looking forward to watching your progress.

 

[Hayloft]

And last photo, panoramic of where I graded today. Before I started it was all brush and sloped so I cut a flat pad and worked from there. Then started contouring up towards the shed and will go up winding through the woods up the slope (keeping to around 10% grade or less) to where we want to build a home (might go manufactured home).

Got a lot of work to go yet but I'm looking forward to it.

Great start on your project and hope it goes well ! Your area gets a lot of rain in winter so good gravel road basics will payoff and minimize road washouts - large rock on bottom and smaller crushed rock on top. No rounded rock because it can't lock together. 3/4 minus works OK for the top although some like the smaller crusher fines - look for what's available in your area. I recommend spend a little time putting in drainage ditches & crown to help manage water runoff - you will be glad you did during winter rain. Then you can spend your time building your homestead instead of fixing the road. Good luck.