How much weight is too much?

AndyM · Aug 27, 2003

I don't make a regular habit of driving my 8N over my septic field because I figure it weighs too much, being that it's close to 3000 pounds. However, I'm seriously considering the purchase of a TC18, and this will also be my primary mower.

Is a 1400 pound tractor (plus whatever the RFM weighs) too much to regularly drive over my septic field?

What is the general guideline for TOO much weight???

DieselD · Aug 27, 2003

If it sinks, its too much weight
Danny

Docsknotinn · Aug 27, 2003

now that advice stinks /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Dave

TC18guy · Aug 27, 2003

I regularly mow with my TC18. With the turf tires it does not compress the ground much at all. I've tried to flatten mole holes and compact filled areas by driving over them, it only compresses about the top 1" of my soils. Your tile field should be down about 12", the only thing you should really have to watch for is heavy trucks, etc.

pruntyc · Aug 27, 2003

Mine weighs about 1600 without the bushog behind it, and I don't run over mine. I figure I can use my lawn tractor for that small part of what I mow. You know, why take a chance. It may not hurt, but it will cost a lot if it does. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

dmftoy1 · Aug 28, 2003

I know septic design varies from region to region, but when I bought this house, the guy who owned it had been mowing for 7 years with a Farmall H (I think it weighs more than an 8n). I figure my 2910 weighs quite a bit less than that H, so I'll just keep on using it to mow. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Just my .02

Regards,
Dave

chrisjbell · Aug 28, 2003

I've been told to keep off the septic tank and leach field completely. The tank can crack - someone posted a pretty interesting picture of a loader that had broken the tank and fallen in a while back. And the leach field gets compacted, reducing the ability to perc.

But I do mow my leach field a couple times a year. I just try to do it rarely.

Soundguy · Aug 28, 2003

While my septic tank is outside the pasture, and away from anything heavier than my riding lawnmower, the drain field is in the front pasture, and i regularly mow over it with my NH 1920 or my 8n.. the 1920 is 3300 plus about 500 for the mower. I've got cacl in the rears on the 1920.. so add a couple hundered too.

I've never had a problem yet.

Soundguy

8561 · Aug 28, 2003

I'll relay an experience for you to consider. I built a house about 6 years ago. Due to space limitations, I had an Eljen "In Drain" leach field installed. This system is sort of like a chambered one but is somewhat different. It has manufactured parts that are buried about 12 to 15 inches below ground. After we moved in, I ordered the loam to be delivered. When I got home from work, to my horror, the gravel pit had backed their 10 wheel dump trucks onto the leach bed, sat there and raised the boxes to dump the loam. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif Not only are we talking the weight of the back half of the truck, but the entire weight of the loam as they raised the box was on those rear wheels.

I decided to dig up the diverter box and ran a snake down each tube, It ran freely so I figured I would go with it. Assuming I couldn't make the situation any worse, I then used my father's old International TD6 bulldozer with a Drott Skid Shovel with a clamshell bucket to move and spread the loam, driving over the leachfield more times than I can count, with that bulldozer bucket full of dirt.

I lived there trouble free for 5 years and sold the property last year. As a part of the sale, the prospective buyer had a septic inspection done. Two inspectors were there for 4 hours hand digging up different sections of the field. Not a problem to be found. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I guess the point is that that although I'm no engineer, that system I had looked a lot more delicate than a standard pipe and stone bed. I think I can safely say that those dump trucks and certainly that shovel dozer weigh far more than most anything used by a majority of the readers on this site, and I got away with it. I can't speak for anyone else, and please don't come looking for me if you damage your field with your tractor, but I no longer worry about my leach field. I think they are tougher than you might think!

chrisjbell · Aug 28, 2003

but I no longer worry about my leach field. I think they are tougher than you might think 

That's good to hear. I do mow mine, so if one can handle the weight you're talking about it can certainly handle my little B7300... /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

frank_f15 · Aug 28, 2003

i would not worry about a tc18 being to heavy, i reguarally drive my b2400 over the tank and the field. i think u need to only worry about really heavy stuff.

MLB · Aug 28, 2003

( While my septic tank is outside the pasture, and away from anything heavier than my riding lawnmower, the drain field is in the front pasture, and i regularly mow over it with my NH 1920 or my 8n.. the 1920 is 3300 plus about 500 for the mower. I've got cacl in the rears on the 1920.. so add a couple hundered too.

I've never had a problem yet.

Soundguy )

Couple hundred! Must be some TINY tires!

zuiko · Sep 2, 2003

From what I have read the big concern about compaction on the leech field comes in the winter when the ground freezes. Of course then there isnt much reason to be driving over it.

tdenny · Sep 2, 2003

I specifically asked the septic guy when he installed mine if it would be a problem to drive my tractor (I didn't have it yet but it was in the plan /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif) over the drain field. He said not a problem at all. He highly recommended not using a large trac-hoe or dozer though.

slowrev · Sep 2, 2003

TD,
Of course the guy that put it in would say no problem. If you squash it he will make more money fixing it /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

EagleEye · Sep 2, 2003

Hey AndyM, for the record... I really like your picture of the 8n... One SWEET looking old tractor (had one myself and restored it - everything short of new rings). They are really nice old tractors. Wish I still had one but that just typifies the old adage of not knowing how good we had it until after we don't have it any more /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif.

AndyM · Sep 3, 2003

( Hey AndyM, for the record... I really like your picture of the 8n... One SWEET looking old tractor (had one myself and restored it - everything short of new rings). They are really nice old tractors. Wish I still had one but that just typifies the old adage of not knowing how good we had it until after we don't have it any more )

Thanks. I really love that tractor. I just ordered a NH TC18. I think it'll have some "modern conveniences" that the old N's don't have though (like 4WD). I also have a non-running 2N in need of full restoration that I hope to get to some time next year.

tdenny · Sep 3, 2003

slowrev,

I really hadn't thought of it that way but you might have a point there!!! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

slowrev · Sep 3, 2003

TD,
I would think that your most reliable input would be from homeowners that have had to pay to have a squashed septic system fixed. And what caused it. Personally I have to worry big time about if mine quits. Sometime after mine was installed a maybe 4-5 ft of fill was added over it. So I guess mine is crush proof, and if/when it quits draining I will have to install a new one. On the good side that would be an excuse to buy a backhoe attachment /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

tdenny · Sep 4, 2003

Slowrev,

I agree that your recommendation would provide the most sincere feedback. I was very serious in my inquiry to my septic guy as the area where my drain field exists still needs some clearing done. I firmly believe that he was giving me a truthful answer about the size of equipment that I can use in that area. I'll give my explanation why:

Due to new county regulations (the last 5 or 6 years) I had to have a non gravity type drain field installed with pipes, etc (same type as others have mentoned). Now this is ridiculuous as my septic designer (different company altogether) told me that my perk is as good as it gets using gravity by itself but the county will not let anyone install gravity type drain fields anymore. So even if I were to crush the existing pipes my drain field would function perfectly. My septic designer told me this and my septic installer knows that I am aware of this. So I have to assume (yes, I know what that means /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif) that he's not too concerned about getting to redo my site

I live in the Seattle area and as you probably already know it rains here alot (except now when I really wish it would). I've never had ANY mud on my property. The whole property consists of rocks from sand up through giant sized ones.

So the moral of the story is that I drive my tractor up there alot. I guess I'll learn my lesson the hard way. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif Take care.