Need to move lots and lots of dirt - shortcuts?

[Egon]

100 yards sounds like a lot but schedule some time and one little bucket full at a time will make it move almost like magic.

Give you time to make plans, solve the problems of the world and spend some free mind time.

 

[Renze]

I try to use the 5 yard dumper as much as possible. I have 2 tractors and this dumpwagon available anyways, and hauling the dumpwagon every 5 or 6 buckets makes the work a lot less tedious. just to reset the mind.
Then it saves wear and tear on the tractor, operators manuals mention a static load rating for a front axle, and a dynamic load rating for front loader use, which is generally 2.5 times the static load rating. The dynamic load rating is restricted to working speeds under 8 or 10 km/h.
Tractors arent designed to transport goods on the frontloader.

A decent dumpwagon and an extra tractor make the job quicker. A flat trailer that has to be put on and off, and offloaded with the frontloader also, doesnt help much.

 

[scott_vt]

I have a dump truck and I'm as lazy as they come, so any time I can do it easier, I will. If this was my project, I'd just use the front loader and not even deal with the dump truck.

Eddie

Eddie,
I dont think anyone would ever call you lazy !

 

[turbo36]

A quick calculation is due here. Assuming you have a 1/2 yard bucket you will make 200 trips. 200 trips x 500' = 100,000 travel feet, if you can maintain 8 mph (42,240' per hour) the total travel time only is around 2 1/2 hours. The time to fill and dump the bucket is the same whether you use a dump truck or trailer so unless you get something with a bigger bucket or is faster I don't think you can save much time.

 

[EddieWalker]

Another consideration is what happens to the piles if you use a dump truck. My truck holds 6 yards. After awhile, I get some pretty good sized hills to deal with. Fortuanatley I have a dozer to do this, but if I had to spread and smooth them out with my FEL, it would be quite a project in itself.

For such a short move, every load can be put exactly where you want it and it's done. No need to come back later to work it into the shape it needs to be.

Eddie

 

[schmism]

For such a short move, every load can be put exactly where you want it and it's done. No need to come back later to work it into the shape it needs to be.

Eddie

really this is why they invented pan scrapers.... short moves, depoited in control right were you need it.... compacted as you go....

 

[EddieWalker]

Yes, your right, but there is the question of obtaining one. If this was just a theoretical discussion, than I'd say get a pan scraper or a wheel loader and a dump truck.

There are lots of ways to move the dirt real fast if you had the equipment on hand, but with what he has, there are only a few ways. Renting bigger and better equipment is always an option, but for the expense, time to pick it up and then return it, he could have most if not all of it done with what he has.

The biggest variable here is how accurate is he on how much dirt he has. Most people are way off on estimating how much dirt they have to move. The question is is he above or below a hundred yards?

Eddie

 

[Dozernut]

You could use a three point scoop on the back of your tractor. Unless I am mistaken, a 30" scoop, heaped, would carry a little over 1/3 of a yard of dirt. this would speed up the process. A new 30" scoop will run a little over $300 (our local farm store price) but you could probably find a used one cheaper. Just be sure to fill the scoop first for ballast for the loader bucket.

 

[RobertN]

I also have an skid steer with a 60" bucket on it (slightly deeper though).

you'll do it quiker with the skidsteer. As much as I like my CUT, a skidsteer can move a lot of material really fast. If you can run both, then you'd have this whipped in no time.

 

[vallyfarm]

I still think a dump wagon is the way to go. I don't think driving a tractor with a full load on the front and a backhoe on the back at 8mph is anything but begging for something to break. Assuming that you don't live in a sand pit, that hoe will be used ALOT mor than you think...ask me how I know! The other way is to ram that loader into the ground and try to not break or twist the loader frame, Either way, backhoe into a dump wagon, or FEL into a wagon removes ALOT of stress from bouncing around with a machine at or near max. load. Skidsteer would also be better...not your equipment taking the wupin'. No mater what you do, take your time and go easy on your equipment. Mike