newbie question for trenching

[Gamemaster]

I have a brush-cut trail around my property but the adjoining field on one side supplies water run-off that flows across a long section of it, keeping it muddy/soft. What would be the proper method/attachement to use to make a trench alongside the trail to channel the rain run-off down the hill instead of across the trail? It not enough water for back-hoe work but a trench deep enough to let Mother Nature do the rest.

 

[3RRL]

If you've got a box blade you can tilt it severely with one ripper extended on the "downside" and cut a gutter along the side of the trail.
If the ground if soft enough, I've actually driven my Blazer on the wet side (edge of trail) and the tire rut was deep enough to act as a gutter to handle the run-off.

 

[Gamemaster]

Thanks for the input. Only have the FEL and brush-hog. Money is on the tight-side since Xmas depleted my gold reserves and I figured I would need to buy another attachement to conquer this problem. The area is wooded on both sides of the trail, I should have mentioned that. Tree roots could pose a problem and should be factored into the issue. Using the truck , well, I think the body shop would love me for that, but the ground isn't that soft. My family uses the trail for nature walks. I am just trying to dry it up.

 

[5103Owner]

I've made a drainage ditch coming out of my pond using my rear blade with tilt, you may have to adjust the 3pt tilt to make to steep enogh,then after the ditch you can also use it for snow removal and driveway maintanance.

 

[JerryG]

There are several ways that you can go about putting in a ditch. You can tilt and angle a rear blade, tilt a box blade with the three point or if it is only a short distance you could use the front loader to scoop out where you want the ditch if you have enough room to backup.

 

[3RRL]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( The area is wooded on both sides of the trail, I should have mentioned that. Tree roots could pose a problem and should be factored into the issue. Using the truck , well, I think the body shop would love me for that, but the ground isn't that soft.)</font>

Gamemaster,
Sorry about the truck idea, didn't realize your trail was so wooded. Here's a picture of what I was talking about using the Blazer. Mine is an old one too, though. No trees...

Anyway, use the boxblade and tilt the heck out of it and scrape in that gutter. The roots should get cut too if they are not too big. Besides, you don't have to go too deep to divert seepage runoff. It'll follow the path of least resistance.

 

[cisco]

OK guys, the man said he had a FEL, and a brush cutter. So, though a used box blade isn't costly, and is the implement many of us would use - that's not germane.
It seems the tires on 1 side of your tractor (after a particularly rainy day so such will sink maximally into the muck along your road - if you don't get stuck) would be the easiest. Then, with the rut in place, you could slip those tires into the same rut, tilting your tractor and letting the FEL (now in the full down position) carve out a progressively deeper rut as you traverse that path, with a progressively tilting tractor, on however many occasions required.
Back up plan is REALLY time intensive, if you've a long path, and that's to use the FEL to dig out a trench along your path/road. Such assumes you can fit your tractor sideways across the path/road, with some room to manuver.
Whatever, "seat time" on a tractor and along a pretty country path/road is, to me, prime time.

 

[JustGary]

<font color="blue"> "using the Blazer" </font>

... Brings new life to the term "blazering a trail"... tee hee.

Anyway, Cisco points out that we're only working with a FEL and mower, but I think that a rental place will let a blade go for the day for not too much.

As an alternative, get some flat rocks and use the FEL to tote them to the site and plunk them on the ground as stepping stones.

- Just Gary

 

[3RRL]

Just Gary,
You like that Blazer stuff, huh? Well, as was said before, if the ground is not soft enough for the truck to sink in then a CUT won't make much deeper rut. And if it did, that's all you'd have to do...there's your gutter.

But renting a boxblade is a great suggestion for this chore. Buying one is even better, if you can swing it. Maybe lay off the Coors and the Pall Malls for a month and you got it. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[rambler]

Roots are going to be an issue with any ideas. Depends on how bad the trees really are.

Another tool you don't have, but would be perfect for this, is a molboard plow. In additon to the furrow it creates, it throws the dirt up into a ridge, which could raise your path & make it a bit higher than the surrounding ground.

A regular back-blade, pivoted & angled, would also cut some dirt up & move it over - either out of the way, or up onto the path to make it higher, in additon to the bit of ditch on the side.

Seems a box blade would just pull the dirt along, not form up a ditch as one would want?

--->Paul