Novice Question-leveling a slope

[PiggRiver]

Found this site several weeks ago, what a terrific source of information . . . now the question. I have 6 acrea's of land in Virgina, mostly meadow on a slope of about 10-12 degree's and plan to level a small area (30x20) for a travel trailer (place to stay while we build our retirement home). I will also be building and maintaining several thousand feet of gravel road, mowing and general landscaping. I have a new Kubota L3830 GST/F with the LA723 FEL, a Bush Hog SBX720 box blade and Bush Hog 50-07 rear blade (plus a Bush Hog SQ720 Squealer and post hole digger). My question is can I cut a level spot with this set-up, without over stressing it? There is no urgency in completing this, so I can take it slow and work it in small bit's if it's possible.

If it's possible what would be the best method; using the box blade or rear blade. Sorry for the novice question and long post, but I'd rather not learn this the hard way when there is so much experience on this board. I have a little tractor experience but only on flat land and that was a looong time ago . . . I learn fast (flew Navy jets for 29 years, but some might think that makes me brain damaged). Thanks in advance for your help. Roger on the Pigg.

 

[bczoom]

Roger,

First, welcome to TBN.

I don't see any problem doing it with what you have.

Not exactly sure of your ground conditions but if you approach the hill sideways you could cut into the hill with the FEL (where you're only using one side of the bucket). Move that dirt to the low side. Once you establish a larger level area you can come in from any direction.

The box blade could/should also be able to help. Be careful on the hill if approaching sideways to avoid tipping (also keep all the implements low to the ground). The scarafire teeth can be used to loosen the ground.

Brian

 

[Bob_Skurka]

I recently did something similar. I used a box blade for most of the work. My goal was to change the slope so it was not a steep slope and just to turn it into a mild slope. I simply started at the top of the slope and drove downhill while dragging the box blade and then emptying the spoils at a lower point. I used the FEL to clean up some of the loose spoils. I smoothed the whole area out with a landscape rake before planting grass.

I would mark the corners and perimeter of the area you want to flatten out by spraying around it with spray paint. Then determine the high point, mid-point and low point. Drag dirt from the high point and drop it at the low point. If you really want the area LEVEL then you'll have to do some compacting of the spoils as they will settle. But your tractor and box blade and FEL can do the job without any undue stress on the machine.

 

[JerryG]

Be careful working on side slopes. You can get a wheel up in the air real quick and then it can go over. When working a job like the one you are contemplating, I usually start by tilting the rear blade to cut the topside of the road. After you get the top edge cut in then you can go at it with your box tilted to one side. Depending on the type of soil, you may need to wait until after a good rain puts some moisture in the ground. Again, be careful on slopes like this, when you start cutting in ditches and berms they will exaggerate the angle your on.

 

[btolle]

The trick is to get one small area level. Just big enough so that the whole tractor will fit on the level area.

Once you have that area as a starting point you can use the front end loader to level the area around the "starter" area.

I would start by going straight up the slope and dig out a small area with the FEL until you get it level and go from there. You could even backdrag the area with the FEL to level it.

Note that the starter area does not need to be at final grade. It is merely a level area to work from, you can cut it down later if it is too high.

Don't forget to leave just a little slope for drainage.

Trying to use either blade to level on a slope is a waste of time unless you have power top n tilt.

Bill Tolle

 

[PiggRiver]

I knew this was the right place to ask the question. Thanks everyone for your suggestions and advice.

JerryG, you touched on the issue that concerned me the most, rollover. The soil is firm, but not hard, there is a little clay 12-18" down and I'm sure a few buried rocks. I have not found any stumps, but there is the occassional surface rock, which I've marked (so I don't find them with the Bush Hog). There is a small gulley that runs across the property, but I plan to place a culvert pipe and make a road to allow access to the lower third of the property. I hope its not a bad sign that my wife took out a larger insurance policy on me.

Bob Skurka and Btolle, I like your idea of keeping the tractor oriented up/down slope and make a more level spot to work from. I had the dealer install a toothbar, so I'll try that and the box blade first.

I'll keep you posted (with pics) on the progress. Thanks again everyone. Roger on the Pigg.

 

[Egon]

Just use the bucket and work straight down the fall line. Cut/fill

When you think you are close to size and level check with instuments and then use the other equipment to polish it all off.

If you do not have instruments a glass of beer that has a ring around it will do well to sight over as long as you stay down slope. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Egon

 

[DmansPadge]

First of all... Welcome to TBN. And you're right.. this is a great resource.

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I have 6 acrea's of land in Virgina, mostly meadow on a slope of about 10-12 degree's and plan to level a small area (30x20) for a travel traiMy question is can I cut a level spot with this set-up, without over stressing it?)</font>

The L3830 will handle this with no trouble. Sounds like you already got some good info from the others. Don't hesistate to ask any questions. There are over 20,000 members to TBN and a whole lot of knowledge.

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( flew Navy jets for 29 years, but some might think that makes me brain damaged)</font>

Sounds like the kind of man whose hand I like to shake. Thank you for serving the greatest country ever.

 

[catskillsman]

gt a backhoe attachment!

 

[copperhead1967]

Leveling an area like that will create a pile of dirt. BUT it will be fun.
The last post about the Backhoe is actuallly pretty good, because once you start making your roads your going to want to put in drainage pipes on the high side of them.
You'll also find it easier to move hard packed clay and rock with the FEL after you loosen it up with the back hoe. I just put in a swimming pool, had to dig about 18" on the high side. I dug down to about 16" inches with the BH and used the FEL to move all the soil out. then I used the FEL and 5 FT rake to smooth everything out.
With a new home in the works I'm sure you'll have lots of stuff to do after the home is built also. Landscaping and such.
Backhoes can be pricey but are well worth the money.
Just remember slow and low until you get the hang of your new toy. After that the tractor will remind you to take it easy!

Thanks for all your years of service in the Navy. I was out there for 6 of them.

 

[Mike_C]

Yes, be careful about rollover. I learned the hard way and rolled mine. I had a bucket full of dirt about as high as the hood, and that combined with the backhoe on my bx-22 raised the center of gravity enough that when I hit a small bump of dirt while driving sideways on a small incline and , here-we-go! roll-over! The key issue is wear your seat belt any time you are on uneven or unlevel ground.

Now, as far as leveling a slope, i just leveled a 20x20 area for a swimming pool for a friend of mine. The dirt was dry hard clay, and the FEL would not cut into it even with a toothbar. I ended up using the backhoe to loosen up the dirt in a bunch of small semi-circles, then scooping it up with the FEL to make the pile. It took an entire day, but looking back that was probably not that long.

 

[btolle]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( The key issue is wear your seat belt any time you are on uneven or unlevel ground.
)</font>

I am going to go a little further and ask that you wear your seat belt ALL of the time, not just when you on unlevel ground.

First of all, it is more likely to be be habitual if you wear it all the time. If you only wear it part time you may forget it the one time you really need it. You can be crushed to death by the roll bar if you fall off the seat.

Secondly, unlevel ground is not the only place you can roll a tractor. I have seen them turned over (not necessarily rolled) by hitting a soft spot with one wheel while traveling on level ground.

Please, wear the seat belt all of the time!

Bill Tolle

 

[PiggRiver]

Mike C and btolle, good advice on the seat belt (we learned as young pilots to always "strap-it-on, before you turned-it-on" sounds like good advice for a tractor).

Catskillsman and cooperhead1967, a BH will be the next major expense . . . but need to put a few $ away first (these tractor thingies are expensive). I'll "get advice" on which would be the best setup for a BH (Kubota or second party) as I get closer to a purchase. Other than this first leveling job the actual house will not be started until later next year (so no serious foundation work yet).

Egon, I love the "beer level" . . . but it's really hard to keep beer, in its liquid form, anywhere near an ex-pilot . . . keeps disappearing (I tell the wife the glass has a hole, but I don't think see believes me anymore).

To all you folks, it was an honor to serve. I got to be a "big kid" for a long time; gave me an airplane, gas and paid me . . .just doesn't get any better than that (well maybe the long family separations and getting shot at were not that much fun . . . but then "work" is a four letter word).

Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experiences with me, Roger on the Pigg.

 

[Mike_C]

btolle,
Yes, I agree, wearing the seat belt all the time would be best. I do wear mine _almost_ all the time. The only time I don't is on
trash night when I load the trash cans into the FEL and drive them down to the road. It's straight and level, plus I have to jump off to unload the cans. But other than that I wear it. Even cutting grass I wear the seat belt.

 

[LBrown59]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( btolle,
Yes, I agree, wearing the seat belt all the time would be best. I do wear mine _almost_ all the time. The only time I don't is on
trash night when I load the trash cans into the FEL and drive them down to the road. It's straight and level, plus I have to jump off to unload the cans. But other than that I wear it. Even cutting grass I wear the seat belt. )</font>

============
I just throw the trash bags in the FEL bucket and haul then down to the road and dump the fel when I get there .
Don't have to get off the tractor that way.
Always wear the seat belt even doing this.