Spreading dirt / grading help

[kwolfe]

I having a sand mound spetic system for my house. The back side of the mound has a healthy 20-25 degree or so slope to it that I am going to fill and grade to be mowable. I found a excavation guy who is going to deliver about 45 tons / 30 yards (3 tandem loads) on tomorrow morning ($120 a load and the stuff looks good). The question is, would it be easier to have him dump it on the backside of the mound and work it out from there, or have him dump it close to the mound (maybe 30ft away) and spread it by the bucket load myself with the BB?

Has anyone tried the same thing? Thanks for the help in advance.

 

[rutwad]

I say the closer he dumps it, the better.

 

[HTWT]

I do not know where you live but I think $12.00/Yd. is Pricy(sp) for sand. I can get a semi load (20-22Yd.) for $6-7/Yd. where I live in Michigan. If it is a short hall and if he is cleaning up from a jog it should be less than $12.

 

[HTWT]

If you can be there when it is delivered would be best. Have the first load dumped as close as possible and work on taking care of the load while he gets the next load. You will have an idea where you want the next load form what you did with the first load.

 

[kwolfe]

HTWT - The guy is delivering topsoil. I am trying the lessen the grade on the backside of the mound. I thought it was a pretty good price for topsoil.

rutwad - so you think that it would be better to have it dump it where it should go and then knock it down from there.

Oh yeah, I am using a bx1500. Attached is a very quick scetch of what I am trying to do. Green is the existing slope. Brown is what I am trying to get at. Roughly! This shot would be looking at the mound lengthwise.

 

[HTWT]

Kwolfe,

That is a good price for TS I was thinking sand when I said $6/Yd. TS prices vary greatly, how much junk (roots, sticks, or other stuff) in it. The cleaner the more expensive.

 

[kwolfe]

I saw it yesterday. It looks good. No roots or large rocks at all. He even told me that hhe would avoid the stuff with more clay in it. It might have a few smaller (baseball size) rocks in it, but not that I could see.

So what do you think. Dump it and try to knock down a hump, or put it close and move and spread it with the FEL?

 

[flusher]

I having a sand mound spetic system for my house. The back side of the mound has a healthy 20-25 degree or so slope to it that I am going to fill and grade to be mowable. I found a excavation guy who is going to deliver about 45 tons / 30 yards (3 tandem loads) on tomorrow morning ($120 a load and the stuff looks good). The question is, would it be easier to have him dump it on the backside of the mound and work it out from there, or have him dump it close to the mound (maybe 30ft away) and spread it by the bucket load myself with the BB?

Has anyone tried the same thing? Thanks for the help in advance.

Don't know what kind of tractor/FEL you have, but I'd have the driver dump the load about 30 feet from the septic mound and then move the soil to the mound. Safer that way. I have a Kubota B7510HST with an LA302 FEL (4-ft bucket) and 4WD. I would not drive that narrow track Bota on a pile of loose soil. I nearly tipped the tractor just scooping dirt from a pile when the front tire dropped down into a 6" tire rut. My advise: be careful.

 

[HomeBrew2]

If it were me, I think I'd have him dump one load in the middle and one load near each end, leaving manuver room in between each.

 

[Egon]

Will the topsoil effect the intended operation of the mound. My knowledge is limited to knowing mounds do not like compaction.

 

[kwolfe]

Will the topsoil effect the intended operation of the mound. My knowledge is limited to knowing mounds do not like compaction.

No. Mounds around here (Central PA) are the standard. As long as you don't plant trees, drive HEAVY Equipment on it or build anything on it, they are fine. I only want to take some slope out. Had a neighbor who filled in around his to make his whole yard level, he now has to pump his tank out every year becasue the sand mound cannot drain (ground around it hold too much water).

 

[tlbuser]

The topsoil per se, won't have an effect on the operation. BUT, mound systems are designed to be able to return to a "natural state". Any compaction on a mound system is very undesirable. If you insist on mowing one, it would be best to use your push / walk behind (20ish " cut) or a weedeater. Mound systems have a finite life span and changing them from their original design will help to shorten that.

 

[kwolfe]

The topsoil per se, won't have an effect on the operation. BUT, mound systems are designed to be able to return to a "natural state". Any compaction on a mound system is very undesirable. If you insist on mowing one, it would be best to use your push / walk behind (20ish " cut) or a weedeater. Mound systems have a finite life span and changing them from their original design will help to shorten that.

I know what you mean. I hat the thing. If it were up to me, I would rather have a holding tank and pay to pump it once a year. I mow it with my BX and if it ever goes bad, I will start to pay the pump guy. The mound ran me about $10k. I would say that could pay for quite a few poop pumps.

 

[tlbuser]

The mound ran me about $10k. I would say that could pay for quite a few poop pumps.

Just the mound was 10K or did that include two tanks with alarms plus the piping and installs?

 

[kwolfe]

You are probably right. That was the whole deal. But even if it was 5K, I could have my tanks punped for more than 10 years. That's worth it not to have the heavy equipment on the yard.

 

[kwolfe]

Just as an update. Spread about 30 of the 45 tons this weekend with the BX1500. That little thing is a mule. I am glad I did not have them dump it on the end site. I would hav had a much harder time grading down the mound. Took a lot of the slope out of the backside. Now I don't pucker when driving on it.

 

[LBrown59]

Just as an update. Spread about 30 of the 45 tons this weekend with the BX1500. That little thing is a mule. I am glad I did not have them dump it on the end site. I would hav had a much harder time grading down the mound. Took a lot of the slope out of the backside. Now I don't pucker when driving on it.

the stolen one?

How did you find that out.
How long did you own it before you found it out.?

 

[LBrown59]

Kwolfe,

That is a good price for TS I was thinking sand when I said $6/Yd. TS prices vary greatly, how much junk (roots, sticks, or other stuff) in it. The cleaner the more expensive.

I got a better price 30 tons of top quality for nothing and delivered free.