Thoughts on Ditch Clearing?

oosik · May 10, 2021

Ah - that's not your driveway - it's a county road. I think you are considering the two most important aspects.

- don't want your tractor hanging out there on the county road
- what will you do with the "spoils"

The way folks drive down the county roads around here - - I DO NOT want to linger with my tractor out there for any extended period of time.

I plow my mailbox area at night. Just so the traffic can see all my flashing lights and slow the H*LL down.

sandman2234 · May 11, 2021

One of my neighbors decided to work on the ditches and got lucky when he "stopped"! An 8" PVC water main is now uncovered and luckily not punctured!
David from jax

kenmbz · May 11, 2021

I use a shovel and rake and just do 20' on either side of my driveway. The other 600' I just weed wack down and leave for the town, who may show up this year, may not.
My culvert had hundreds of pounds of leaves. Into dump cart and into the woods it went.

Diggin It · May 11, 2021

There are no utilities there. 100% certain of that.

As stated, the spoils can be feathered out further down.

Traffic is very limited, maybe 10-15 cars on most days. Other than the occasional delivery or trash hauler, trucks are only present during planting or harvest. Sometimes several hours go by without a vehicle passing.

The whole point this is not to be IN the road, but along the edge of it.

Diggin It · May 11, 2021

The question remains about side stresses. Will using only the outermost 4 or 5 tines put unacceptable stresses on my small machine?

deezler · May 11, 2021

Why not just tilt your box blade and drive down the ditch? Pull until the box is full, leave it, come back perpendicular with the front loader to scoop it up and take it away.

Why are you at all worried about being in the road if hours pass between cars coming by? I'm confused.

workinonit · May 11, 2021

I doubt that you have one but I would clean it out with my Sidewinder trencher. You could probably rent one. You would have to be able to run the tractor tire in the ditch or with my smaller one you would straddle the ditch.

Rebeldad1 · May 11, 2021

Looks like any problems from rain and plugging wont affect you at all. it all drains away.
You need to talk to them direct if it really bothers you and being the ditch is county property you would need their approval and a permit to take on the project yourself.
Go see them in person.

i7win7 · May 11, 2021

Private drive, occasionally have to deal with mud slides

Made this to deal with leaf dams clogging ditch. 4x6 on ssqa plate, spring loaded tine on end. Sorta works (restores water flow) adding extra tines might improve it. Not best photo, sitting on homemade stand.