Working around septic system

texastomtom · Aug 2, 2004

hmmm

is a 4000 lb tractor what you would call to heavy..

it is a compact,,, but 4000 lbs is 4000 lbs ?

i have a new septic system and leach lines etc.

i keep that area disked for now... am i doing the wrong thing driving over that area ?

no way a small mower would get through the dirt,, unless i plant it in bemuda grass or something....

MadReferee · Aug 2, 2004

ALmost my entire back yard is my septic system. Large Case backhoes, bulldozers, pickup trucks and my B2710 have driven over it during the last 25 years with NO problems.

The lines are about 10" underground. The top of the septic tank is only 6" below ground level and I drive my B2710 over it all the time.

This particular tank was designed for raised systems and according to the installer can be driven over, within reason (no full dump trucks), by almost anything. The tank lid is wedge shaped for maximum strength. I last had it pumped last summer and the pumper said it was in excellent shape.

Your mileage may vary.

MikeFromVA · Aug 5, 2004

I'm taking delivery of my new JD4110 on Saturday - I've just moved to a brnad new home with my first septic system. The drain field is 1/4 of an acre. I do have turf tires and was planning on using a brush cutter on the drain field and pasture next to it. I'm guessing that w/ FEL, MMM and rotary cutter, my tractor will be between 2500 and 3000 pounds. Is that too much for my drainfield? It's a fair distance from the house and I REALLY dont' want to hand mow it...

MadReferee · Aug 5, 2004

Your field is probably under 6"-12" of soil then a few inches of crushed gravel then plastic pipe. I would not worry about running over it as your 2500-3000 lbs is spread over 4 tires. There is no way your tractor could compact it enough to make any difference at all despite what some of the doomsday TBN'ers may say.

I would however, find out where the tank and d-box are and find out exactly how deep they are. If in doubt, call the person who installed it or the local building inspector (this information should be on file) and ask for the engineer's name who designed it and ask the person who should know the correct answer for your individual field design.

PineRidge · Aug 5, 2004

My New Holland is roughly 4000 pounds with the FEL and I drive over my septic and drain field on a regular basis without damage. I think most modern day septic systems can handle it without problems.

MicroPilot · Aug 6, 2004

I cut my grass the other night and after reading all the dire warnings here, all I could think of was my tractor plunging through the top of my septic tank and me sitting there all covered in....well, you know....However, it didn't happen.

Actually I accidently drove a CAT 953 track loader over the septic tank repeatedly with 3+ yards of dirt in the bucket while backfilling around my house! I then had to dig up the line from the house to the tank when it backed up, and found that somehow a rock and some mud had gotten into the pipe. The top of the tank was just fine though. According to the CAT site a 953 has an operating weight of 36720 lb!! Thats over 7 times as heavy as my tractor!!

DiskDoctr · Aug 9, 2004

Micropilot,

Just keep in mind that a track loader spreads that load out over the length and width of 2 tracks.

Case in point: On a track machine with 8' long and 18" wide tracks, that is 24 square feet, versus a tractor (1'x1' x 4 tires- probably much less in actuality) with only 4 square feet!

The CAT you mention at 36k lbs probably has tracks long enough to span the tank anyway (?)

Same reason they demonstrate a waterbed being supported on a bunch of plastic glasses turned upside down (I don't remember the exact materials used). The weight is spread out.

Yeah, figured you probably knew all this, but sometimes it helps put it into perspective...

-JC

MicroPilot · Aug 9, 2004

Yea, the CAT site did list ground pressure as one of the specs. I believe that is was something like 9.5 psi or 12.2 psi depending on the shoe on the track. I wonder what my tractors ground pressure is?

stephan · Aug 10, 2004

( .......
despite what some of the doomsday TBN'ers may say.
........ )

I have to say that we are not the only ones. Check out the following sites.
One
Two
Last

I won't labour the point but I think it is fairly clear not to drive on a leech field with anything. The last site suggested nothing heavier than a ride on mower but why would you risk it?

MadReferee · Aug 10, 2004

( The last site suggested nothing heavier than a ride on mower but why would you risk it? )

And the last site also makes this ridiculous statement:

 People and vehicles should stay off the area in winter time to prevent deep freezing. 

The part about "people should stay off in winter time" leads me to have second thoughts about the credibility of that site's information.