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Post by firstwd on Mar 26, 2019 21:21:00 GMT -5
So..... I have a skidsteer getting delivered Friday after work so I can do a little dirt work. I'm having gravel put between my barn and garage to have a parking pad for the camper, boat, daughter's truck, my extra truck and I need it level before the rock gets dropped.
I've never ran one.
The rental shop guys seem to think I will figure it out pretty quick. I'm hoping I don't end up needing a new garage. At least not right now.
Any wisdom you guys care to share with a complete rookie?
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Post by esshup on Mar 26, 2019 21:33:03 GMT -5
Slower is better. Don't get close to anything you value. Wear earplugs or muffs. Pay attention to the level of the bucket, you can dig a hole where you didn't want a hole pretty quick. Have diesel available, some are pretty thirsty.
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Post by beermaker on Mar 27, 2019 3:10:41 GMT -5
Practice in a wide-open area first. Any sharp turn will rut gravel or soil. Start with the bucket boom all of the way down as if you were parking it. Go very slow and tilt the front of the bucket down in very short pulses. As essup said, you can dig a wrong hole very quickly. If you are lucky, the bucket will have a tooth bar on it.
Don't obsess over getting the pad perfect. Not likely to happen. The gravel will fill and level the area. You'll make mistakes and get aggravated. I've been operating skid loaders for over 25 years and consider myself very skilled. But, the real professionals that operate them for a living make me look foolish most of the time.
Also, have fun!
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Post by tomthreetoes on Mar 27, 2019 7:35:44 GMT -5
Be aware of what's behind you at all times. Rear visibility is pretty limited. I've ran one a bit and backing over someone or something was always the greatest fear of mine. Be sure to wear your seat belt at ALL times and keep the bucket low. They're kinda fun once you get some time on one.
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Skidsteer
Mar 27, 2019 8:13:11 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by firstwd on Mar 27, 2019 8:13:11 GMT -5
Thank you gentlemen.
Digging down isn't necessarily. The area beside the barn is level, but the grade beside the garage slopes up about 2/3 of the length of the garage.
My shop/barn and garage are basically the ends of a capital L and I'm digging out/laying rock at the corner and to both buildings. So I'll be going beside the garage with the shop behind me the whole time. Sounds like position awareness is very important.
The rental guy says a professional could do it in 2 hours, so I will be fine having it for the weekend. Very encouraging.
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Post by tomthreetoes on Mar 27, 2019 9:28:25 GMT -5
In the future if you should ever need to rent another skid steer, the tracked ones are a lot easier to grade with and not nearly as jerky. Easier on your back too. I'm sure the rental is higher but worth it IMO.
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Post by esshup on Mar 27, 2019 9:40:08 GMT -5
If you've done any work with a tractor and FEL, you should have the bucket part of the equation down. All it will take is time learning the controls and steering.
It seems they are calling for rain this weekend. I hope that it has an enclosed cab and the windshield wiper works.....
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Post by beermaker on Mar 27, 2019 10:58:49 GMT -5
In the future if you should ever need to rent another skid steer, the tracked ones are a lot easier to grade with and not nearly as jerky. Easier on your back too. I'm sure the rental is higher but worth it IMO. Every word of this statement is 100% accurate. |
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Post by treetop on Mar 27, 2019 17:18:11 GMT -5
I’d still dig down and put some 2s in small stone will sink in soft ground fast with any kind of weight on it
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Post by steiny on Mar 27, 2019 18:12:18 GMT -5
Slower is better. Don't get close to anything you value. Wear earplugs or muffs. Pay attention to the level of the bucket, you can dig a hole where you didn't want a hole pretty quick. Have diesel available, some are pretty thirsty. Good advice here. Also, the advice about using a tracked machine vs tires is spot on. Plan on doing the stuff real close to your buildings by hand / shovel & rake, so you don't risk damaging a structure. |
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Post by saltydog on Mar 28, 2019 4:58:49 GMT -5
firstwd.... If its not to late in your planning stages , you might want to consider looking at a gravel fabric to put down before the rock and or gravel down. We used it on my sons drive to the barn, No ruts and have not had too add gravel in 5 yrs from when we put it in. Check it out at WWW.usfabrics.com |
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Post by esshup on Mar 28, 2019 11:23:15 GMT -5
firstwd.... If its not to late in your planning stages , you might want to consider looking at a gravel fabric to put down before the rock and or gravel down. We used it on my sons drive to the barn, No ruts and have not had too add gravel in 5 yrs from when we put it in. Check it out at WWW.usfabrics.comThat's a great idea, and it really does work well. Whitecap Supply has the fabric too. |
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Post by firstwd on Mar 28, 2019 20:58:36 GMT -5
firstwd.... If its not to late in your planning stages , you might want to consider looking at a gravel fabric to put down before the rock and or gravel down. We used it on my sons drive to the barn, No ruts and have not had too add gravel in 5 yrs from when we put it in. Check it out at WWW.usfabrics.comThat website is not for a novice. My long term plan is to tear down the garage, form and fill this pad level with the garage floor, and building a 50 x 30 shop. I'm guessing that fabric won't be an issue with those plans? |
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Skidsteer
Mar 29, 2019 18:32:00 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by firstwd on Mar 29, 2019 18:32:00 GMT -5
Looks like it will be another week before I see if I can not break things with the tonka toy. The rental place canceled on me because of the rain forecast to hit tonight and tomorrow. They said if it skips up they will bring it in the morning bit didn't want to waste my mo eye or have me destroy my yard.
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Skidsteer
Mar 29, 2019 18:33:28 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by budd on Mar 29, 2019 18:33:28 GMT -5
If you can run a zero turn mower you’ll catch on quickly. Using the bucket properly is a different story...lol
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Skidsteer
Mar 29, 2019 20:46:57 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by whitetaildave24 on Mar 29, 2019 20:46:57 GMT -5
firstwd, did you compare your time and rental price to someone coming in and doing it. I just ask because I’ve been considering the same. At a minimum I need my barn floor dug out and leveled and possibly the ground surrounding it worked a little as well. I know my barn floor would take someone that knows what they’re doing an hour or two to get finished, but I know it’d take me a lot longer.
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Post by firstwd on Mar 30, 2019 13:52:23 GMT -5
firstwd, did you compare your time and rental price to someone coming in and doing it. I just ask because I’ve been considering the same. At a minimum I need my barn floor dug out and leveled and possibly the ground surrounding it worked a little as well. I know my barn floor would take someone that knows what they’re doing an hour or two to get finished, but I know it’d take me a lot longer. I've looked into it a bit. Rental is less than $250 from Friday at 5p until Monday at 7a. Getting someone here is the issue because it's such a small job and everybody having full schedules. |
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Post by firstwd on Mar 30, 2019 13:54:11 GMT -5
If you need help just let me know..I've ran one a time or two 😉 812-593-5806 I actually thought about that when I passed you at work the other evening. I will definitely call if the confidence in my abilities is low. |
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Post by firstwd on Apr 19, 2019 20:42:56 GMT -5
So I played on the tonka toy before the rain hit last night. Dirt is removed, but no where near to level. My low spots are filled, but no where near level. Rock is placed but no where near level.
Anybody see a pattern here?
I left some decent ruts in the dirt while laying the rock. Way too soft really fast to fix it with something that heavy. I have a buddy with a small kiote tractor I'm hoping he has a blade and a tiller for. That will take care of the rock and the dirt piles.
It really wasn't that tough to get the feel of. I found a row of blocks straight off the corner of the garage. Who knows what used to be there. I didn't get into the old outhouse, bonus. And I only scraped the barn once. All in all a good experience.
My yard is completely messed up and my driveway is covered in mud, but it will be better. I won't hesitate to run one the next time at the farm.
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Post by johnc911 on Apr 20, 2019 6:52:18 GMT -5
So I played on the tonka toy before the rain hit last night. Dirt is removed, but no where near to level. My low spots are filled, but no where near level. Rock is placed but no where near level. Anybody see a pattern here? I left some decent ruts in the dirt while laying the rock. Way too soft really fast to fix it with something that heavy. I have a buddy with a small kiote tractor I'm hoping he has a blade and a tiller for. That will take care of the rock and the dirt piles. It really wasn't that tough to get the feel of. I found a row of blocks straight off the corner of the garage. Who knows what used to be there. I didn't get into the old outhouse, bonus. And I only scraped the barn once. All in all a good experience. My yard is completely messed up and my driveway is covered in mud, but it will be better. I won't hesitate to run one the next time at the farm. We bought a bobcat for our farm a few years ago and honestly i dont know how we worked with out it. There really isnt a day of work on the farm that goes by without us using it for something. |
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