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Post by mstr2175 on Nov 10, 2020 17:18:49 GMT -5
Lately I have been thinking about getting a path constructed to the bottom of my property. I live in the hills of Morgan/Monroe counties and have a steep incline behind the house. Making the trek is okay for now but pulling the deer out last year was no easy task. I plan on living here for a long time and know as I get older, it won’t be enjoyable making that hike on a regular basis. I think the elevation change from my house to the bottom is around 130~ feet and very steep the last 40 feet or so. Any idea what it would cost to get an access road down there? It doesn’t need to be suitable for a large vehicle, more so for an atv. Tossing the idea of contacting a logging company to see if I can work out a deal or just renting the equipment and hiring a friend on the side to operate and construct it with me. This is completely out of my realm and don’t want to be taken advantage of from a logging company if I go that route. Has anyone ever had an access road built like this? Thanks
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Post by lawrencecountyhunter on Nov 11, 2020 7:37:15 GMT -5
Is it steep enough that you'd have to cut into the hillside? Or could you go straight up and down?
I cut roughly a mile of trails through my place this past spring with a pair of shears, electric chainsaw, and riding mower. About half of that is wide enough for a pickup, the rest just lawnmower width. I didn't have any hills too steep for a 4x4 truck to climb though.
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Post by greghopper on Nov 11, 2020 7:53:27 GMT -5
I wouldn’t go straight up and down that will make erosion most likely... make some turns if possible
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Post by mstr2175 on Nov 11, 2020 8:09:44 GMT -5
Yeah it’s too steep to go up and down. Would have to move a lot of earth which is why I can’t even fathom the cost of something like that. I’m guessing anywhere from $3k-$20k lol. I can operate the equipment myself but I don’t have the skills nor the knowledge to build a trail like that. It could just be an unreasonable pipe dream but my property has so much potential. I just can’t get any heavy operating equipment down the hill right now. There’s a lot of homes around here that have driveways cut into the hillside thats just as steep so it’s definitely possible. But is it worth it?
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Post by Deleted on Nov 11, 2020 8:21:41 GMT -5
You can buy a good 12v winch and use a tree at the top. You can rent a large bobcat skid steer (s650 or S850) and teeth bucket or a good size loader. That will knock over most trees under 12". That cost is around $300 for a day rent. If bigger trees you can get by with a large excavator to dig up the tree stump. Cost around $450. It's a little work digging around the tree stub. Of course cut the tree down 1st. It pays having a good operator. Have 6-8 tons of dirt 1st near by. After clearing the path use the bobcat skid steer to push dirt down the hill to fill in stump holes and or anything else. Plant a cover crop to minimize erosion.
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Post by firstwd on Nov 11, 2020 8:49:59 GMT -5
Were you thinking logging company just because of their experience in such matters OR are you actually thinking about selling some trees?
If you are thinking about selling some trees then you can have the access road included in the contract. It will lessen the amount you will get for the trees but the road will be done and usable with minimal effort and expense on your part.
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Post by mstr2175 on Nov 11, 2020 9:44:02 GMT -5
You can buy a good 12v winch and use a tree at the top. You can rent a large bobcat skid steer (s650 or S850) and teeth bucket or a good size loader. That will knock over most trees under 12". That cost is around $300 for a day rent. If bigger trees you can get by with a large excavator to dig up the tree stump. Cost around $450. It's a little work digging around the tree stub. Of course cut the tree down 1st. It pays having a good operator. Have 6-8 tons of dirt 1st near by. After clearing the path use the bobcat skid steer to push dirt down the hill to fill in stump holes and or anything else. Plant a cover crop to minimize erosion. So I guess the question there is, what’s the cost of a good operator? I’ll need to call around
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Post by stevein on Nov 11, 2020 9:45:44 GMT -5
Also look into insurance for the operator you hire or even a friend helping you out. Cutting in at an angle to the slope things could go bad real quick. Is there stone under the topsoil that would cause problems?
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Post by mstr2175 on Nov 11, 2020 9:46:07 GMT -5
Were you thinking logging company just because of their experience in such matters OR are you actually thinking about selling some trees? If you are thinking about selling some trees then you can have the access road included in the contract. It will lessen the amount you will get for the trees but the road will be done and usable with minimal effort and expense on your part. Mainly because of their experience, I’m hesitant to sell trees already. I’ve only been a hardwood landowner for under 2 years so it seems extreme to me
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Post by Russ Koon on Nov 11, 2020 12:26:24 GMT -5
Most economical solution that comes to my frugal old mind is winch attached to whatever you already have (or would have the most other uses for) in the way of a tractor or well-used 4x4 pickup or ATV/UTV. If there would be a potential straight shot for the pull, so a cart could be lowered and retrieved by winch, even with a small addition of a modest ramp at the bottom to begin the steep ascent. Probably could do it that way for under a grand if you already own the vehicle that would carry the winch to the top of the hillside. Might need a cable extension or something like a dyneema cable that as I understand it, take less room on a spool so can extend normal reach.
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Post by featherduster on Nov 11, 2020 13:31:28 GMT -5
Save yourself money and get an electric winch and a lot of rope. If your planning on doing all this labor and spending quite a bit of $$ just to get a deer up a hill I don't see it. Don't forget once you have created a road you will have "constant maintenance" and more $$ spent just for pulling a deer up a hill. You can always use a electric winch for other things.
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Post by mstr2175 on Nov 11, 2020 14:16:39 GMT -5
That may be an alternative for now but I’m thinking as I get older and don’t want to climb it any more. Also, the added benefit of getting a utility vehicle down there to do work like making trails, clear cuts and getting tree stands up and down. Just all around land maintenance.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 11, 2020 14:48:27 GMT -5
You can buy a good 12v winch and use a tree at the top. You can rent a large bobcat skid steer (s650 or S850) and teeth bucket or a good size loader. That will knock over most trees under 12". That cost is around $300 for a day rent. If bigger trees you can get by with a large excavator to dig up the tree stump. Cost around $450. It's a little work digging around the tree stub. Of course cut the tree down 1st. It pays having a good operator. Have 6-8 tons of dirt 1st near by. After clearing the path use the bobcat skid steer to push dirt down the hill to fill in stump holes and or anything else. Plant a cover crop to minimize erosion. So I guess the question there is, what’s the cost of a good operator? I’ll need to call around Find a local construction contractor and asked about his employees that are best. He might even let you rent his equipment. I paid my son and friend $25 an hour plus lunch etc. That's what I did. I used Holmes construction equipment that I rented and my son and friend both work for Holmes and are great operator. They will cut down about 6 inches and put a good 4 inch base of crashed concrete. Crashed concrete is the best for base per the dollar. Crashed blacktop is even cheaper. My sons ordered the concrete that I got at cost. One 8 ton concrete truck poured cost me $4000 for a 24' x 40' ft x 4". $3300 for the concrete and $700 per the labor. If I hired someone it would have been around $10k-12K. Two day project Renting both the loader and escalator is around $700, Labor for two operator is $400 You order the concrete (8 tons). I can ask my son the best mix . Cost is $3300, with labor around $700. Need 4 people minimum. So around $1100-$1200 to clear and dig down 6 inches. Around $300 to $400 for 20 tons of crashed blacktop or concrete Buying 2x4's for forms and 2 x2 for stacks ($100-200) Concrete with labor $4,000 to 5000. If you can keep it to one truck you cut the cost down a lot. You will need dry mix with fiber. May need 5 or 6 to work the concrete. Have water around so they can wet the concrete at times. The costs are from my barn pour last year. PS: pour all the 8 tons out. There is a cost if they have to return concrete back. Have a clean out spot.
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Post by stevein on Nov 11, 2020 14:59:01 GMT -5
I understand your love of the land your home property and all. Probably the best thing to do is get some estimates on the cost of the road and normal maintenance. Check on DIY too. Have a lumber company give you a quote too. In the end you can decide if the road is worth it or maybe be better off looking for a new property that is not so challenging. I hunted a place in Tennessee that had some challenging ATV trails. Some of the areas had evidence of Dynamite use through the rocky areas so it can be done.
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Post by beermaker on Nov 11, 2020 16:59:38 GMT -5
I'd consult someone that operates a high lift or dozer for a living. I can run almost any piece of equipment good enough to get by, but the guys that do it every day make me look downright foolish.
I'm guessing that a skilled operator on a 953 can accomplish more than you need in less than eight hours.
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Post by bill9068 on Nov 11, 2020 18:30:52 GMT -5
Just a thought but if you timber the hill whoever does the job has to build a way to get equipment up there. I did a select cut 14 years ago and the logger who bought my timber built a network of roads up and down my hills ( some so steep you had to be careful walking). Today those paths are still there and can take my ranger anywhere that they logged.
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Post by mstr2175 on Nov 11, 2020 18:52:51 GMT -5
Thanks for your input fellas. I think I’ll start by calling around with some logging companies to see what they think, at least let them get eyes on it. A coworker of mine mentioned logging companies can be booked very far out, I have nothing but time
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Post by bartiks on Nov 11, 2020 20:30:26 GMT -5
Were you thinking logging company just because of their experience in such matters OR are you actually thinking about selling some trees? If you are thinking about selling some trees then you can have the access road included in the contract. It will lessen the amount you will get for the trees but the road will be done and usable with minimal effort and expense on your part. That is exactly where I was going to go with it. Have them come in and log out an area, you may get your road put in for nothing along with a little money on the side. I understand you want to do some of the work yourself, however reading what you are describing I would definitely call in some pro's on this.
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Post by duff on Nov 11, 2020 20:52:02 GMT -5
Thanks for your input fellas. I think I’ll start by calling around with some logging companies to see what they think, at least let them get eyes on it. A coworker of mine mentioned logging companies can be booked very far out, I have nothing but time Have a forester assess your trees first but I would sell a few trees so the road is free to you. I am with you on wanting a drive installed, it will make your enjoyment so much better. I lease a spot in Monroe and the hills are no fun to walk up.
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Post by span870 on Nov 12, 2020 5:45:06 GMT -5
So I guess the question there is, what’s the cost of a good operator? I’ll need to call around Find a local construction contractor and asked about his employees that are best. He might even let you rent his equipment. I paid my son and friend $25 an hour plus lunch etc. That's what I did. I used Holmes construction equipment that I rented and my son and friend both work for Holmes and are great operator. They will cut down about 6 inches and put a good 4 inch base of crashed concrete. Crashed concrete is the best for base per the dollar. Crashed blacktop is even cheaper. My sons ordered the concrete that I got at cost. One 8 ton concrete truck poured cost me $4000 for a 24' x 40' ft x 4". $3300 for the concrete and $700 per the labor. If I hired someone it would have been around $10k-12K. Two day project Renting both the loader and escalator is around $700, Labor for two operator is $400 You order the concrete (8 tons). I can ask my son the best mix . Cost is $3300, with labor around $700. Need 4 people minimum. So around $1100-$1200 to clear and dig down 6 inches. Around $300 to $400 for 20 tons of crashed blacktop or concrete Buying 2x4's for forms and 2 x2 for stacks ($100-200) Concrete with labor $4,000 to 5000. If you can keep it to one truck you cut the cost down a lot. You will need dry mix with fiber. May need 5 or 6 to work the concrete. Have water around so they can wet the concrete at times. The costs are from my barn pour last year. PS: pour all the 8 tons out. There is a cost if they have to return concrete back. Have a clean out spot. Who did you use to pour the concrete??? You order 9 yard truck from us we don't care if you use 9 yards or a bucket full. Zero cost to return but you pay for it whether you use it or not. As far as fiber. I'll tell you what our qc guys tell us. It's a feel good measure. Does minimal good and it's a work around to using rebar or mesh. Does nothing to increase the psi rating of the concrete. We have mixes designed for every application you could possibly ever have from walks to walls to pads. Get the mixed designed for the application that the qc has already been done on. Love the having water around idea. Be nice if they'd stop using all of ours on the truck but we'll bring 150 gallons with us. Not sure the measurements that your finishers used but when he orders it, it'll be ordered in yards not tons. I'm assuming that's what you meant because 8 tons is barely 4 yards if even that depending on the mix used.
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