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Drivewar Drainage Project

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jchad50
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 4 new hampshire
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2004-09-09          96047

Hello folks, I'm a newbie who needs some advise... I need to install drainage ditches on each side of a (very) steep 1200 ft driveway. This is a new project for me. What is the best implement to cut in a ditch alongside my crowned gravel driveway ? I have access to a New Holland TC30 for this and other projects. Thanks in advance for the help.

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Drivewar Drainage Project

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grinder
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 677 central Maine
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2004-09-12          96270

jchad50

I see no one has responded so I'll throw in my 2 cents.
I see your in NH, and that tells me you need a substantial
ditch. It is impossible to advise without seeing it but,
you say you are new to this and it is very steep. Personally
I don't think a farm tractor is the tool to ditch a road,poosibly to maintain a slight pitched one after it has been built with screen gravel. But to do the job with ease and safty I would use a mini excavator. This will keep you from having to keep resetting with a rubber tired machine(backhoe)
and will handle the grade without tipping. Depending on what you are trying to remove, will determine the size of the machine. I might suggest you rent one for the day and play around on you 65 ac. to get use to it before ditching.
I think you will find them easy to run after a few hours practice.
Good luck!! ....

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Drivewar Drainage Project

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jchad50
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 4 new hampshire
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2004-09-12          96282

Thanks grinder. I did receive many more replys to this post in the "Tractor Attachments & Implements" board. Some additional info.. The tractor can straddle the ditch area, and therefore run parallel to the driveway, thus making the operation somewhat safer... my goal is to create a "V" cut (6-8") on each side of the driveway. I have already installed culverts for drainage control; now I need to cut in the "V" ditch which will connect the three culverts. No stumps or major rocks to deal with. Should be an easy job, I just need the right implement... Most of the advise given thus far has been to use an angled back blade on the TC30 to cut the trench. Does this seem reasonable to you ? Thanks. ....

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Drivewar Drainage Project

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grinder
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 677 central Maine
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2004-09-12          96299

DUH! I missed the connection. All you can do is try it. If it feels too hairy then try something else. I Still say you can't beat a hoe for cleaning out ditches. especially with a wide grading bucket. 6-8 inches doesn't sound like much? but then again every site is different. It seems like a couple of good rains would fill in 6-8 "s? How about you local road comm. would he offer you some local on site advise? Look at some dirt road ditches to get some idea of
what works in your area? Just a thought?
I'm sure that would work on a 6-8" cut,as long as there is nothing to get hung up on. Stumps ,roots ,rocks.
You may be able to that with the bucket?
Seat belts and roll bars. Work safe. ....

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Drivewar Drainage Project

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yooperpete
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 1413 Northern Michigan
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2004-09-13          96331

If you are only trying to cut 6-8" deep and can straddle it, what about using a single bottom plow! You could do it in two passes, one each way. If you lock your swaybar linkage on the return pass you may be able to keep it straight. That should get the majority of soil out of the way. Maybe a back blade, etc. could clean it out further after the majority has been rolled out of the way. ....

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Drivewar Drainage Project

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44trxfun
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 110 western NY
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2004-09-13          96382

jchad, don't know if you've started this project yet or not, but I just wanted to caution you about cutting a "v-ditch" on a very steep slope. Water needs very little grade before it starts doing it's thing (work)--or maybe in your case, cutting. Once you start that process with your ditch, water running at steep grade will take over.

I think there's some good suggestions here for scoping things out. I just had an old timer (very knowledgeable) install some drainage above my driveway. He's been doing this work in this area for about 40 years and had a lot of good advice. We just (day after he installed two culverts and a drainage swale) got 3+" of rain in 24 hours. Had he not known what he was doing, I suspect the erosion that started this spring would have been much worse.

Not pretending to know your situation, just cautioning you that once water starts going, it really takes off. Might surprise you...

Good luck! ....

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