CHALLENGING Project: Building a Gravel Driveway Parking Lot Area w/ Compact Tractor John Deere 755
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 ต.ค. 2024
- Cutting in a stone driveway parking area with the JD 755 and JD 318.
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![It's Still My Favorite! Stone Driveway Addition Using Dozer and Pull Grader Box [John Deere]](/img/n.gif)
I can't see a contractor sweating over the details that you worry about. But your friends get outstanding work.
Thanks Sam.
I say you should get a skid steer so I can have an excuse to get one!
I am considering all arguments and evidence. I will note this in the "Plus" column for owning a skid steer.
Thank you for submitting your vote! :)
No matter how much equipment you have there will always be "just one more piece" that is the "missing link"... I've came to terms with that issue and I can admit that there are actually several more pieces that I need.
Agreed! You get a track steer then you’ll wish you also had a skid steer or vise versa. Then you’ll want power rakes graders etc. props on having a nice setup!
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A three point box blade with a hydraulic top link would be excellent for that job. The hydraulic top link is great for a lot of implements, but for the box blade it makes setting depth on the fly a cinch.
Your jobs always turn out great. A small track loader would definitely make your life easier though. The older I get, the more I rely on machinery to accomplish my work. My back won't take it like it used to. Well done sir.
I could use one over and over again. I would do a few more jobs if I had one too. In less time. Now, just to find a good deal on one. That is the challenge these days.
That turned out nice. As far as whether or not you should get a skid loader, I think you should get one so that I can learn how to run my 325G by watching your videos
Meanwhile I was jealous of that Volvo
You may have already done this but I would like to see A video dedicated to your backhoe and how it compares to a mini excavator, track loader, or a tractor with a backhoe
Basically what I’m saying is, I’m curious what the best niche is for a machine like you have.
I would’ve expected you to peel that sod off with it
I enjoyed the video as always
Boy I love your new CTL. I would actually love to have a machine that size. One of these days it will happen but I'll likely be watching your videos to learn to run it by then!
The mini-ex is certainly one of the handiest pieces. I chose it over the backhoe for stripping sod so that I could keep the operation within the confines of the area that was going to be torn up. In order to strip and load with the backhoe I would have been driving in, backing out, turning and dumping into the dump truck. The mini made it so that there was minimal effort to get the spoils into the truck and the 360 rotation was a must compared to the 180 degrees of the backhoe.
I'd love to do a comparison video like that. I think that the internet won't let me declare a winner because there are many opinions. I did do a video saying why I liked the backhoe the best over a mini or skiddy but it wasn't that comprehensive.
Thanks so much for watching Brock.
Bobcat T-190 is an amazing machine. Only problem with them is they are so powerful the undercarriage gets torn up. Bobcat kinda "fixed" that problem with the T590 by de-rating the dozing power. Machine just bogs if you over-doze. Side note: very nice "neat line" you cut into the sod. Crispy edges are the mark of a true pro
I've ran a T190 for quite a bit and couldn't believe what it was capable of. Very impressive for that sized machine.
Awesome job, Neil. I was mostly concerned about the initial load of stone spilling onto that beautiful grass but you cleaned it up perfectly! I think you like those little JD's too much to get a track loader :)
That stone running out onto the grass gave me serious anxiety! I'm glad I'm not the only one! :)
One of my all time favorites before I found your channel. I was so impressed with the storytelling and the Step by step explanation... the driveway looks great! Your attention to details were impressive!
I stored my boat in a pole barn and was warned there was tons of mice. Each year I took 1 box of fabric softener sheets and spread them everywhere. In the engine compartment, tossed all over the cabin and on the deck. Put the cover on it and done. When you uncover it in the spring there are no mice and no musty smell.
We've been trying dryer sheets as well. Seems to work most of the time but I've also seen them use it to make a nest. Maybe it depends on which type of dryer sheets?
solar battery maintainer
Thought the same been putting 40w units on all my toys
That's not a bad idea!
Thats a tuff call. About a skid steer. I run a large compact tractor that can lift more than any skid steer. Currently no high flow but what compact tractors can do is not comparable. But my compacts are 25hp and 60hp
Smooth control you are talking about is a newer compact tractor. I was wondering same then got a yt359. And i have power control and 3rd function.
Guess i should say will lift more than the size of track loader you are looking at. And has road gear if needed
As a fella that does this for a living, my humble opinion a skid steer would be a game changer for you.
I think you're likely very correct with that statement!
Came out great 👍. My two cents is that I love my skidsteer!! I use it almost everyday but that’s my business. I don’t know if I’d invest in one for part time when they break their expensive to fix. I guess if you could find a good deal on a used one that wouldn’t bug you if it sat for long Periods of time. But if you get one the tractors will sit more because you will probably use the skidsteer on every dirt job 🤷♂️
Yeah exactly. Cost is the only real drawback for me. I don't really make any money doing this stuff. It's just a break even hobby kinda thing. That's kinda dumb but I consider it my version of "fishing" or "golf" or whatever else someone might be into.
@@digdrivediy hey man I get it. I don’t have a boat ,RV or motorcycle . I just Enjoy trucks and machines. My dream is to one day retire ,buy an old farm and ride around on a old tractor just for therapy 😂
We use a kubota b2601 compact tractor in our landscape buisness.. love it. Best in class turning radius and it does not mess up turf bad like a skid steer would.
That's cool!
My track loader is my profile picture, but it's like having 2 broken thumbs compared to a skid loader 😂
I never knew you could have too much rock on a job like that. It's kinda like having too much fun, isn't it?
Skid steer defiantly needed on that finer stone would have made the job so much quicker
You should definitely get one... That way I can justify to my Financial Division why I need one too 🤣
Good job for a temporary fix... looks like a wet spot about 50 feet from this fix... I would just run a new 6 inch line in the low spot, to your main. Just leave the clay alone, I've got the old 6 inch clay still running through my place and it drains about 400 acres, a line my grandfather put in through an old cranberry bog over 90 yrs ago.... my dad and I added a 12 inch cement tile line over 50 yrs ago, runs great.... I would have done pretty much the same as what you did.....
Looks great Neil, wish I had those skills. Might have you look at my driveway sometime. Definitely after ball season though, too much going on now!!
We can have a look. Yeah, after ball would be good :)
Neil's list of things to buy 1 skid steer with trax .2 small Roller ....can be payed for with money made from string roll up idea ...my Buck is already in mail to your house !! great video Neil !
NICE! The money is gonna be rollin' in from this string tip!
Amazing job Neil. Skid steers are great. Just wait until this current machinery market crashes, er… deflates a bit, then buy a used one from someone that has to dump theirs.
Yes, exactly. I used to see T190s for $15-16K all the time pre-pandemic. Now it's hard to find one under $20K.
Stick with the wheels..... they do better when you pack it down. Unless your going to use the hell out of the skidder, just stick with the 4X4...... unless you can get a hell of a deal on a skidder and you seem to be pretty good at working on stuff..... good luck, keep on doing what you do! 👍
A skid loader would be a great piece of equipment to save time, add attachments and heck it's un to operate. The skid loader would have fixed the "time consuming mistake" in no time at all…...
Neil you need to get a skid steer you could of got that job done in 10 minutes with a skid steer but using a little lawn tractor it took for ever I recommend a cat 259d it’s a medium sized machine with plenty a power for what you need
Thanks Neil for taking us along, you have many talents and it shows! Take care my friend
Those mice repelant whit corn is the best! You need to have a kill switch on you battery. I think Cat have that and you need to use it! Battery kill switch(?) To turn of the battery
Great video Neil a small track loader would b awesome to have and def make job faster n easier but like u said to justify the initial cost of one plus I find a tad bit more rewarding using my bucket tractor to see how nice the job turns out knowing I used a tractor makes me think I’m a better operator than I am lol ( probably not tho lol) haha but ne way happy Mother’s Day Kara Neil’s mom
Neil's Mom thanks you very much!
You are very welcome Mary have a great day
I think the same way Adam! Hey we just shipped you a package this evening so be watching for that in the mail soon! Thanks for recognizing Kara and Mom.
Awesome thanks Neil I’ll b sure rk on the look out
Your excavator would've done the job really easy ......u should try it sometime
Good video I think what ever you get equipment wise if it keeps you from making additional trips to job site makes burn less fuel and time
Sold my Jd 5400 and went to a Cat skid loader - way more useful for projects than a tractor
Great video again neil. Love the idea of getting a track loader. I bought one for myself not too long ago and it has more than paid for itself in the side jobs people want me to do.
When you first dug the driveway, you should have put in a french drain under the low spot by the driveway and run it down the edge of the driveway
I couldn’t imaging living without a CTL, with all your camera trickery you’d think you could just make one APPEAR!
Now there's an idea! I think once I had one I'd never look back. I tried to enter a contest to win a 333 from JD one time but... I'm not very good at contests.
Great work as always Neil can’t wait to see you next week thanks buddy Love the idea of a track loader and will be thrilled to see the process of maybe comparing and choosing one
I've been shopping for one lately but now isn't a great time to buy it seems.
Hey Neil, curious if you think a 3pt box blade would have made life easier there? Looks good either way. 👍🚜🍁🏝🍻
I can usually do more with the loader than I can a 3pt box blade. But, I am just not that good with the 3pt blade as they are hard to control depth, at least with my tractor that is the case. If I had it with me I may have used it to help move that deep stone though for sure.
@@digdrivediy I do like your grader box though, very nice.👍🏼
I won't be with out my skid steer that my main piece of equipment that job doing that stone would be done in 10 minutes
Track vehicles like the bobcat are good for that sort of work just see what Andrew camatara can do with his machines
i would definitely get a 325g or something similar puts you in a good mid range of power and size
Hey buddy! I have not seen one of your videos in a while I have been battling covid and a lot of other things. I bought me a new tractor. I don't know if you seen the video on it but it's a John Deere 4320. Hopefully going to make a video on some of my new projects and other things that I've done over the last year of being sick. Hope you and your family doing well. I hope you still got my stocking cap:-) and my welding helmet:-) couldn't resist that. I also bought a old 455 diesel that I'm trying to restore
Hey there Marsh Monster!!! Long time no see!
I hope you're on the mend from Covid and the others. That's a real bummer I'm sure. But, I'm glad to see you in the comments for sure. I got behind as I think you commented right before my latest video but I'm glad I browsed through and saw this.
I need to check out those new tractors. That 4320 would be sweet to have and I've always daydreamed about a 455. Two very nice tractors.
I must admit I forgot about that stocking hat! I'm so sorry. I do still have it and I will honor my word and get that sent to you! The welding helmet I'm not so sure yet. The harbor freight helmet turns out to be not so great! I find myself reaching for the older one plus now I've got two little girls that are interested in watching Dad weld!
Great to hear from you! Hopefully see you around some more. Take care!
💥 I use that same drill and string trick. Your father in law and my dad must have known each other. 😁👍
*Keep on tractoring!*
Ha! It's always funny how something so simple can be so time-saving. Thanks for watching, John!
Another great video Neil. A small track loader would be nice. But I appreciate seeing you get the job done with what you have. Hard to justify the cost unless you’re doing that work all time. Which you kinda do. You do have a gift for finding deals. Maybe there one out there for you. Thanks for all the good content!
I've been watching for the right deal so if I see it I may pounce. Not too many deals these days though. I'm still waiting and watching though... :)
Hi Neil, thanks for the vid! How do you decide how deep to dig down before laying stone? Looked like there might have been some organic material left but maybe that’s less of an issue for rock?
It was mostly all fill where I was excavating. It was overbuilt from that building that was built there many years ago. The subsoil was mostly sandy mixed with sand and I dug down to what was a pretty solid layer of material. Basically I just removed the topsoil that they had put on top to get grass to grow. But to answer your question each job is a little different depending on the application. For this one it was primarily just parking without any heavy traffic so I didn't need to over dig it really. I could also tell when driving my loaded dump truck on it that it was fairly solid already. In almost any case though I do try to get all the organic material so that it will be less likely to grow weeds from underneath.
@@digdrivediy appreciate your reply, thanks for taking the time to explain your process
Ok so many comments and ideas.
Bill is needed. Ha. You could never turn those tight circles on your driveway with a 55 series.
Have you ever thought about building a small weighted roller for packing in stone?
After watching Captain use his water lever, I was wondering if you have ever built/used one? I just can’t justify a laser transit. And it won’t work around corners.
If you do purchase a skid loader, in true Neil Koch form, I hope it has some common issues that make it more affordable/cheap and we can watch you get it going and fixed up.
Oh, I still plan to keep Bill around. I certainly need a little tractor for my driveway, just as you mentioned the 755 won't make the turns!
I've never tried a water level. Fortunately I do have a laser and it is a handy tool for doing any dirt work.
You can bet that if I ever find a skid loader, it will be a fixer upper for sure.
Hey BTW, I received an awesome package in mail today full of Loctite goodies. SO Awesome! I sent a package your way too.
Thanks Marcus.
SKID STEER!!! I am beginning to think you’re losing your work ethic. 😂 A skid steer may have made the job easier and faster, but we out here in realville depend on you to show us how it’s done with something we can afford to work with! The new pad looks great.
Very valid point. I'll still be stuck in realville for quite some time though so no worries there. I can't imagine not having my garden tractors to get stuff done!
I don’t think you have the justification for a track loader right now but obviously if you had one you could do some jobs faster and more efficiently.
Captain Kleeman says he wouldn’t get a track loader over his 755.
If you are interested I think one of the other Celebrities from Derby will sell you his Kubota. 😉
😂🤣😂🤣
I certainly know which compact track loader you are referring to Wayne! Yeah I'm not sure I can give up the tractor. The lack of visibility is the biggest thing that makes me not like a bobcat or skid loader in the first place.
Nice work
Thanks a lot Hank! Appreciate you watching sir.
If you can find a "reasonably priced" skid or track loader, it will change the way you work, for the better! With your JD lawn equipment you might work a trade... Thanks for nicely done and interesting video.
I've always got my eyes peeled looking for something that might come along.
You are only the first person to use the DRILL STRING ROLL UP DEVICE, I have been using one for thirty plus years ! It works great for sure.
I want to add a gravel drive and parking area from my existing drive to my back garage, about 200" long and 12" wide, till it opens up by the garage at about 18' wide. I'm using railroad ties as a border. Do you see any issues with simply cutting the grass as low as possible (scalping it), then spraying with grass killer, covered with landscaping fabric and then gravel? Drainage is great in the area and not a concern.
I know folks that have got away with putting stone on top of grass but I generally don't like to do it. The main reason is that the organic material will break down and can make an unstable base that can hold water, thereby making your surface more susceptible to rutting or potholing. The landscaping fabric may help that situation but I don't have too much experience with that either. Much of it will depend on your soil types as well. If it is really sandy topsoil then it could be OK also. I always at the very least strip the sod for some peace of mind but maybe I'm overthinking it. Best of luck to you whatever you decide. I know it could be much easier if you're able to leave it and build on top. If you're putting in a good depth of stone (like 6-8") that could help as well.
AWESOME JOB!!! I had a chance at a 318 John Deere last week and missed b/c I missed a text message from the seller. Maybe next time.
Sweet gig Neil. Sorry it took me a week to comment Jefe, but life can be a cruel Mistress at times. I know you already thought of this, but I would ask DP about skid steers. You may have to send the twins to work in the salt mines to pay for it, but a little practical work experience might be a good thing. Looking forward to the next epic brother. Love home.
Hey, no worries. That same life situation gets in the way for me too. I'm grateful to have you watching and commenting whenever you get to it. You're right, though, those girls are gonna have to start earning their keep here before too long!
I think the controls being jerky is a brand thing. I have a Bobcat Ct440 (compact tractor from Bobcats old line of tractors) and the controls are buttery smooth and it’s a 12 year old machine.
Since your a backhoe guy I think a John Deere 210L skip loader would be way more handy for everything you do then what a skidsteer would be.
You can definitely get yourself a better valve to run the front-end loader. It might take some homework, but it's cheaper that a whole new machine.
I have done a lot of driveways with my 32hp 4 wheel drive tractor with a loader and grader box. I ended up buying a gehl ctl70 track skid steer. If I am moving material then the skidsteer does a more productive job but I can do a better job Gradeing with the tractor. I can tilt the grader box and slope edges that is hard to do with the skidsteer. You turn the skidsteer and tear up a nicely graded area, take the tractor out of 4wd and you can turn without doing any damage. I prefer my tractor because I have done so much Gradeing with it in the last 18 years. You can move a lot of material when you get a bucket full and drag a grader box full in the same pass with the tractor.
This right here. Exactly right. I was hoping to hear from folks that had both and could weigh in on the pluses and negatives of either. My biggest complaint about skid steers is visibility. It's hard to bet close to stuff without straining your neck and wondering if you're still gonna hit it. Or back into something. There is obviously a place for both but I can get along most of the time with the tractor. But still...
Another good one just one question as I've just got into your videos, but what is your main occupation? As you seem to not have a lot of time to yourself I know you like spending time with your lovely family but are you a builder farmer all the best Peter UK 🇬🇧
I am an agronomy consultant. I work with farmers and we do soil testing to tell them what they need to put on their crops and how to improve fertility. I have a video called "My Day Job" on here that explains it all. Thanks Peter!
th-cam.com/video/erA1Sr8-6iA/w-d-xo.html
Thanks for the video! Hate the Dump truck seat filler made all that work for you compared to how you dumped the rock at around the 15min mark...... looks like a front weight rack is in order for Brutus.
Front weights would have helped a bit for sure. I have some but can't get them on there with the way I currently have the hoses routed. And yeah, I was worried about potential damage to the barn if we tried to spread that in there with the big truck. It would have been a big time savings though... Oh well.
Id your looking to cut down on the jerkiness you can idle the machine down will definitely help but I've added restricter valves. I made mine as a coupler in coupler out. There adjustable. mine slow down my rear attachments when wanted. If you wanted fast movements just take them out.
I may need to look into that. Thanks!
So going forward. Stop yourself when the voices say let's get one more load and stop monkeying around grading too much. There is a pattern here. LOL
I think there is no doubt you would get plenty of use out of a skid steer. Would it be worth the cost? I think if you are doing jobs for money, where the time savings and easier time have a cost benefit, then yes. If it’s just for fun, and those “hey buddy” jobs, then probably not worth it. I wouldn’t stop looking for a deal on one though.
Best advice right here. Most of my jobs are "hey buddy" at this point. I like them that way as I can work as my schedule allows that way. One of these days I may need to make more money at this though and I think that is the time to get serious. As you say though, I'm always watching for the deal too.
get a skid steer. hide it somewhere and for goodness sakes don't tell the wife lol.
As always Neil, your grading skills are awesome, wish I had your skill, but I'll keep trying. About how much time total did ou spend on that project? It seemed a little time intentive, but came out looking great.
Thanks so much Don. This project was a little time-consuming. I probably had close to 6 hours in grading and then some time hauling stone and dirt to and from the project.
@@digdrivediy Wow, it look sgreat once you get done, I'm watching another one of your late 2020 driveway videos. I need to refresh and upgrade mine again, so I'm packing in some motivation and trying to pick up the pointers.
Driveways and parking lots have been graded an built for years before skid steer came out. That little tractor will do it perfectly if you know how to operate it.
Hello from the Netherlands Koch Family .
I saw in the video that you got my "rope idea" for the tailgate release have tried haha .
about the skid steer loader :
I think Dirt Perfect still has a kubota that he would like to sell to you haha .
I don't think the two are a good combination haha.
thanks for the video Neil
The rope works great Hollandduck! I might need to talk with DP on that skiddy :)
Great video. Love the split image. I need to learn how to do that. I owe you a dollar for the drill string roller. Man what my grandad would have done with that! Don't buy a skid steer. Yes it would be 100X better, but for those of us that really can't justify one it would make us envious and quit watching your channel. There are channels for those guys, stay true to your roots. ;-)
Ha! Don't worry, no real risk of it in the foreseeable future. If these prices drop though and I see a good deal... Who knows what could happen!
Looks nice it would be an easier job with skid steer
Morning Neil! You do a real good job cloning yourself and then talking to the clone 😁
I liked that too!
At least he listens! :)
If you're going to park a piece of equipment whether it's the excavator or a snowmobile or motorcycle don't let any metal components rest on the ground it will drain your battery
I don't know that there's any validity to this. Every dozer ever made would have a dead battery. Just doesn't seem likely. My backhoe too has the bucket on the ground. Sits for long periods of time and has never had any battery issues.
I've dug 6-8" out like that a few times with the 2320, 3520 tractors and they do it pretty well. I'd also push and spread the gravel with the mini excavator as it can push with a little more control and then float the blade backing up. I use a kx040-4 for cemetery digging and push the extra dirt around and float back blade to get a general smooth area. The sun, rain and mower finish the clumps off.
Waiting for the landplane to get in so I can do some better levelling.
Thanks Neil. You need to generate a reason to have a skid steer. It doesn't matter whether you need it, it just matters if you can justify it. Try finding a job where you can use it.
Oh I can do that!
I use a compact tractor as well. I use the mini to drag the stone in first though, you look proficient enough to do the same, it's much faster then you can just finish grade with the tractor
You don’t need a skid steer, buy a trailed box scrapper...not 3 point. Between your existing loader and a scraper it’s all you need.
Well, that's what's in this video... 😊
im gonna do my own stone like that in my gravel driveway. the problem may be those lawn mower turf tires on the front of your 316, im converting my 214 tiller tractor to 12x3 farmall front wheels with tri-rib tires for better steering in the loose soil, and i think it will look cool too👍
You could have done that whole job with a skid loader. You won’t regret it. You’ll wish you would have bought one 20 years ago.
I don't doubt that you're probably right...
I would recommend that ASV RT 75 skid steer. Perfect size for tight spaces and still plenty of power when you need it.
No matter what tractor/skidsteer, still nice to see the Series1 spade and rake being used. Lol the cordless string line tool. Get a patent on it!
a skid-steer loader, wheeled or tracked, will mark up the driveway and ruin the lawn. Just something to consider.
That's always on my mind. Very good thing to consider.
Great Video Neil as always before I bought my compact tractor I thought long and hard about a track loader I still do it’s just comes down to where do you draw the line in how much you can afford to spend vs how much return you get my decision came down to do x amount of side work still have family time and a John Deere tractor or y amount of side work and not see them as much and have the track loader
A track loader will make a whole load of difference in a lot of situations it would be used for things you wouldn’t even think of
Nice work, I do this work as well. A box scraper for the rough grade and a land plane for the final grade works the best for me. The land plane is the bomb for fast flat grading. You can do the box blade work with the bucket as well. If I had to choose if only I could have one , I'd pick the land plane. Don't get me wrong I'd love e CTL myself but they're very expensive. Some day.
Great video Neil I’m new to your channel absolutely love your videos I’m from Ireland
Hey, thank you! Love hearing from folks across the pond and especially Ireland! I appreciate you watching.
I'd love to have a friend like you with equipment and willing to help. That is some fine looking top soil. People would pay good money here in Denver for stuff like that.
I am a technician for an engineering firm and I have seen worse grading done with GPS equipment used. You are a pro with that mini!
It looks good.
Do you fish with the cordless drill?
Mike Morgan sure likes his BIG skid loader.
Haha!
I don't fish. I grade driveways in my spare time. :)
I like that one of Mike's. That thing is a hog!
Hi Neil I have a t190 absolutely a fantastic machine you’d absolutely love it good luck nice neat job you did!
Surely you have heard that Kevin Costner sounds just like you! Same intonations and voice
Yes, as a matter of fact I have heard that a surprising number of times. I suppose that isn't all bad! Thanks for watching!
Always perfection in my view👍.
☕And video in the am, nice combination.
That looks great! It may not be the quickest, but that box blade does a great job with a perfect finish.
Good job Neil. Looks very nice. Always like watching your videos. Keep them coming.
More TH-cam $$$ equals bigger toy budget. 200k viewers = skid steer? Kara should approve at 200k. BTW, different cameras, seems higher quality, unless just a sunny day.
Might be me, I watched on a 55” instead of a 9”iPad
It might be the TV over the iPad. But, you've got a good eye. I shot almost all of this on my "good" camera sitting on a tripod, so the quality should have been better for a good majority of it. The sunshine really helps more than anything though in the image quality. 200K would be a nice number to be at for sure. I'm a long ways from there I'm guessing though.
Been looking for the tires you have on the back of your little John Deere loader , what kind of brand are they ?
I believe they are Carlisle true powers.
Hey Neil, love your videos and your channel . What software do you use for editing? And cameras?
Thanks
Sorry your comment was in SPAM for some reason. I use Davinci Resolve on a PC. I have lots of cameras :) Canon M50 for close ups and tripod shots. DJI OSMO Actions for Action stuff. DJI Mavic Air 2S drone. Film quite a bit on my Pixel 6 phone as well. Best of luck with your videos!
@@digdrivediy thanks Neil. I appreciate your response. Just watched your video on your new truck. Very nice. Can’t wait to see what you’re up to now. I’m guessing some kind of bigger storage building. Take care.
Keep in mind Neil, when skidsteers break, they cost gobbs of money for repairs. Not to mention all the expensive maintenance they require.
I surely would wait until the market crashes so that you can capitalize on a fairly newer one that someone may have to get rid of really cheap. (DON`T be in a hurry!)
As you already know, buying equipment eats into your profits bigtime. If you can get a great deal on a skidsteer, do so, but just be aware, they can cost you alot of profit money.
And ALSO be aware, that when you do buy a skidsteer, you`ll be spending tons of money on implements for it too, lol. Its a very deep rabbit hole! By the way, great job on the driveway!
Great advice. There is a huge investment associated with it. My tractors are pennies on the dollar by comparison. Thanks for the great insight.
Compact tractor for the win!
I realize it’s time consuming but… how good did it feel when you got it done with what you had? That’s worth a lot to me!
A skid-steer is mighty attractive. It could have leveled and packed that in a fourth of the time. Of course, the concrete would have had tire/track marks on it and that soft soil out back would have been rutted out… but it would have been a heck of a lot quicker.
I have wished I had a skid-steer several times. And in all honesty, I’ve operated them several times. At my work, we used to rent them frequently. They were great for reshaping our trailer lot and mowing slopes. My neighbors and I have shared rentals a few times. And, I rented one a few years back to reclaim a driveway from a swamp.
For my use, owning a skid-steer is overkill. I wouldn’t utilize it enough to justify it. However, my access to one became infinitely easier last year when my neighbor Mike traded in his hay equipment for an old CAT wheeled model.
He needed it to move logs, unload hay bales, clean up feed lot messes and maintain trails. As is usual, it comes over to visit me whenever I need it. Just like my backhoe, trailer, etc goes to his place when needed.
Here are a few lessons Mike learned: when he first got the CAT, he went wild using it for every task he could. Digging stumps, hauling rocks, pushing out brush, building up his barn apron, plowing snow off the driveway… if he could use it, he did.
Learning how to use it was fun but the real lessons were in learning how not to use it:
1. The skid-steer uses a lot more fuel than the tractor. Be prepared to always have more on hand, if you decide to use it.
2. The steering skid, by its nature, will tear up the surface every single time you turn. If hard ground it is minimal. On gravel you can smooth it. Concrete will have a black rubber signature long after the job is done.
3. Doing fine tasks in confined spaces is no place for a skid-steer.
Every Autumn I clean cattle corrals for a huge beef breeder. My subcompact tractor has always been perfect for maneuvering in and out of the corrals, through the tight alleyways between them.
Last fall… two weeks before his high dollar bull auction… the rancher told me he had bought a small skid-steer and wouldn’t be needing my services. I made other plans.
The next weekend he called and asked if I could bring my tractor over and clean up before the sale. So, I changed it over, loaded up and went over to work.
When I got there we went out to look at the job. Immediately I saw his dilemma. Two corrals were broken. None of them were cleared out and his farm hand was cutting replacement pipe to do repairs.
He relayed the story to me… the skid-steer was too big to fit easily into the corral openings. It’s rear end was blind from the operators seat. When his farmhand attempted to turn in, it swung around and crumpled the gate across the alley. The farmhand heard the sound, panicked and tried to stomp the brake. That raised the bucket and hit the overhead gate brace, which pulled the panel out of the concrete and bent it like a banana.
His farmhand stood by while he was explaining what happened. Then, the ranch owner asked me if I wanted to operate the skid-steer and clean up the rest of the corrals… or use my tractor.
Seeing the carnage wrought in just two seconds, by one false move on the skid-steer… I chose option 2!
The rancher then told me he was going to take the brand new skid-steer back and get a tractor just like mine! The farmhand looked at him and said, “That’ll save him the trouble of loading his up. ‘Cause, I still ain’t gonna get in those pens with anything on wheels!”
So, last month, he was hosting the American Beef Association meeting. I went over and did a spring cleaning using his new subcompact tractor. It is identical to mine… equipped with rear wheel weights… the 3-point hitch removed.. the ROPS removed and only a bucket loader attached. The 8’ wide gates in the 20’X20’ pens dump into an 8’ alleyway… perfectly fitting the squeeze through of my tractor… ONLY with the perfect alignment! One which the farmhand got to practice a few times.
You see Neil, my hopes are that by the end of the Fall cleanup, I can be out of the pen cleaning business. Fifty five years is enough to know that when it comes to schlepping cow manure you have to use the right tool for the job. And, I’ve used everything from a pitchfork to a specially configured diesel tractor. The hunt for knowledge and the thrill of conquering the job has lost its luster for me!!!
And, as for Mike and his CAT… he uses it when he needs brute force and has lots of space. Otherwise, he uses his tractor or mine!
As for you… only you can decide if a skid-steer fits your needs. Unless, of course you want to get the advice of ‘other you’!
Excellent insights and thoughts here considering the merits of each. Which makes me realize that I will most undoubtedly, need BOTH! Thanks for helping to make that clear Dave. Since my next door neighbor has a Kubota compact tractor and neither of us has a skid steer, it only makes sense that I should get one to provide for the neighborhood! :)
My wife suggested that perhaps the neighbor should buy the skid loader and I borrow his. I told her that's a great idea as long as he plans to store it at our place!
I loved the example you provided on how the tractor is a smarter choice in some situations. Strangely enough, the first time that I ever ran a skid loader was for my uncle. He was away on vacation and one of my cousins and I were trying to clean out the cow barn as a surprise for him when he got home. I was all of 10 or 12 years old running his old Melroe Bobcat (without a cab or ROPS) for the very first time. The cattle could come into the barn into the old milking parlor although there hadn't been any milking done for years. There was however, still a concrete trough down through the center positioned just behind the cows as they stood in the stanchions to get milked. I managed to get two wheels on one side of the Bobcat dropped into that trough and it was slot car city for the next hour or so. I ran forwards and backwards the length of that parlor with two wheels stuck in the trough and couldn't get out. It was all slimy goo and 4 bald tires - so there was little hope. Eventually my cousin found me in my situation and was able to get in and somehow got the thing bouncing and rocking until it eventually popped it out of the slot and got perpendicular to the trough. It was a rough first time for me but a good learning experience nonetheless. I learned that I never wanted to clean cattle lots again, despite what piece of equipment they would "let" me run!!
But once again, the take away is that every piece of equipment has it's place and is better suited for certain jobs. The only logical thing is to get as many pieces as my wife will let me...
The girls got busy with their merch operation this evening. Be checking your mailbox this week!
Until the next time, take care Dave.
Get a trackloader if momma will let you
Love seeing the girls in the video
Absolutely Kick Ass! Love it, long overdue on the property services clips.
What was the initial rock, you didn't specify
The only thing I would have tried to sell is Big O the downspouts into one line and drain it outback
Alright! Some style points from End User on this one 👍
Ah yes, the first rocks were Indiana #73's. It's my "go-to" for base rock where there isn't big heavy, steady traffic. Packs together perfectly and isn't the end of the world if a few stones float to the top cause they aren't huge rocks.
We talked about the downspouts. There is a ton of fall away from the building and with the 2" of loose stone on top, a lot of holding capacity to let the water seep through and move laterally across the compacted 73's underneath. Those loose stones help to keep from having pooling water issues on top which is one of the reasons I like them as top dress. As long as we don't have erosion issues of the stone, I don't think the downspouts will be an issue as the water will distribute nicely as it gets away. Plus we didn't have to dig up his yard looking for tile this way. Looks good so far after several large rain events so we'll see.
@@digdrivediy hahaha ..
if it Poor's those rocks will move I'd think. Even for a steady slower rain Figure every 10 minutes is 5 gal pale. Plus it's just cleaner and the 90° would be gone..
Nothing bad, just nice to talk to see what others are thinking and why
I think that both machines are useful. They both have their advantages.
I like my t190. They are expensive when they break. Repack cylinders, drive motors, pumps, sprockets/under carriages. Hard to beat when you need it though
Yes. The costs are up there for a personal use, weekend warrior like myself. But still, maybe one of these days.