Mike, I just wanted to congratulate you on something that has possibly eluded other viewers. That being said, you have got to have some VERY SERIOUS and POWERFUL negotiating skills that I am SURE even (us) veterans of reading the Dale Carnegie book "How to Win Friends and Influence People" would be envious of. You negotiated FREE driveway fill from another (probably public) road project, and THAT in itself, aside from all of your other accomplishments on your channel, is TOTALLY AWESOME. Keep it up, bro.
Mike, I'm loving the channel. It's so similar to the type of work I do on my place here in Oklahoma. Your channel gave me the courage to do my own so thanks for that. And I'm always watching for tips and tricks that I may not know so thanks for that as well. Keep up the good work!
Good job Mike. You make it look so easy. I'm learning i gotta couple younger brothers that are really good on machinery including bulldozers and skidsteers. I always call on them when I'm in over my head. Thanks for the videos i always learn something from them.
Man it’s like your making these just for me. A week ago you made a video on fixing up driveways and now one for making them wider. I just purchase some new land and had to fix the drive. I decided to widen the drive at the turn around. I used a lot of tree branches and other organic matter to put in the bottom. I’m gonna let it settle til the fall then cover it with dirt and pack it level. Keep up the great work.
Tree branches and organic matter is exactly the wrong thing to fill over, it will just make the ground soft and unstable for years, really bad on any kind of slope, as it will make it want to slide. I do everything I can to remove as much of that kind of thing that I can.
Free is always a good deal! Too late now but if you ask the driver to dump while moving forward it will save you a lot of loader work to spread it. Single spot dumps are good for stock piles. I had a 100' long soft spot on my farm lane and it took 200 ton of 3" stone to find the bottom. Dump/spread/compact 12 yards with a D-6,watch it disappear,repeat,watch it disappear,repeat...... Once it stabilized topped with 3/4" and sand then crowned.Rock solid road now. Something to look for is asphalt millings: sometimes the road contractor just wants them gone and they make a really good road.
Thanks Mike for creating and sharing this video. I just purchased a truckload of fill dirt to fill some holes in my two driveways 4 days ago. It rained yesterday. I had to drive over the spots I filled. The car tires left some pretty big track depressions. My fear is that each time it rains, I will track away my fill dirt little by little and eventually be left with holes again. My question is>>>> is there any way to harden up the dirt, so this does not happen. I would really appreciate any suggestions. Thanks--
Looking good Mike boy you are lucky i have been trying over 3 year to get some free fill with no luck ! and for a min i thought he was going to hit you and the tractor i dont think the box blade would of lick it ! LOL but great job take care and have a great week ! Kioti Curt :-)
Not sure what impresses me more, your tractor skills or your movie production skills!!! But let me refer back to growing grass in shade. You touched all the bases. I think you may be compacting the ground a bit much with all the tractor work. You may want to get some more equipment ( :) ) and aerate it so water and fert can get down to the roots. In your spare time ( :) ) have a chat with a local golf course groundskeeper. They deal with grass everywhere.
NICE! Glad I found this! Did you have to get the county involved? did you have to test it? If i have time and goal is just to elevate a lot that has a 3' dip in the middle (like 40x40) that puddles when rain is really heavy. Can trucks be strategic about how they dump and try to dump flat? I'm in 33852 and need about 500 Cubic Yards possibly more of free fill dirt.
Speaking of your real job.... what do you do? Frankly I don't know where you find the time for a job! I was a camera man/editor for 20 years and seeing how much tractor-ing you do, plus all the extra time it takes to shoot the video, then edit and post, you must have 72 hour days there!!! Your videos are great! Keep up ALL the great work.
I think the only thing that could have made Monday better would have been if you were able to run the chainsaw. Looks like a perfect day to take off and get something accomplished. Side note, I really like your choice of music on these videos.
NothnRunsLikeADeere , yes had a Bobcat E55, unfortunately no video on that one. Rain was coming and it was all I could do to get done. No time for cameras on that one
REQUEST: I realize many subs probably already know this, but I would LOVE a tutorial on using/floating the front loader. I'm awesome with a backhoe, but just can't see to master the front loader....
I've got to give a +1 on this comment. I've dug up a bunch of stumps with my backhoe where my driveway/road is going in, but it's all bumpy and rough in the spots where I dug the stumps up. I added some dirt where the stumps came out, but try as I might with the loader/float thing I can't get it to work.
Hey Mike, obviously the Rk55 was the best tool in your toolbox for this job, but do you think the Rk37 would've done just as well if that's the only tractor you had?
Exactly! Thanks filming and sharing all that you do! I really don'y know how you do it though. When I'm out doing the same things on my property, I've thought about you and how much time it must add to the job. So, again thanks for sharing!
casy casy, it pushes very well, the next video is me using the skid loader so I could go down over the sides and put the fill in lifts and get some compaction. The skid loader is faster it if you were working in an open area just pushing off tractor would work well
Its clay and shale and will pack very well, that won't be the driving surface, I have built lots of roads and it will come out great. I will put geotextile down, base rock, then crusher run. The driveway only had 9 feet or so driving surface with steep drop offs on both sides, when done it will be 1000% better
Tractor working pretty well with some help of the operator!!👊
Mike, I just wanted to congratulate you on something that has possibly eluded other viewers. That being said, you have got to have some VERY SERIOUS and POWERFUL negotiating skills that I am SURE even (us) veterans of reading the Dale Carnegie book "How to Win Friends and Influence People" would be envious of. You negotiated FREE driveway fill from another (probably public) road project, and THAT in itself, aside from all of your other accomplishments on your channel, is TOTALLY AWESOME. Keep it up, bro.
Great project, great song.
Great video! I always learn something from you. I look forward to seeing how this project progresses.
I like the way you operate! Slow and steady! It always wins the race!
Mike, I'm loving the channel. It's so similar to the type of work I do on my place here in Oklahoma. Your channel gave me the courage to do my own so thanks for that. And I'm always watching for tips and tricks that I may not know so thanks for that as well. Keep up the good work!
Looking good Mike. I like watching your videos and how you handle the equipment you use. Keep up the good work.
Good looking material. Nice work. Keep up the great energy!
Good job Mike. You make it look so easy. I'm learning i gotta couple younger brothers that are really good on machinery including bulldozers and skidsteers. I always call on them when I'm in over my head. Thanks for the videos i always learn something from them.
This is going to be a fun series. Thanks Mike.
Can’t beat having fill delivered that close, with perfect timing 👍😎
That is some clean dirt fill.
Man it’s like your making these just for me. A week ago you made a video on fixing up driveways and now one for making them wider. I just purchase some new land and had to fix the drive. I decided to widen the drive at the turn around. I used a lot of tree branches and other organic matter to put in the bottom. I’m gonna let it settle til the fall then cover it with dirt and pack it level. Keep up the great work.
Tree branches and organic matter is exactly the wrong thing to fill over, it will just make the ground soft and unstable for years, really bad on any kind of slope, as it will make it want to slide. I do everything I can to remove as much of that kind of thing that I can.
Greg Brown I used them to fill a u shaped valley. Hard dirt on each side. Im gonna pack the dirt in tight when it it lays down flatter.
Imagine you are putting in a pile of ice, it will add water and breack down, causing settling, what do you gain?
Great score, that is some clean fill
Free is always a good deal!
Too late now but if you ask the driver to dump while moving forward it will save you a lot of loader work to spread it. Single spot dumps are good for stock piles.
I had a 100' long soft spot on my farm lane and it took 200 ton of 3" stone to find the bottom. Dump/spread/compact 12 yards with a D-6,watch it disappear,repeat,watch it disappear,repeat......
Once it stabilized topped with 3/4" and sand then crowned.Rock solid road now.
Something to look for is asphalt millings: sometimes the road contractor just wants them gone and they make a really good road.
That was a pile, of dirt. Your good with the tractor Mike.
You sure you sure make that look easy keep up the good work
good work, Mike
You got the very best kind of fill. FREE!
Good job Mike we can say you done it before .
Thanks Mike for creating and sharing this video. I just purchased a truckload of fill dirt to fill some holes in my two driveways 4 days ago. It rained yesterday. I had to drive over the spots I filled. The car tires left some pretty big track depressions. My fear is that each time it rains, I will track away my fill dirt little by little and eventually be left with holes again. My question is>>>> is there any way to harden up the dirt, so this does not happen. I would really appreciate any suggestions.
Thanks--
Your getting pretty good at that earth work.
Pretty sure Mike is an operator from way back....
Looking good Mike boy you are lucky i have been trying over 3 year to get some free fill with no luck ! and for a min i thought he was going to hit you and the tractor i dont think the box blade would of lick it ! LOL but great job take care and have a great week ! Kioti Curt :-)
Earthmoving I like it 👍
I have some pasture area that needs to be filled working on getting some permits a lot of these companies will pay you to dump fill
Great work!
Boy a 4 in 1 bucket would have worked great on that project,, would have really sped things up...
Not sure what impresses me more, your tractor skills or your movie production skills!!! But let me refer back to growing grass in shade. You touched all the bases. I think you may be compacting the ground a bit much with all the tractor work. You may want to get some more equipment ( :) ) and aerate it so water and fert can get down to the roots. In your spare time ( :) ) have a chat with a local golf course groundskeeper. They deal with grass everywhere.
NICE! Glad I found this! Did you have to get the county involved? did you have to test it? If i have time and goal is just to elevate a lot that has a 3' dip in the middle (like 40x40) that puddles when rain is really heavy. Can trucks be strategic about how they dump and try to dump flat? I'm in 33852 and need about 500 Cubic Yards possibly more of free fill dirt.
Speaking of your real job.... what do you do? Frankly I don't know where you find the time for a job! I was a camera man/editor for 20 years and seeing how much tractor-ing you do, plus all the extra time it takes to shoot the video, then edit and post, you must have 72 hour days there!!! Your videos are great! Keep up ALL the great work.
Stephen Gmeiner, my real job is in the oil and gas industry
I need about 10 loads of that fill. ;)
Looking good,
No time for a break on this job. That dump truck is back in 4 minutes.
Going to be nice when its finished.
Was doing the same thing yesterday 😁
Hi Mike. You probably have time to crank out two videos on a day off. Keep them coming!
Did we miss a video of the culvert being replaced? I need to do that at our place in several locations.
Cliffside Acres, sorry no video in culvert, rain was coming and it was all I could do to get finished and didnt have time for the cameras
Omg driveways are a pain aren’t they?! I feel if I just put asphalt down it would be so much better, but not quite ready yet.
No skidsteer in the video? About to rent one for some grading, and was hoping to get pointers!
Carla Heron, Tomorrow morning! Skidloader portion
New sub from your area.
I think the only thing that could have made Monday better would have been if you were able to run the chainsaw. Looks like a perfect day to take off and get something accomplished. Side note, I really like your choice of music on these videos.
Guessing from the track marks you rented a mini-x to replace the culvert? Will there be a future vid on that job?
NothnRunsLikeADeere , yes had a Bobcat E55, unfortunately no video on that one. Rain was coming and it was all I could do to get done. No time for cameras on that one
Does your tractor have down force pressure?
Tractor sounds rattley! Is it a 3 cylinder?
I guess it’s like a large compact tractor looking at the size of the front wheels?
Good job 👍
Can you take the dip out by the road so it’s not so steep coming in?
jgsmith16 , great minds think alike! Part 2 I did just that
REQUEST: I realize many subs probably already know this, but I would LOVE a tutorial on using/floating the front loader. I'm awesome with a backhoe, but just can't see to master the front loader....
I've got to give a +1 on this comment. I've dug up a bunch of stumps with my backhoe where my driveway/road is going in, but it's all bumpy and rough in the spots where I dug the stumps up. I added some dirt where the stumps came out, but try as I might with the loader/float thing I can't get it to work.
Hey Mike, obviously the Rk55 was the best tool in your toolbox for this job, but do you think the Rk37 would've done just as well if that's the only tractor you had?
I live in hopewell near Pittsburgh!
A boy and his toys.
Score on the free fill!
Is it weird I could watch an hour straight of that 2x speed dirt work?....
NothnRunsLikeADeere. I know right? I feel the same way. Its like relaxing or something
Exactly! Thanks filming and sharing all that you do! I really don'y know how you do it though. When I'm out doing the same things on my property, I've thought about you and how much time it must add to the job. So, again thanks for sharing!
how did the tractor handle it .it looked good
casy casy, it pushes very well, the next video is me using the skid loader so I could go down over the sides and put the fill in lifts and get some compaction. The skid loader is faster it if you were working in an open area just pushing off tractor would work well
Thumbs up
Thanks Doug
i like tractors but skidsteers Get it Done Quick!
Yes sir, tomorrow morning I will upload the skidloader working here
RK deliver my today the sales lady, Marie was the BEST in WOOSTER,OHIO ask for her....
was that dirt Free?
Yes
Do me a favor, bring me all your equipment for a few weeks lol
Or you could move here! Place for sale across the road
Try leaving some dirt in ur bucket and use like a dozer blade. Extra weight will give u extra compaction every trip.
Why are you using clay for a drive way? Don't drive out on it if you get alot of rain. And why does it have to be so wide?
Its clay and shale and will pack very well, that won't be the driving surface, I have built lots of roads and it will come out great. I will put geotextile down, base rock, then crusher run. The driveway only had 9 feet or so driving surface with steep drop offs on both sides, when done it will be 1000% better
Makes sense thanks was just curious
That RK55 is doing a nice job but I realize that its not a trac loader. 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍