Question: Is there such a thing as a small walk behind tractor/bobcat
 

I recently had a new driveway done. In the process, I had the contractor dig up the asphalt that is behind my driveway (alley) and I am putting in gravel.

I need to level the dirt and remove a bit of dirt to accommodate a 4" deep geo-tex mesh that will help stabilize the gravel. This is going to require me to remove a couple inches of dirt that is currently very compact and difficult to remove. The area is fairly small at 20' x 30'

I'm wondering if there is such a thing as a small, walk behind, or riding mower size tractor that I could rent for both grading the area and spreading the gravel. I ordered 12 tons of gravel so I'm thinking that doing all this by shovel may take a while as well as do me in.

Any advice? I feel that a full size bobcat would be too big for this job.

This is the area:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1582052354.jpg

Yes, something like the Toro Dingo, or Bobcat MT55 can be rented at a lot of places.

I don't think either have a great load capacity so you'll be making a LOT of trips to move 12T

https://www.compactpowerrents.com/rental-equipment/mini-skid-steer/mini-skid-steer-roc-800-1000-lb/

Might be easier to hire it out but being a small job you might have trouble getting anyone to come out.

It would be fun to play with one of the mini skid steers, so that would be a good reason to rent one!

You can rent a 5 hp roto tiller that you walk behind that would do that job fine.

A small tractor will move gravel, but what are you going to use to loosen the dirt? Nothing small is going to move compacted dirt. You would have to break it up with a roto tiller first, then move it. I would get a full sized bobcat and be done with it if I were you.

Have some fun. Rent a Bobcat

some walk behinds can take a backhoe to break u compacted dirt; switch to a bucket for loading/transport

is there access for a sit-on Bobcat or similar where the photo was taken from, or otherwise?

a small bobcat would do that just fine in a space that size, and will easily level the compacted dirt. Not the walk behind small unit, but even the smallest of the backpack style loaders will do that no problem. You sure don't need a full sized one that you couldn't turn in that space.

Nope! Never heard of such a thing. :D

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1582066750.jpg

Not sure how much space you really have to work but a T450 size Bobcat is pretty nice and will do more than the MT I posted the pics of. Just so you know, the 85 means 850lbs lift capacity. Toro makes a Dingo that will lift 1100 IIRC and it's a stand on machine too.

The MT55 has a lift capacity of 550 lbs. Toro, Vermeer, Bobcat all have stand on/walk behind machines.

I'd rent a T450 size track machine. They're compact in size but have good pushing/digging power. The MT's are nice but you're limited to such a small bucket that they take a while to get the work done.

Rental yards might not have the real small stand up loaders because they aren't meant for real tough jobs which some renter probably thinks he can do and save some money. Nope, he breaks it instead. So smart money gets a real tractor that will handle what the bucket allows.

Like this:

https://www.laxequipmentrental.com/w...tal-photo1.jpg

The difference in rental costs is minimal. You can pull this around on a trailer with a 1/2 T truck.

My brother rented at tractor two weekends ago to muck out a stall.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1582070868.JPG

Then he moved up the hill to move a pile of dirt.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1582070905.JPG

Two hours in, he shut it down to take a break and the tractor started pissing hydraulic fluid. It hadn't leaked until it was shut off.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1582070989.JPG

That ended our weekend fun with the tractor.
Lessons learned prior to this adventure were to always get the insurance when renting a tractor. Break downs can be pricey.

thats what i was thinking. its not hard to shovel once the soil is loose

I'd love me a Toro Dingo. I was able to borrow one from the landscaper prepping the front yard for sod. He left two overnight on the property and I got the go-ahead to use one. Moved some mulch around and also was able to do some light grading to improve drainage around my shop.
I've since rented the same from HD with all attachments to do some trenching for drainage lines.

He's got 12 tons of gravel to spread as well.

If you find find someone with a small machine with tracks like Nick posted #9 above.

Someone who would take cash and do small jobs.

That would be ideal.

Doing it yourself is "do-able" but would be my second choice.

Try calling a site contractor in your area and see if they know someone - or the bulk material yard you're getting your gravel from. They may know someone.

Zeke,
Believe it or not, the MT85 is more capable than the S70.

So you rent a tiller to loosen the soil and then shovel the dirt around and then spread 12 tons of gravel? Geeze, I'm retired and even I don't have that much free time.

I know a guy..... :D

Well when I get an idea like this I usually get right to work with what iv got on hand and it gets done before anyone even has time to plan out the "right way to do it" get 2 or 3 helpers and itll be done in no time

I use a rear tine tiller, wheelbarrow, and shovel. They all fit through the stockade fence gates.

ASV RC30 or PT-30 Small track loader 3500 lb. Footprint of a 4x8 sheet of plywood. 31.5 hp

Last night I framed the area with 8x8 treated timbers. Sorry, no pics yet. Once I got the space framed and the timbers level, I discovered I really only need to remove the dirt from two edges. And, after soaking pretty well, the dirt scooped up pretty easily. I got about 1/3 done and will work on this every night this week. To me, its exercise and I'm a bit impatient to wait for the weekend.

I also have a mini-roto-tiller and I will try that tonight.

That said, my gravel (3/4 crushed granite) is being delivered on Thursday and I should be ready to start spreading by this weekend. I will looking into renting a mini skid for this as I know it won't be easy. 20 years ago I had 19 tons of gravel delivered for out front and I told the guy to just dump it in a pile - that was a mistake as it took me 3 months to spread it and I was a lot younger then.

BTW, this is for an alley behind my house - actually a driveway alley that dead ends at my garage.

We think alike.

Looks great...nicely done.

One tip that I tell folks on their first couple of runs with a mini-skid: Keep the RPM's low on the engine to start, the bucket will move slower as will the skid itself. Nothing good happens fast in the beginning and you can get acquainted with the skid better.

I have a lot of hours on front end loaders. I prefer 1500 to 2000 RPM on my tractors when working in close quarters.

Learn the bucket reverse level move and you are good to go.

Enjoy.

Seems to have an edge indeed. I was probably looking at the MT55 which by comparison to the others mentioned is kind of a lightweight. Anyway, the MT is a track style and the S70 is on rubber, so for dirt work the MT's might be easier to work the dirt leaving less tracks.

Making progress. I'm surprised how much I've gotten done with a shovel. It helped that I bought a 4 wheel gorilla dumping wheel barrel. Working every night till midnight...and I can still stand up straight :)

Need to scoop out a little more dirt around the edges and dryout the area. Then I'm going to rent a "Jumping Jack" compactor. After that, plastic liner, geomesh grid, and crushed rock.

Here's the area:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1582224039.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1582224065.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1582224259.jpg

Good grief! I must just value my back more. I would have paid $200 for a rental and got the job done in a few hours.

I totally agree but I can't rent anything until the weekend. This is my evening exercise project. And, I've got family coming to town this Saturday so I'm feeling like I want it to be somewhat completed.

exercise is good

oh, BTW - would you like to move 1.5 tons of rock down my hill??

You mean you have help arriving and did the work yourself? :D

My neighbor has a walk behind skid steer. Here he is doing some drainage work in my backyard:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1582232936.JPG

I'll have the area graded and prepped by the end of this weekend. I plan to rent something for moving the gravel.

Slip the dump driver $20 to tailgate spread it.

It's never that easy....gravel is already here. Dug out about another inch last night and took the advice here and rototilled first. I'm almost don't but man....I'm sore today.

Progress:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1582307152.jpg

Problem Area - Hard as Hardpan:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1582307203.jpg

Need to remove about 1: more
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1582307240.jpg

too late now but i always wanted to do something in this type of pavers. I actually tried casting my own once but it didnt work with regular concrete. got a pic of your fancy wheelbarrow?

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1582326382.jpg

This is the one that I bought. Holds about double a regular wheelbarrow.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1582333429.jpg

Actually, this is the exact model. A little bigger than my previous pic

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1582333693.jpg

looks pretty stout. Iv got 3 or so regular wheelbarrows different sizes and quality. I actually prefer the cheap ones because they are lighter but cant take as much material. The main thing i dont like about any of them is the single wheel they tip over when loaded heavy. I always wanted to add another wheel to see how it works with two but never get around to it