What machine/s are required?

[Botabill]

I have an option of taking on a job I've never done before. It includes digging out a wet marshy area to make a pond. Pond would be about 40 feet across. Also need to trench out a feeder stream that is about 300 feet long. It probably should be trenched about 6 feet wide and 3feet deep. The excess soil should be bermed or spread out around the area after digging. Is there one machine (eg. case 580) that can do this or will a have to use an excavator, dozer or some other combination. Thanks!

[ksss]

I have an option of taking on a job I've never done before. It includes digging out a wet marshy area to make a pond. Pond would be about 40 feet across. Also need to trench out a feeder stream that is about 300 feet long. It probably should be trenched about 6 feet wide and 3feet deep. The excess soil should be bermed or spread out around the area after digging. Is there one machine (eg. case 580) that can do this or will a have to use an excavator, dozer or some other combination. Thanks!

Sounds to my like an excavator would likely be enough but an LGP dozer wouldn't hurt.

[RockSet N' Grade]

I did one like that last year with my excavator only........took a little while and was a little tricky at times dumping the machine into an unseen hole, but it worked great after I figured out my system of approach. I used the bucket as a feeler to feel the area where I was going to track into to make sure I didn't hit a hole......kinda like a blind man using a cane. After that and a little exploration to make sure I had good bottom, we went at it full throttle and it ended up being alot of fun....I would do it again in a heart beat......

[Gravel Rat]

One thing you have to think about digging out marshy areas is it legal ?

Also if its really swampy then you may sink out of sight so swamp mats for the excavator will be needed.

[Dirt Digger2]

your best option would be a 15 ton trackhoe...maybe even a 20 with wide tracks and a LGP dozer for making it look nice

backhoes have their place, and this isn't it...you would spend more time covering your tracks then digging

it can be done with just a trackhoe, but if you want the recommendation of the homeowner go with a dozer too...it will pay off in the long run

[Gravel Rat]

A rubber tired hoe would sink out of sight in loon***.

[Botabill]

I'd still like to hear more ideas on equipment but would also like to get some ball park ideas on what this should cost. I know a lot of variables come into play but I'm roughly estimating $3,600 dollars at this point (36 machine hours) What's everyones thoughts on that? Thanks!

[BIGBEN2004]

It all depends on how deep you have to muck before you hit bottom. 36 Hours seems like alittle low. I would bid that job higher since moving muck is not as easy as dirt. It takes a little longer, not to mention you also have to dig that 300 feet stream. Hopefully the EPA doesn't fly over you in a helicopter. I have a friend that put in a stream crossing for a farmer and next thing he knew a helicopter landed in the field beside him and gave him a nice fine.

[Gravel Rat]

That is a little cheap especially when you will be spending a few hours or a few days trying to dig out the excavator that has sunk to the house works.

Have you got any pictures ?

[Dirt Digger2]

$120 an hour for the hoe (15 ton) then another $95 for the dozer if you get one in there (CAT D4 sized)....then a pain in the as$ factor...then a transportation cost to help with your fuel to and from the site

then again you could go with a D6 or D8 rental and just push the soup...depending just how "marshy" you are talking and get a mini trackhoe for a few hours and dig your trench

[Gravel Rat]

Where is Bobcat Ron he likes playing in the muck and working in marshy areas :laugh:

To do a job like that with a excavator you would have to build a road into the middle of the swamp dig out the muck in a 180 radius. Move back dig out the road and dig more muck out.

[Dirt Digger2]

To do a job like that with a excavator you would have to build a road into the middle of the swamp dig out the muck in a 180 radius. Move back dig out the road and dig more muck out.

wrong...its 40 foot wide...the reach he will be getting with a full bucket of heavy swamp mud will cause his machine to keep tilting up all day when he has to extend all the way out 25 feet to dump it...makes for a very uncomfortable day...the best way to do this, start in one corner and reach to the center, pull all the muck back towards you, then scoop it up and swing 90 degrees and dump a trail behind you...this is where a dozer comes in handy, he can make nice berms while you concentrate on digging...get to the end of the pond then go to the other side and work your way back

sitting in the middle is a great way to do it all at once and if the mud was being trucked out this is how you would do it, but to be efficient he needs to be dumping that slop close to the cab so his tracks are not lifting off the ground all day

[Botabill]

Thanks for some great input. If push came to shove what price would you put on the job. A best guess is all I'm asking for.

[Gravel Rat]

It is illegal here to touch marsh land so its not something we do.

I didn't mean right in the middle but you need a road for the machine to sit on. A little wiggling and jiggling the machine sinks and your going to get your feet wet.

[J. Peterson Grading]

First off Have you ever done anything like this before? Any experience at all?

Plus, if you have to rent the machines it isn't going to be cheep, so you are going to need to factor that in.

If you are renting and have little to no operating experience then you are going to loose money @ $3600 Sorry.

J.

[Dirt Digger2]

First off Have you ever done anything like this before? Any experience at all?

Plus, if you have to rent the machines it isn't going to be cheep, so you are going to need to factor that in.

If you are renting and have little to no operating experience then you are going to loose money @ $3600 Sorry.

J.
i was going to say the same thing...but then again everyone has to learn at some point and if he may take a little loss on this one he will make up for it in practice...this is the exact type of job to practice on too...sounds like there really isn't anything to mess up

[J. Peterson Grading]

I do agree. But as a contractor that does this tyoe of work, I hate it when a "Do-it-yourselfer" Does it them selves with no experience at all. It might be a pride thing, But it still takes away my business when this happens.

I know its good karma to be helpful on these sites, But when it gets into my back pocket (Like this) it gets me going as it should you.

J.

[Dirt Digger2]

haha yea i agree...its funny sometimes to see landscapers trying to do real dirt work for an extra dollar or guys that lowball the guy that knows what he is doing out of money...but in the end the quality of the work always shows...we have been called out to fix so many other "contractors" screw ups i can't count...you just have to sit back and laugh

[J. Peterson Grading]

Yep. If it wasn't for other contractors, thier awesome work and knowledge. I wouldn't have a business.

With 50 to 60% of my business fixing screwed-up yards and other contractors problems. I wish this guy the best of luck.

[Botabill]

Thank you gentlemen for your advice and best wishes. If it's any consolation to some of you I promise never to horn in or under cut on a job you're after. The bigger picture is... this job is only a small part of a much larger job I am bidding on. I have a choice of contracting it out but hey... I like to learn. That makes life fun for me. If this learning experience has a cost attached to it, so be it. I'll be doing a good job regardless of cost. That's the way to get references and word of mouth jobs. I'm still hoping for more input on my question. Thanks.

[Dirt Digger2]

hey Botabill don't take any offense to our ramblings...the longer you're on this site you realize we all give each other sh*t and bust each others chops but when it comes down to it we all try and be very helpful

[bobcat_ron]

Except if you own a Bobcat or Deere skid steer and you think they are the best machines out there, then you are going down!

[J. Peterson Grading]

Or if your name is Bobcat Ron.

But His pics of his works tell it all. Real good!!

J.

[RockSet N' Grade]

So I have been wondering since the first post.......if the pond is 40' wide......how long is it? That would kinda make a difference as to how long it would take.

[Botabill]

So I have been wondering since the first post.......if the pond is 40' wide......how long is it? That would kinda make a difference as to how long it would take.

Actually the specs don't give a specific size. I was just using 40 round to rough calculate. I guess base on the vague contract it could be any size. I'd like to make it as big as possible.