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Inconceivable 09-20-2012 01:05:48 130.76.32.209 Report to Moderator	Hello I need to make a walking trail down to my river on a very steep hillside. I should be able to cut into the hill side for a two foot walking path and the trail would be about 1/3 mile long with about 500 ft on the hill side. When I was on vacation in Idaho I saw a very old rusted walk behind crawler/dozer and looking on line it looks like it was a mighty mite. It was missing engine and parts but it got me thinking that this may be exactly what I need to cut my trail. I do not want to use anything that you would sit on for fear of tipping over if the hill side gave way plus a heavy machine could get into problems. Anyone have an idea if there are any of these still in a usable condition? Do they even work very well for what I want to do? Any other sugestions for my trail? Joe Washington State (Arlington) [Reply]   [No Email]
Bret4207 11-08-2012 04:30:22 64.19.90.196 Report to Moderator	Re: Walk behind crawler dozer info in reply to shinnery, 09-20-2012 01:05:48   Quoting Removed, click Modern View to see You must live in a different universe sir. It's a lot easier for them to sell some pot or shop lift or sell some of gramps tools and stuff than to bend over and sweat. [Reply]  [No Email]
Dr. Walt 11-13-2012 01:17:51 12.2.223.79 Report to Moderator	Re: Walk behind crawler dozer info in reply to Bret4207, 11-08-2012 04:30:22   @ Bret4207: I live in the same universe that you do, but I do live in a rural area and yes, there are some problem teenagers, but not ALL teenagers are druggies or thieves. In my area there are a lot of "good" teenagers looking to do an honest days labor for an honest days pay. [Reply]  [No Email]
Dr. Walt 11-06-2012 10:37:01 12.2.223.79 Report to Moderator	Re: Walk behind crawler dozer info in reply to Inconceivable, 09-20-2012 01:05:48   The cheapest, most effective way is to cut your trail by hand. There are a lot of High School teenagers looking for ways to make money, hire a half dozen for a day & give them picks & shovels, tell them what you want them to do, and then turn them loose, - you supervise (saves YOUR back). [Reply]  [No Email]
Inconceivable 11-07-2012 07:54:03 70.199.230.30 Report to Moderator	Re: Walk behind crawler dozer info in reply to Dr. Walt, 11-06-2012 10:37:01   Yes I have about 1/4 of it done (doing it by hand). I will start again in the spring. With the way the people are sue happy these days I would never risk having some teenager with a pick and shovel working on a hillside. My luck they would fall and impale themself and by the time it was all said and done I would not have to worry about my trail as I would be living on the street in a cardboard box. [Reply]  [No Email]
Bret4207 09-22-2012 04:32:04 64.19.90.196 Report to Moderator	Re: Walk behind crawler dozer info in reply to Inconceivable, 09-20-2012 01:05:48   Know anyone in your area with a team and walking plow? That's how I'd do it. Then drag it out with a section of springtooth and roll it. Simple as can be and cheap. [Reply]  [No Email]
david - OR 09-21-2012 05:14:28 208.67.204.213 Report to Moderator	Re: Walk behind crawler dozer info in reply to Inconceivable, 09-20-2012 01:05:48   If the river bank is really steep, here are two more options. Find out if anyone in your area operates a spider hoe. This is basically an excavator with hydraulic legs instead of tracks. They can work amazingly steep hillsides. Consider hiring a work crew of laborers with shovels and wheel barrows. You could probably finish the steep part in a day with a crew of 4. I know we all enjoy our fancy Tonka toys, but sometimes low tech is the best way. youtube video of spider hoe [Reply]  [No Email]
Inconceivable 09-21-2012 14:52:33 70.199.130.114 Report to Moderator	Re: Walk behind crawler dozer info in reply to david - OR, 09-21-2012 05:14:28   Whoa Spider Hoe is just what I need. I will have to see if anyone in the area rents this type of machine. Yea low tech is an idea. I guess I could roll up to Home Depo some morning and ask who is not afraid to work on a hill side doing complete back breaking work... and see what kind of responce I get. [Reply]  [No Email]
Stand up crawler 09-20-2012 18:00:47 96.53.210.246 Report to Moderator	Re: Walk behind crawler dozer info in reply to Inconceivable, 09-20-2012 01:05:48   What kid of conditions do you have to work in? Is it heavy bush, packed clay, etc., etc. Unless it's loose topsoil, I don't know if a stand up machine would have enough push for you. You could also look into a mini excavator to make your trail. You actually do stand on the very small ones but I think you could go bigger than that. The advantage an excavator has is that it relies on hyd. muscle rather than pushing power if the ground is hard. A lot of them also have a blade for back filling and cleaning up. [Reply]  [No Email]
Inconceivable 09-20-2012 18:12:42 70.199.133.193 Report to Moderator	Re: Walk behind crawler dozer info in reply to Stand up crawler, 09-20-2012 18:00:47   I agree an excavator is a good way to go. I was riding out in eastern washington and ran across this machine the forest service was using to repair a riding trail and bridge. I can not find any place that rents them. See link to picture of one. http://www.nwwstrails.com/images/18-inch-exc-web_s~33.jpg Untitled URL Link [Reply]  [No Email]
gtractorfan 09-20-2012 12:49:39 71.66.229.3 Report to Moderator	Re: Walk behind crawler dozer info in reply to Inconceivable, 09-20-2012 01:05:48   Are these what have in mind? I think you'd have a tough time doing what you want to do. Best suggestion I think is the one with the stand up on "Bobcat". [Reply]  [No Email]
Inconceivable 09-20-2012 15:33:57 70.199.133.193 Report to Moderator	Re: Walk behind crawler dozer info in reply to gtractorfan, 09-20-2012 12:49:39   Yes this type of tracked tractor with a small blade. I have found a picture on line on what I saw but it is missing the blade on the front but the same. I can not seem to get the picture to attach so here is the link. http://www.tractorshed.com/contents/adpic15698.htm Untitled URL Link [Reply]  [No Email]
Diydave 09-20-2012 10:39:21 96.244.154.196 Report to Moderator	Re: Walk behind crawler dozer info in reply to Inconceivable, 09-20-2012 01:05:48   Gravely also made a snow blade, for the 7.6 convertable tractors. Would probably make a good cut and fill path. Dingo, or boxer rental, would probably be easiest to find, though. Just because you step off, does not make 'em stop, though. if you step off, gravity WILL still take over! [Reply]  [No Email]
Inconceivable 09-20-2012 15:38:49 70.199.133.193 Report to Moderator	Re: Walk behind crawler dozer info in reply to Diydave, 09-20-2012 10:39:21   Yes I have watched Craigslist here and they come up fairly often with the snow plow attachment. I was thinking the blade would be to big and the wheels would just spin. I was thinking a tracked device would be better. I also was going to use a safety line tied to a tree so if some thing happened I would not have to watch it roll down the hill into a big ball of junk. Lol [Reply]  [No Email]
Diydave 09-20-2012 16:36:19 96.244.154.196 Report to Moderator	Re: Walk behind crawler dozer info in reply to Inconceivable, 09-20-2012 15:38:49   I know you are leaning toward a walk behind, but my struck dozer, which is of about 2000 vintage, will handle some severe angles. Google or youtube search Struck magnatrac 5000, if you want to see one. Trick is to make a trail, with switchbacks, which run across the slope. [Reply]  [No Email]
Inconceivable 09-20-2012 18:27:50 70.199.133.193 Report to Moderator	Re: Walk behind crawler dozer info in reply to Diydave, 09-20-2012 16:36:19   If I could fined one of the Struck Mini dozers that was in good shape and around $2000 or so I might go that option. I could rig up some safety lines and work small sections and reset every 10 ft or so when I am on the hillside. The rest is just salmon berrys and light brush. I will go around the trees. [Reply]  [No Email]
Inconceivable 09-20-2012 17:26:03 70.199.133.193 Report to Moderator	Re: Walk behind crawler dozer info in reply to Diydave, 09-20-2012 16:36:19   I would love to have one of those with the backhoe attachment. I have looked at there little dozers for years. It would be the perfect machine for my place but alas it will be a long time before I have that kind of money. [Reply]  [No Email]
farmerboy 09-20-2012 07:48:14 69.131.203.82 Report to Moderator	Re: Walk behind crawler dozer info in reply to Inconceivable, 09-20-2012 01:05:48   They're not tracked, but Grillo and BCS offer a very heavy duty dozer blade for the front of their two-wheel walk-behind tractors. With big rubber (or steel wheels) and big weight, you can really push some stuff. http://earthtoolsbcs.com/ [Reply]  [No Email]
Inconceivable 09-20-2012 15:50:53 70.199.133.193 Report to Moderator	Re: Walk behind crawler dozer info in reply to farmerboy, 09-20-2012 07:48:14   Thanks for the link I will compare them to the Gravely. [Reply]  [No Email]
BCnT 09-20-2012 07:39:02 68.65.150.242 Report to Moderator	Re: Walk behind crawler dozer info in reply to Inconceivable, 09-20-2012 01:05:48   if you cant find what youre looking for,theres a machine i've used on occasion called a Dingo...you operate it standing on a platform to the rear...you step off platform and whole rig stops...its a rubber tracked crawler with all kind of attachments...last one i used rented for about 125. a day. [Reply]  [No Email]
Inconceivable 09-20-2012 15:45:40 70.199.133.193 Report to Moderator	Re: Walk behind crawler dozer info in reply to BCnT, 09-20-2012 07:39:02   Thanks for the reply. I checked them out. My main issue is I would like to buy some thing small so I can work at my own pace and the real big reason is if some thing happens like it rolls off the trial I wont be buying an expensive piece of equipmemt. I am sure no one would give me insurance once they saw where I was going to be working!!!! [Reply]  [No Email]