Helping neighbors isn't always easy, I don't know how to fix this right

Today was Busy! Dolly For a Snowplow for the Kubota Side Kick, Firewood Work with the MX5400 Tractor, Then Stone for my moms driveway and looked at a major job for my neighbor. I'm going to have to think about this one
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We live in Western Pa. and Have around 100 Acres of Land, About 1/2 is ours the rest is my moms, We have 4 kids and two grandchildren, 3 Golden Retrievers and one Cat. We enjoy working on our property and making improvements. We sell firewood and soon will be selling hardwood lumber.

[@HandUpCo]

The introduction music reminds of something you’d hear at the beginning of a 90’s movie lol. Hope everyone has a great weekend!

[@rphiliprogers]

Good morning everyone. 31º in Kansas City. Stay safe, be humble & kind and have a day.

[@badcat4707]

Good morning Phil :-)

[@cyclemaster46]

Good morning from Harrisonville.

[@oldmanfred8676]

Brothers 😎😊👍

[@oldmanfred8676]

29° here Phil, Southeast Michigan.

[@oldmanfred8676]

Cyclemaster and Phil, You guys are close neighbors.

[@robm6345]

Helping the neighbors? You're a big hearted guy. Be careful.

[@michaelwebb4833]

Good morning Morgan’s love your selection of music mike thanks

[@tomsommer54]

Mike, I love your firewood station. That is the best I have ever seen.

[@thebradleysoncatbirdhill6849]

How many people watching this video wish Mike Morgan was their neighbor??? Mike, you are a wealth of knowledge, and better than that, you are willing to share it freely! 👏👍

[@lars277]

Great video Mike. Thank you. I like what Jim Shoe wrote about that job. Some jobs are just too close to home if you catch my drift. There are big excavating companies out there that can whip that thing out in a day or two. Plus, it is three different homes. Yikes!!! All of that reminds me of my old buddy. He started out with a Bobcat. We had a small state job for him back in 1980. All he had was a bobcat, a trailer, and a pickup. He is my age, so back in 1980 we both were 26 years. I moved away. Years later I went back to visit. He has a huge excavating company with huge equipment, dozers, graders, on and on. He bought his own gravel pit and wash plant. He gets state and federal work, plus private. He built that business up in about 20 years. I bet he would do that job, but he is in South Dakota.

[@frankbever1788]

You are a good neighbor Mike. Mr. Morgan would be proud.

[@python3574]

A 20' stick of culvert is definitely not enough. In the big picture, considering there are multiple houses serviced by that road, that culvert really needs to be done in more of a long-term way. IMO, it should definitely have more substantial inlet and outlet wing walls, especially now before that outlet area gets too badly scoured out. I think, to do it right, a lot more will need to be spent on it than what they are thinking of right now. That lady seems like she could be a "challenge", and the potential is there for you to get your foot caught in a trap on this project, such that if you do it how they "tell" you to do it, and it continues to require steady maintenance, she's gonna have it in your head that you should be expected to do it because you did the job. IMO, tell all the parties involved what you think is the right way to do it, and if they don't want to do it....back out gracefully.

[@peter6244431]

Very good advice !

[@python3574]

@@brutebetter9188 IMO, a bridge is the best solution, but it's gonna be on the order of $50K. ASSUMING that 48" culvert will handle even the heaviest flows of that stream, I think the culvert.....with enough length and properly installed concrete wing walls, will also do the job and last a long time. That will probably be about $25K. Not sure how much this kind of work goes for in PA, so it could be higher than where I'm at. Also, if done this way, Concrete with the Hauses could get a cool wing wall project out of it.

[@noc8076]

Definitely needs large rocks on the inlet side, and there is potential for wires going in the road, like telephone, gas etc.

[@davidkettell5726]

Yes ,that looks like a seriously expensive project to do correctly . Any failure in the future because of crazy weather will come back on you Mike . Stay well away from that kind of work and call letsdig18 lol.

[@jerrycrandall433]

I'd run from that job. Larger equipment needed, working around 3 families could be a nightmare.Too much for one guy with limited equipment

[@PEI_Guy]

Hello All, Prince Edward Island Canada 41 degrees and cloudy.

[@brett76544]

creeks and working any where near them is always fun with the DEP and soil conservation districts.

[@davec3659]

Kenny Rodgers had it right: "Ya gotta know when to hold'em, know when to fold'em . . ." Personally, I'd neighborly & politely 'fold'em.' Also, if you do it, I foresee the expectation of life-time maintenance & warranty. Give it some serious thought & best of luck!

[@groundzkeepah1976]

You make it look easy!!! Great job on the driveway… and go with your instincts on the culvert job.

[@dickhumble4610]

Always good to take care of Mom.

[@johnharrison1895]

Mike by the way the Storm drain project is no joke and will require more workers, is not like anything you have done especially during a nightmare rain storm. 😎🇺🇸👍

[@davehollick3646]

Mike you are a genius sir! Getting Melissa to do the heavy pushing. Well played.

[@jerrysalgat3406]

I know I would stay far away from that job. With three neighbors involved it would get real interesting in the future. Just from my experience. Good luck on what you decide.

[@jerryoverweg8606]

Good morning from south Dakota great video hope you have a blessed day

[@jimmeeks206]

These guys are right on. A bridge would be more expensive on the front end, but no matter what you do with the pipe they have, it won't last like a bridge would. There are pre-fabricated sections available in various lengths and all that is needed are head and wing walls on either end..

[@aejnutrition1]

That land plain does a nice job. I like it.

[@Matt10Lawrence]

Who was more excited? The neighbor about getting stone spread, or Mike at the opportunity to play with 2A limestone?

[@marcuswhite3628]

😂 lol!

[@LongBinh70]

🤣🤣🤣

[@johnking8679]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Mike, after reading most of the comments, I STRONGLY recommend you DO NOT take on the culvert job !!

[@JamesSmith-ji6yx]

I have one of those blankets. Very warm and comfortable.

[@randyelkins9123]

I personally would avoid that culvert job like the plague. To many things could and would go wrong. Merry Christmas 🎅.

[@MotoDeSoto]

Mike, you are the role model of a perfect neighbor. 😎

[@iainhetherington4608]

Every thing you have said is correct Mike ,As soon as you open it up all hell will break loose , good luck Cheers from Aus

[@garylanier5210]

Awesome, you even timed the rock spreading so the Amazon truck helped pack down your mum's driveway! LOL! Keep smiling!! Prayers for Eva.

[@Spinonemaster]

Mike, quick note. have Haus Concrete recon the culvert pipe job .... most people make the mistake of back filling the up stream side with 2A, or Gabians, ect ... that always washes out around the culvert in big deluges ... my road along the Delaware River (611) has been closed for 8 months because PA DOT has made that mistake on a large culvert for 50 years .... they fixed it the same way every 3 months for years until it (roadway) collapsed beyond repair ... Gabian baskets are nice, but to make it last I'd encase the upstream side in a concrete footing/wall ... PA DOT said they'd have the culvert fixed by October, but didn't mention the year ; ) ... turns out the outside consulting firm told them the same thing I've been telling DOT for 6 years ... aggregate washes out a little at a time until you get a blow out ...

[@judithfairchild8620]

Job on your mom's driveway is very nice. Uptake good care of her.

[@russellbowman8051]

Another Job Well Done! Mike Looks Awesome!! JUST Like A Artist!! 😀👍👊

[@robertryancurry342]

Right place Right timing way to brother 2 jobs at the same time frame 👌

[@Guitaural.]

That culvert project may drag you into more issues down the road Mike - would love to see it, but would hate to see you get entangled in an ongoing maintenance mess...

[@sagaciousalso5026]

Having worked in both the consulting and construction fields for over forty years, from what you've shown, you have a right to have reservations. Just a couple recommendations, if I may: I would do a quick drainage calculation to determine the tributary volume of water, during various storm intensities, to adequately size culvert(s). You may be looking at dual culverts for this location for the culvert size shown. The length will depend on both inlet and outlet treatments. Medium stone fill (rip rap) may be able to be designed to handle required erosion protection in lieu of a headwall. If done correctly, it may be quite an expensive project. Perhaps, since a driveway culvert, maybe either County or DOT would be able to assist with design recommendations depending on highway maintenance jurisdiction of adjacent roadway. After completion, you don't want a storm event to wash out you efforts. Good luck.....

[@jimshoe6828]

Mike, putting everything on rollers of some sort is the way to go. The older I get, the more dollies I own. Most everything I have in my garage is on wheels. It allows me to store things tighter and only takes minutes to roll things out. As far as that culvert project, I think I would pass. Looking at that ditch, it looks like (2) 48" might be more appropriate for the amount of flow that looks like what can occasionally come through there. I think it's a bigger job than your equipment will allow you to do in an 8 hour window. People don't like being kept in, or out, of their homes for a whole day.

[@haroldphipps3457]

Agree 💯 %

[@rayperoni4142]

Considering all the facts that you mentioned ,I would pass too.Dealing with neighbors is not always a rest too

[@robk1310]

I hear what lady said and watched her, she's the kind of customer I stay away from in my own side business. She has trouble written all over her.

[@kookiethebear]

Agreed, a minimum of two 4ftx20ft tubes are needed to support that branch and a decent sized excavator is required to take care of it in a day.

[@michaelmactavish4445]

@@kookiethebear yeah kubotas are only onethat has alot of verilty sizes small,medium,large,mid size excavators and even kubota tractors too and riding mowers to choose wich why love kubotas

[@darz3]

Mike Morgan’s guide to Kubota tractors, excavators and skid loaders😉

[@lloydfelter9349]

ME -- I THINK I WOULD PASS ON THAT CULVERT JOB !!

[@gailgilley781]

You are such a good Neighbor Mike! Have a great day!

[@noelgreen9381]

Melissa, you look absolutely amazing. The workouts are having a very positive impact. And we love your hair. You look so much more attractive without the ball cap.

[@scrapr65]

Mike I always enjoy your music!!!

[@bigbigby4657]

Mel, got our shirts, we love them! You did an Awesome Job!!☺❤

[@boomerau]

the dolly attachment system is the best I use it for most of mine.

[@robertwazniak9495]

Mike… take the job or not, that is your call but, make sure you factor in everything. I’m sure there are permits and certifications necessary to do in-stream work. Insurance to cover one of the homeowners or a guest with a drink or two in them doesn’t remember that the culvert is out. As for culvert size, just check the next one downstream. Longer is always better than too short. One thing I was taught early in my career as a highway engineer was “ don’t take a job too close to home because it will haunt you forever.” Even if the property owners aren’t a problem, you will always see it and be reminded “I shoulda done that differently” LOL and, yes I didn’t listen and yes, it’s true.

[@anthonyjones1864]

fantastic work on the driveway Mike

[@dmorgan28]

Mike you are right. A 20’ culvert is not near long enough and like you I sure wouldn’t attempt it this time of the year. You’ve got your Mom’s road looking great. I like your converted dolly’s for your blade. Great idea. Cool video. 👍👍👍❤️

[@chucklogan7296]

A nice solid wood bridge over troubled waters!!

[@threepointservices-tractor4832]

Mike, You seem to be a very authentic person. Other creators mention you in their videos, and after watching your videos, I can see why they strive to be like you. Very enjoyable presentation, of the material.

[@OutdoorsWithTheMorgans]

Wow, thank you

[@RDW303]

I had a friend that made quilts. She made me a couple quillows. It was a quilt that you can fold up, push it into an attached pocket to make a pillow. I loved them so much, I kept wearing them out.

[@jpro5687]

“Do you want me to spread it?”…….. “Ohhhh?!?!?!” Perfect! Nice intro mike! 🤣

[@OutdoorsWithTheMorgans]

Thanks!

[@billmorris2613]

Good morning to all from SE Louisiana 17 Dec 21.

[@badcat4707]

Good morning Bill :-)

[@oldmanfred8676]

Bill and Bad, 😊👍

[@marcuswhite3628]

Good morning Bill, BadCat & Old Man Fred.

[@traviscover590]

I like your new video today you did a really good jop this was nice you help your mom out good jop this look nice i love your video

[@RebekahTOUCHEDBYYARN]

It always seems when you're working on someone's property another person comes over and ask if you can help it was so sweet to see you helping her

[@mikemcguire8351]

Decisions, decisions. I know what mine would be. Y'all have a great day.

[@eddeetz493]

Man, delivering a tote of firewood with a box blade pass up and down the driveway sure does add value. How fun to grade a driveway to meet neighbors, offer wood and driveway upkeep package and grading. Possible barter for saw logs on new trails. Driveway needs work, order firewood and stone. Man that would be a fun day.

[@jimmycone3717]

Nice! I’ve got the MX5100 I’ve had for 10 years now been a great tractor that cab would be nice for winter though.

[@matthewmeek9301]

10 dump trucks later of gravel Mike's got this looking good 🤣💪👍

[@willkaeble2091]

Love your music selection.

[@douglasschuler9604]

Not to hurt anyone's feelings, Do Not do it. That is a big job and with the amount of flow your talking about and you are not qualified or insured to do it! Something like that happened here in Ohio and caused a huge lawsuit. Everybody got sued.

[@gregtaylor3432]

Levi's blanket sounds like a backpacker quilt!!

[@jamesmoore768]

Mike the more I think about this job the culvert job I hope You pass on it! God Bless the Morgans!👍🙏❤️🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@caydensoutdoorlife4547]

Very nice job! Enjoyed this! I can’t wait to get a land plane!

[@josephpedone2004]

Good morning Morgan family ☕️ HAPPY FRIDAY… Mike!!! Your music had me toe tapping and smiling, great choice… have a blessed day

[@PatrickCPalmer]

You are getting more and more organized in the wood recycling center. Looks great and better utilized now

[@danwesdock4714]

Yes, make sure you contact the local conservation district, wouldn’t want you to get in trouble for in-stream work when you’re just trying to help out a neighbor. Let me know if you’d like input on permitting, I do that work in another county

[@chrisbastian3766]

Pretty work Mike! Amazon, FedEx & UPS will tear up a gravel driveway in a heartbeat. They're always hauling tail on mine.

[@tonepoem4438]

Mike because the energies are definitely really crazy out there in today’s world. Well it wouldn’t be a bad thing if perhaps you were to focus on simplifying your world, simplifying your reality, taking things off your plate lightening your load if you need to and just focusing on that self-love, that self-care. And so Mike we don’t need to add anything to the moment, there’s nothing wrong with it, it’s not less valid, less than anything else when you are operating your machinery, and this is the full expression of ultimate reality like you are just here and something about this moment shines with perfection and you see the divine with a simple task of the day. So Mike, the moment you start judging what people think and expect from you, well then you come to realize that our judgments hide us from the miracle of the present moment. “judgement is a weapon I use against myself to keep the miracle of God away from me.” Without judgment we begin to recognize that the divine essence is equally present in every moment in time these times you call your home.

[@reno4819]

Good morning. Thanks for the video. Quick suggestion... to save space I rotate my blade up so the face is down on the 2 carts for storage. Then rotate it back down to attach it. Easier to move too as you don't have to bend over as much. For what it's worth. Cheers!

[@johnking8679]

WOW !! That's a BIG job you'd be taking on with your neighbor's culvert !! Do you have the time and surely you'll need help...? Melissa's plate is already FULL and last but not least is your liability !! Do you have insurance to cover yourself should something go wrong - for at least the next five years or more !! Sorry, I'm not usually a "Negative Nellie" but in sue-happy California I would have to REALLY think about it !! As a retired Operations and Facilities Manager, that's my two cents worth, Mike. Good luck, my friend !!

[@marvindiamonjr.9631]

On a side note...I really enjoyed the music in your opening segment. Nice change up!

[@richardbaker6194]

Very nice 😎. Driveway looks great!

[@tinachambers4887]

This project will need more than a new covert A structural engineer ect ect... have a day love from TEXAS

[@brucep9123]

Mike, The job you are looking at is going to be a nightmare with the possibility of a no-win situation. I suspect that the culvert they are providing is not large enough for the spring rains and /or some of the rain events which you experienced within the last couple of years. I wouldn't touch it unless: 1-There is another outlet so that all of the traffic could get out while you are working, 2-The culvert(s) being put in can handle ANY rain event, and 3-The inlet side of the structure is solidly fortified with stone/cement. (PS-I am not a fan of the plastic culverts) That being said, I'd love to see how you would manage such a project!

[@michaelmcgovern5571]

You're a pretty good singer Mike you should keep that up in videos

[@tommyordoyne7461]

Good morning from Upstate South Carolina. Another section of pipe and lots of riprap on both sides for that project should help. Have a productive day.

[@johnkaspar462]

I’d be inclined to help her as well if I was in your shoes. There’s a lot of potential pitfalls. The real problem is once you touch it, you own it. I think you have a lot of resources of information both on here & at church. Big decision. It’s the kind of stuff that could lead to bad blood

[@edsecorr7812]

Thank you very nice keep up the great work

[@billfenner7084]

I looks like this could be a good thing. I agree that the spring season will be better. It would be a great video

[@tommybounds3220]

I really enjoy seeing the smoke coming out of the excavator exhaust reminds me of an old steam engine very sweet.

[@catharinalausen6263]

-24F in Alberta today. Enjoy your weather!

[@williamingle1684]

Excellent study vid for spreading stone! Mike your a real master! Keep the faith! Continued prayers for the family!

[@larryparvin6475]

Mike, as a former employee of the USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service I have surveyed and designed a number of stream crossings. I would recommend that you contact your local Conservation District Office for help on this matter. Please do not try this project without properly sizing and protecting this stream crossing. Sometimes a culvert is not the best choice for a stable crossing..

[@wingwhacker7500]

Yes, this probably is considered a fish bearing stream witch permits are required. Has the culvert been sized to meet permit requirements. Not sure if you have these type of regulations in Pennsylvania.

[@als8518]

agreed. looks like a great spot for about a 12' span waste block and steel bridge, with a timber deck

[@SwimCoach8]

I know how the gully washers can be here in PA. The amount of pipes has got to be able to handle the odd gully washer. Based on what you showed, I doubt a single pipe would handle a big thunderstorm. You can't size it for every possibility but you also don't want to be regrading it every Friday night after a summer storm. Good luck and you might want an engineer to take a peak at that before committing. Thanks again.

[@googleboy7]

Thanks Mike. I've been moving my snow plow around with a dolly for years, I did. No more. ;-)) Merry Christmas. Shalom/gw

[@bradhaggett]

HF carts are useful. I have a setup made out of them that I take my sawmill head/motor unit off the tracks with my tractor forks and store it in the shed on the HF cart when not sawing.

[@bentwedgestanleybrand5818]

Good morning from Piqua Ohio. This beautiful frosty Sunny morning.

[@boydstone7433]

Your a good son, mike!!

[@john0119]

You can do it Magnificent Mike, Just have all your Ducks in a Row and Weather 👍

[@scssarge4409]

Mike; Top dolly system and keeps metal off the ground or cement thus no scrapes or damage. Like it a lot as forest gump said.

[@rodneyscrivner2504]

Great Video Mike, got a lot done on this one

[@anthonyvolpe5206]

Love the hair Melissa...seriously...not a joke 👍

[@jelinektreeservice]

With the plastic pipe make sure you have a substantial amount of cover over the top of the pipe. That airspace in the corrugated ribs will make the pipe float if the water level rises. When I worked for a DPW we had a 36" culvert just like that heave out of the ground when the ground water level rose and made a foot tall speed bump in the grass. Because of the elevation we could only have 8-12" of cover on the last two sections of pipe. Those are the ones that heaved. Had to rip it out and replace the whole drain with concrete pipe.

[@1Corinthians15v1-4]

Your neighbors job looks like a good job to work on, good content too. Without knowing how much water drains down that creek at it's max it's tough to tell what exactly you'll need but I think you are correct on timing and needing bigger/longer/more culverts installed. I think your intuition is correct and I suggest listening to that small voice guiding you in the right direction. They may not really know how much it'll take to fix that culvert issue correctly and doing it on the cheap could be a huge waste of money for them if it doesn't really fix the problem. Driveway looks awesome. We're going to have to trade in our rear blade for one of those land planes. It's hard to use a rear blade on a mile long driveway that makes the tractor dip and rise on the front axle when you drive down it.

[@freedomrider30]

Mike! Your good dude. They need to go back! They are looking for shortcuts instead of putting in some time. Been with ya from basically the start. Already told a few they need to look at you for knowing how to work it. A+ for you!!! 👍🏻👍🏻

[@Morgan2XL]

Mike things to consider: Run off collection area design flow Design Slope of culvert? Manufactures flow rate for slope and culvert area Flow restriction when not having inlet and outlet structure Debris carried in stream? If pipe turns out to be the correct size inlet and outlet fittings are available from manufacture ( at least in CSP from Armco) if not join culvert to get extra length.and cut top to improve inlet condition. If there are fish or even if there might be there may be a requirement to have a bridge or a flat bottomed squashed culvert embedded in the creek soils. Reduces available design flow! Culvert slope should not exceed 5% and may have more stringent regs where you are. Required pipe bedding back fill, and erosion control geo textiles? Head and tail walls can be gabion, lock block or poured concrete or hybrid. But will require geotextile reinforcement on each course. We are seeing substantially larger than 100 year design flows happening regularly in PNW. Next as mentioned by others you need approvals from all authorities having jurisdiction. After doing all design I usually look around at the rest of the culverts in the area. I have 5 ft culverts aimed at downstream 36" hwy. culverts and expect our local highway to get obliterated some spring, as they have elsewhere in the area. Finally your equipment is a way small to move and place CMP culvert or lockblocks, might be lucky to nudge lockblocks.. might manage poly but might need a lift spreader bar ? Check wt.

[@electricitysucks5]

I love getting new gravel.

[@russpolitte7811]

Hi Mike I would use concrete box culverts to prevent rotting away in the future.

[@thomasgreene5750]

For storage, you might want to turn the snow plow with the blade facing the building wall. With the current arrangement, the square channel/tube might be punched through the wall if you were to accidently run into the plow with another piece of equipment.

[@blueridgebushcraft8294]

Y’all keep up the good work. Always enjoy watching your videos and sharing your family with us.

[@stevehammonds8909]

Mike the Driveway pro. Love the driveway videos. Can't wait for the culvert job decision. Big job.

[@lendevonuk5479]

Hi Mike, good video once again. Before you get your new log splitter why not make yourself a large ‘bucking’ table using old railway ties. Bolt it together from the underside, with large angle iron and what we call ‘coach screws’, then turn it over so that your saws don’t see any steel. It would be robust enough for larger rounds, and should last for years! That culvert could be tricky! I am no civil engineer, but I would say with that anticipated volume of water, I would have two of those 48” pipes side by side, and longer, encapsulated in concrete, forming an inlet and outlet at either end. Then backfill with stone to bring to level for your road. Gabion walls both sides!

[@larrypolk2378]

Obtain a hydraulic right lift arm and top link. It makes any grading job so much easier. That way you can tilt left or right to maintain the crown. Tilt front or back to make the cutting edge dig in or smooth without cutting.

[@glennvengroff7235]

My opinion on that job is only take it if they do it %100 right!!! Making freinamies that close to mom's home!!! And she did not sound like a resonable person...just 1 man's opinion. Great vids and please keep up the great work.