The Biggest Dig Ever With The Mini Excavator | Garage Workshop Project Ep46

[@mohmeegaik6686]

Both of you are incredible people, using excavator to build your farm. I have subscribed to watch your interesting journey.

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

Thank you very much!

[@lwwarren]

You can use the boom to give you an extra push when you're trying to drive out. Once you get some practice you won't even need the tractor. Also, use the bucket on your tractor to scoop the dirt away from the hole. You have all the power equipment, you just need some practice to learn how to use it the most efficiently. I see you figured out how to use the boom to push you out! Now you need to get another 1/2 or 2/3 meter bucket for clearing out larger spaces. That little trenching bucket just doesn't move enough soil on each scoop.

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

As above, the site it sloping so the tractor is too unstable with a full bucket to move around easily. The digger bucket was OK for this as I was sloping downwards and having any more weight was too much for this little machine. Yes, I worked out the boom push in the end although the track had got caught on a rock the first time. ☹️

[@rjung_ch]

Amazed at how the little China Blue is handling the task!

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

It was a bit of a logistical struggle but the machine did good 👍🏻

[@Chesney46]

Love watching your videos here from Kentucky in the us ready for a lot of work for my mini on my east Kentucky farm

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

Cheers Chesney - we are using ours a lot at the moment with the footings and the walls.

[@oby-1607]

Very ambitious with the mini-digger. Took teamwork to un-stuck the little machine. Its always so amazing to see these little machines work and of course you and the wife.

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

For a DIYer these little machines are fantastic. Of course a slightly larger one would be great but with a little thought you can do a lot with a 1 tonner 😀

[@michaelvazquez7533]

2:33 attach a canopy to the digger. Patio umbrella or golf umbrella works in a pinch. Could offer some shade. I zip tie a golf or beach umbrella to a camp chair whenever I go to a bbq or the beach.

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

in hindsight, I should have kept the standard roof on the machine

[@R94GC]

These little units are so powerful! I just uploaded a video to my page of pretty much an identical machine but I’m using mine with a TMK 150 tree sheer! I do plan on getting some more videos out of our homestead adventure! We have 7 acres of land we’re planning on putting to use!

[@JesusAntonioRuizSoto]

Making a level pad for shipping containers Andrew Camarata les ahorrará trabajo en la nivelación del terreno Saludos desde Bilbao

[@JesusAntonioRuizSoto]

minuto 18,30

[@briancostello9325]

Hard Graft, well done chaps. Put the tank on timber skids, Sand bed & fill with water before backfilling with selected surround.

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

Yes, I have my shutter boards I will use. We will drain the IBC tanks into the tanks for sure.

[@thomasnelson4774]

I’ve been looking at getting a mini like yours is how I came across your video. Nice to see a big hole getting dug with one. Great work, really enjoyed watching. Cheers from the US.

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

It took a while but I was determined 😉

[@billyhill101]

Great job guys as a retired equipment operator I’m impressed 👍❤️

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

Cheers Billy, much appreciated. I really want to have a go on a big machine now.

[@PuceBaboon]

You've already got the ramp, so slide it in rather than trying to drop it. You need some sand (or planking) on the bottom to prevent rock punctures. The little blue ex on solid ground behind the blunt end of the hole (and again, put some wide planking down to prevent caving in) and a rope onto the bucket to drag the tank in a little bit at a time. Put a second rope onto the tractor as a counter weight behind the tank to stop it running away. Leave the dogs at home that day (our dachs is totally oblivious to mowers or diggers when she's after rats/moles).

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

Sort of a ramp, there is a 1m drop at the end, but I will take it through the end - a plan is being made 🤔

[@ShawnWalker-jv1rg]

I used to build roads using a Hitachi 400s & Cat 235s. That hole would have taken 2 mins. Give you an A for effort & perseverance though! 😊

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

haha, I know, I got a guy in with his 15 ton machine and he took out the whole base of the garage in 40 minutes. I know the limits of this little digger for sure 👍🏻

[@davemissenden5812]

Great little digger money well spent. Love your hard work. Well done the both of you 👏. Dave

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

Thanks Dave, much appreciated

[@richardbodor3318]

I am so impressed with China Blue. Love it. My suggestion is wooden rig and Block & Tackle to lower it slowly. Great work.

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

I have plan with some ropes and some metal work.... plus Julie of course

[@Sarin-Dan]

Bloody good work there guys!

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

Thank you 😀

[@MartinBentley-d6p]

Well done indeed ! l also want to buy a micro digger to dig out an earth cellar. Thanks, l now feel more confident about my own project.

[@andybonneau9209]

What a cute dachshund! Both of mine have passed, and I miss them mightily.

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

Ours are 10 now so hoping we have many more years. It does hurt so much when they go ☹️

[@jamesbooth4239]

I enjoy watching your weekly videos I’m about to start my homestead here in Northern Germany I have a Kubota and I’m looking at a mini bugger as well keep it safe

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

Cheers James - it will be a great adventure for sure. The Mini Digger is a must for us as we do not want to dig our foundations by hand. All these other projects are just a bonus.

[@DaleKellner]

Greetings from Pennsylvania usa! I just stumbled across your video and loved your content! Best of luck with your tiny homestead!!!

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

Thanks for watching and you kind comment - 👍🏻

[@simonmiddleton4977]

Hi guys, if you have a couple of long scaffolding boards use them as a ramp and slide the tank down them. 👍😃

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

I have my shutter wood which I can use. One thing we do not get here is scaffold planks - all scaffold here is steel. Such a pain as I have so many uses for old scaffold planks 😀

[@simonmiddleton4977]

@@HomesteadingUncontained great for building raised beds out of, but no I’ve seen your no did option that is what I would use in the future.

[@OurNewLand]

Great job, team! Watch out for sharp rocks under the tank. It's going to have a lot of weight pushing down on the bottom of the tank. You're doing awesome work!

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

Cheers Guys - we spent ages sifting through the dirt and taking out all rocks and even stones. We then put back some of the sifted dirt. Our trailer was out of action this week so we could not get to the quarry - fingers crossed it will be OK.

[@kenfrutiger2471]

When you get stuck with the digger, stick the bucket in the ground close to the machine, and as you try to backup push with the boom.you can push yourself out!

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

Yes, I sort of worked it out afterwards. But it is was a little scary learning out to do it on a precipice 🤣

[@jsmythib]

A giant bionic arm. That would be great for 4 wheelin.

[@nicholasproietto2500]

Be careful in that hole without any support for the walls. If it gives way and you're in there, game over!

[@ashboy225]

Its only 2 metres deep, not 20 metres deep......

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

I really beat up the sides with the bigger, it was solid. Without rain it was safe for us, probably more risk to shore it up for the time it was open.

[@denislawrence9230]

Use the Kubota tractor bucket as lift/lower mechanism as this will be stronger than China Blue. When you have tank in, TRANSFER some water from your upper water containers to the lowered tank, if not, you run the risk of having the new tank FLOAT when you infill with ground, if not you could be given a lot of unwanted manual labour. Great job, carry on.

[@D3rron08]

I was thinking the samething use the loader and use their electric winch.

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

Yes we will pump / drain the water from the IBC units as it states you need a ⅓ full before refill. I do have a plan brewing 🤔

[@alk5749]

I’m doing some what the same as you today, digging a 2’x14”trench 350’ for my cattle trough.

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

I do love digging.... and how much you can shift.

[@George-pg2ii]

32°C to 35°C is WAY too hot for me! Glad you survived it!

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

It is 41 today... we are not leaving the house.

[@Pinzpilot101]

Same here in Eastern Poland. 32C in the shade all day today. Even had the odd ten minute shower, but it had all dried up in half an hour....warm rain.

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

After so much rain this summer this heat is a bit of a shock..

[@alk5749]

107 degrees here in Texas 78 % humidity. Now that’s hot!

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

I forgot to add our "feels like" factor.....it is more than 150º 🤣 It is just we can't get out of it as we do not have AC here (other than sitting in the car)

[@Snailmailtrucker]

Julie did Great ! You guys are a Class act ! Liked/Subscribed ! *FJB !*

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

Thank you - 👍🏻

[@MrPubsquash82]

Great work! Think of anything else you'd want in the hole before covering it up. Pushing the tank in down the ramp should be straight forward, can use some spare corrugated sheet for a slide.

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

I did have something in mind but I need Julie to give me a hand 🤣

[@MrPubsquash82]

@@HomesteadingUncontained I laughed :)

[@dougtravins9624]

I was worried that Iam might have popped his back on that bolder, but nice job, both of you.

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

haha, no, it was not too big, just lots of loose soil making it difficult.

[@jjuggernaut3218]

If you are doing gabion baskets fill the large inner voids with cheap rip rap and use your nice pretty stones on the outside.

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

We did this as well as some left over concrete and Re-bar. All of the rocks we dug up out of the land. Just need to cap them now - happy new year 🥳

[@Renatousa17]

The content of your videos is really cool, I’m already another subscriber to your excellent channel.

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

Thank you so much - lots more to come

[@colinnapier6662]

I would probably level off the base with sharp sand to save any potential future puncture holes when the tank is full, lay down two to three batons as ramps and slide the tank in from your ramp end till it is in position then slowly slide out the batons to lower the tank in place.. what a great achievement from you both digging that hole, the easy way would have been a bigger machine but where is the fun and sense of achievement doing that.

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

We took a long time sifting through the base removing any rocks etc. Then putting down a base of soft dirt - it should be OK.

[@meetjohndoe1078]

you guys EARNED this one!

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

Thanks - it was a task we are glad is behind us.

[@harryiv6107]

What a great job!!! I would put a bed of sand down in the hole, as for getting the tank in I would try putting it on skids and pulling it over to the ramp then pushing it in and maneuvering it with China blue. Ps. The short time laps of the evening sky was beautiful I really enjoyed it, and the way you edit your videos just keeps getting better and better.

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

Thanks Harry - we sifted lots of dirt and made sure no stones are on the base and laid down he new dirt. Just because my trailer was out of action this week.

[@harryiv6107]

@@HomesteadingUncontained sounds like you knew exactly what you were doing. Fantastic work.

[@pageturnerproductions2084]

I never seem to see any comments on excavation videos regarding shoring requirements. Rule of thumb is that any excavation that is deeper than your waist height should consider the use of shoring. Your soil looks dry and stable always a good thing, I just get concerned when diy guys get deep with the excavators and have no trench wall support. I personally know of multiple occasions where guys on the tools have died with trench collapses, take care and I enjoy the videos.

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

I totally understand and if it was to stay open for a longer period I would have done something but here, wood is so expensive it would have cost a fortune so just a day of getting the water tank in. I suppose doing it yourself, you can take that personal risk but for others I would not have left it like this. Cheers for the support 👍🏻

[@scottfoster2487]

You need a muck bucket for leveling the beding sand and finnal grading. You need to practice pushing out a hole with the blade on the digger to make a flat bottom. You have gotten digger diease lol

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

I have the 80cm to put on, I was waiting to change it out as I needed to do some pipe trenching first. 😀

[@romelec]

To install the tank I would say attach it to the tractor front loader with your electric winch, it should work if it is not too heavy or tall.

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

I now have a plan...not too dissimilar to this 😉

[@kentonblair8848]

Love your project. I might have used my Kubota a little more moving the earth back. I have buried a few tanks and when the hole is as tight as yours is to the tank specs, it will drop in gently as the air is displaced under it. Good luck and keep up the good work.

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

It is quite sloppy so the tractor feels very unstable with the front loader full. I am looking to get wider turf tires on the back to get some stability back.

[@JamesThomas-fk3hu]

@@HomesteadingUncontained great to see you did the job with your own digger, that’s why you bought it. Great job done and your learning more and more as you go You might be able to turn your rear wheels out (swap the left for the right) on the kaboba so the wheel centers dish inward towards the tractor, will mean your valve stems will be on the inside but should widen the stance creating more stability Also make sure the tyres are filled with water

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

I have the rears done already and it was perfect - I am going to try the fronts this week.

[@jtsokiehobbyandadventures6666]

You need a cover over the top. Then you could add a fan. Where I live in Oklahoma right now its any where from 99 to 114 temp. The humidity is what gets me.

[@rjung_ch]

Lived in Tulsa for 5 years, a beautiful country. Stay hydrated.

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

It is getting into the 100's now but we do not have AC as standard here....only in the car. So there is no real escape from it. Oh...and I forgot to add the "feels like" factor - it is really 150º 🤣

[@jtsokiehobbyandadventures6666]

@HomesteadingUncontained best thing is be safe. I use ryobi. They have a 18volt fan I put on the excavator. There is another that goes on 5 gallon bucket you add water. It has a water mister. May not be much. Could add ice to water to cool you down a little bit. Just stay safe is the main part.

[@allanhughes7859]

I love this format just like me and her back home in the U.K. but much much colder and plenty plenty rain infact 6 months of rain this year !!!! Anyway's Husband on machine "BOYS TOYS" Wife / Boss on all the hard work. Just made me smile well to be honest made me and the boss smile because we all know what this is all about do we not ?? I also have a digger I also have a compact tractor I also have a wife that does the real work !!

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

I just take it for granted that your spouse is part of the workforce - in our case a workforce of two 👷🏻‍♀️👷🏻‍♂️

[@brianhoward6896]

Put you a few inches of sand in the bottom of the hole for cushon and just lower it in there the best you can. It will be fine!

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

We sifted lots of dirt to do the same thing 👍🏻

[@draidangraham]

Oh well done both of you, I knew you could do it 😁 I'm delighted you used what you had (or I might have bought a blue in error 🤣)

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

It just takes the pressure off doing it yourself and taking your time - when I have people in, I am always on edge.

[@AuburnElvis]

As far as getting it in, I'd probably try something like laying some boards on your ramp, then towing it down into the hole. Then, tow the boards out from under the tank once it's in place. I'm interested to see what you come up with.

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

We have a plan very similar to that - cheers 👍🏻

[@Cattywampus555]

fill the hole with water and float the tank in then pump water out.

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

I don't really want to put water int he hole just in case of collapse. I think I have worked out a plan using both machines and a rope.

[@smitty_1]

Whew! There's alot of advice on here. Lol. Ill add some. Use the bucket on the tractor to reach over the spoil pile and back drag away from the hole to make a little more room. That way your not lifting dirt on uneven ground and wifey dont have to shovel 👍 Edit.. invest in some pointed spades for dirt work. Save your back. Lol

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

Cheers Smitty, trust me, if I could have used the tractor I would have but it was a 2 m drop off which was hard to see on the video. 🚜

[@levonmorton7199]

Great work Julie and Ian. @dickinsp has the safest option. The V shape with 4 planks. Loving your progress.

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

Thank you - we are putting our plan together now.

[@kevinbushey1879]

You can do no problem, I dug a septic hole with my 20 horse Mahindra with a front bucket I had to make a ramp to go down in the hole but I did it❤

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

The ramp worked but could have been longer and less steep. 🤣

[@gilberta458]

Lovely job done... nice couple

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

Thank you so much ♥️

[@tonyestvik7969]

Maybe use the Kubota to carry it, with straps- and take it from the long side, if you are able to lift it in that way! Good job! Lucky not alot of stones and bolders for the little diggar!

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

The rocks and stones were mainly on the surface which was made up dirt from the garage excavation so we were lucky for sure.

[@aurick861]

Great job guys! Suggestion: steps would work better instead of a ramp

[@fredkaucher3694]

Set the tank on top of the hole with hopes under it and use the kobota to lower tank into the hole evenly...

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

There was too much of a sloping bank to use the tractor - there was a metre drop so I could not get close enough.

[@ts-kb5pi]

Today and tomorrow in Arizona it’s a cool 115 degrees f. Later this week it’s supposed to be in the 90’s. Maybe I will bring a jacket to work.

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

haha, I know, but you can just jump into your AC - it is not common here. But the last couple of day we have had Snow at 800m (we are at 480m) so from 40 to 5 in a day.... (the water tank is full already)

[@mikedeman5351]

Stake two ropes across the ope from side to side - stout stakes on one side and attached the ropes to the tractor on the other side. Place the tank alongside the ope and then push it into the ope so it sits on the two ropes. Lower it into position by slowing driving forward with the tractor. Undo the ropes from the stakes and pull the ropes out with the tractor. Another thing, think about putting in say 50mm of sand to protect the base of the tank from stones etc . . . . :)

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

Cheers Mike - I am coming up with a plan now which is very similar to yours 👍🏻

[@lorrainebayford177]

Yah. Way to go china blue. 2 slings and a spreader bar, china blue and you can lift the tank. It’s going to work.

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

I am plotting a cunning plan 🤔

[@meetjohndoe1078]

"during my break time I have to carry on doing your job" LOL!

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

And I didn't get a coffee 🤣

[@ern48]

You got it! That was a challenge digging the hole with the mini ex. The secret to digging a hole like that is to dig both sides to depth first with proper width then dig the middle out. In your case because of the mini's limited digging depth dig a platform deep enough and wide enough to meet the criteria before beginning the hole. Please do not trust the stability of the trench walls, the soil on top did not look stable. Anything more than 4' (1.2m) is considered a potential risk without a trench box. If there is a cave in covering a persons chest they can suffocate before rescued. It's a plastic tank and without a machine to lift it and set it in the hole properly with enough reach, I'd slide the tank down into the hole from the ramp end. Don't forget to add some water to the tank to balance the dirt pressure on the sides while back filling and to prevent it from floating out of the ground if it happened to rain hard. Great video!

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

Yes, that is where eI messed up, I should have dug the width first instead of centre out. Great tip.

[@qnner]

Hi, to give bit more immersion on the videos, try to look towards camera lens on yours closeup commentary. It'll give more personal feeling on there as if you were talking to viewers and not someone around our shoulders. I love your positive attitude on even during problems that occurs on your journeys. Keep on doing what you do, I'm enjoying it.

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

Yes, we do try. Easier with a proper camera, the phone screen always distracts 🤪

[@senaidduranovic192]

How satisfied are you with the excavator? I want to buy one and how many hours of operation does it have already been running. Best regards

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

Really happy with it - it has not got a huge amount of hours but regular small jobs for the past few years. It is always available.

[@theinfernalcraftsman]

Nice work. Every house should have a rainwater cistern for lawn watering. But for us it would have to be massive since we get so little rain and it's all in a short period of time. Dropping the tank in you can slide it over the hole on 2x4s and lower it down with cargo straps. But that's easier with a couple helpers. Dropping it in the hole won't hurt it as they are really tough. There is a tank locally at a retailer that has a huge dent in the corner of it and no damage to it. I'll trade you weather. It's been 100-110 daily from 10am until 8pm since June 11th with only 6 days below 100*. But this is TX and the high pressure sits here all summer long. But for you guys that is pretty hot and uncomfortable there. I haven't done anything outside or in the shop in months here.

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

With 4 people it would be easy - I do have a plan though.... 🤔

[@trevorjenkins1976]

Would China blue be able to drop the tank in the hole. You two are very hard working. We'll done Ian on finishing the hole. We'll done Julie on helping out with China blue.

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

We will use both machines to help out I think. I do have a plan 🤔

[@alan-sk7ky]

Looking at that nice alluvial soil you are getting out of the hole, are you going to stash it in a pile and use later as topsoil cover around the place?

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

After sifting all the big rocks out we are using it on our top garden to flatten it all out. The soil is great once the stones are out.

[@Hubcap3738]

Excellent job

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

Thank you, much appreciated

[@chiefkyle1098]

Lift arm and boom all the way up. Spin turret 180 degrees. Use bucket to pull yourself out. 👍 And why are you shoveling when you have a tractor with front loader?

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

It is too sloppy for the tractor - hard to see but this was the only way (and quicker in the end)

[@torstenbrunke4026]

Good luck.

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

Thanks Torsten

[@joelnickerson6739]

That is one large hole my friends. I had faith in you to get it done. We are in the 70s and 80s here in NY. No 90s yet. Maybe a helicopter might help you place the tank. 😂 Just take care and be safe.

[@rjung_ch]

most likely not too heavy, but huge bending powers need to be in check.

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

They do a lot of helicopter work here due to the mountains - I will use Julie instead 🤣

[@michaelvazquez7533]

Y didn’t u use the tractor to move the mount of dirt on the side of the whole 23:02

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

It is quite a slope and the stability for the tractor is a little scary with a full bucket - I am trying to sort this out with a different tire configuration.

[@johnperks8307]

Ride em cowboy made me chuckle 😂😂

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

More like those fairground bulls they have...... good fun though 🤣

[@sirantony9957]

Great progress with the hole! Working in the heat is never fun.😅

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

It is just a shock for the heat after so much cold weather we had this summer.

[@sirantony9957]

@@HomesteadingUncontained It's the same in middle Germany. July were ~22°C now it's 32°C. Working in agriculture, were you work in/with the elements all the time 😅

[@trevorpalmer1891]

Well done!

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

Cheers Trevor 👍🏻

[@MerMachinery]

however, the pit is too big for your excavator, there is a big enough risk that the soil will be damaged, anyway, good job you did😊

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

Soil damage? Not sure what you mean. It has all gone back OK and we are about to plant and sow seed on it all, just before Winter starts

[@codysp]

Should have used your tractor to pull the dirt back away from the hole. You've got equipment, use it!

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

Too dodgy on the slope - it feels like it will tip at any point when turning. I did try.

[@sirrichardpumpaloaf8154]

Pop it on Julie’s back, job done.😮

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

That was my exact thought too 🤣

[@lawrencesaville3345]

My little digger is called 'Doug'

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

haha, my middle name.

[@alfred7350]

Sling it off of the digger 👍

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

It is just so bulky but we will give it a go.

[@sycodad4483]

That seems like a lot of shoveling the spoils pile by hand when you have an excavator parked 3 feet away. Couldn't you have backed up your ramp and pulled the spoil pile back with it?

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

It was hard to see on the video but the bank and slope were too much for the digger or the tractor - took less time manually at that point.

[@linsteadpeck9288]

Can the machine pick it up? Maybe rest one end on the blade and lift the other end with the bucket by lashing a rope or something?

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

It is the bulk of the tank that is the issue using the machine - I think we will do the old Egyptian method of rollers and pushing. 🤣

[@soulis1000]

You should use pointed shovels to dig in the ground, flat head shovels is not made for work like that.

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

We do, but to smooth out the bottom a flat one is ideal.

[@larrysowada9905]

Can the mini digger lift the tank ? If so tie a rope from end to end ( if there's a way of tying it to the ends ) and lift it from the middle of the tank and lower it down, tie a rope in the center and connect it to the rope from end to end this way it would balance it from tipping from side to side and once the tank is settled in the hole you can untie the center rope and pull it out. I don't know if this made any sense to you? Larry

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

I have a cunning plan....using both machines and some rope....🤔

[@philvale5724]

Hi 👋, well done, very Dangerous work, especially with mini digger, it might be worth making the ramp a lot longer. I know it’s more work, And it will be easier if you’ve got the tank on a sledge that you could drag down into the hole , but you will need a lot of sand in the bottom. It should not be put onto stones or rocks as the weight of it will , pierce through it after a while , if you can pull the tank close enough to the home by dragging it on the, then tie ropes to the sledge, so you can drag it Down by time in the ropes to the digger the other end on the top where the grasses you can then back up your digger and pull it into the whole, I hope this makes sense, you must have a lot of sand in the bottom, so when you have got to the point of taking it off the sledge, there is sufficient sand in the bottom for it to slide on, and you must backfill with sand, do not put stones and rocks down the side, as they will punch other side of the tank, I’m sure if you look on the Internet it will explain the best way to fit the tank, not sure whether your digger is powerful enough to lift the tank to help it as you bring it in, It might be worth asking your local builders merchant as they have trucks with lifting gear on the back. If I can get into your land, they will be able to lift the tank up and lower it straight in, but it might mean you might have to move some more soil out the way. , When I had my septic tank fitted back in 2014, the truck that delivered the tank came back about two weeks later, lifted it up the straps and load it into the hole , good luck with your project, safety is paramount, because if something goes wrong, it will go very wrong, Phil from the moulin France,

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

Yes, I should have made the ramp longer from the beginning but it is hard to judge how big it all is. Plus I was nearly in next doors land at one point. We have sifted and got rid off all the rocks for the base - trailer is out of action this week so no sand.

[@meetjohndoe1078]

it looks pretty sketchy with that little digger TIPPING forward

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

It felt it too, but using the blade as a lift helped. I did ie it up to the tractor at one point but then I couldn't rotate.

[@timfagan816]

If your struggling for extra height to unload the bucket. You can either build yourself a little pad to sit the digger on, to give you the height, or raise the front of the machine up with the blade for extra height to tip the bucket onto your windrow. And as a rule of thumb if your working on a slope down hill, you wanna pack soil or what ever material you have infront of your tracks, to make what they call a bund. And track onto it just a little bit. It'll help stabilize the machine, and stop you from pulling yourself into the hole your digging when extracting material!

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

I sort of did that in the end. But it was pretty deep so it was quicker just pulling away the dirt each time. For the final part I made a wooden bund and put the blade on it.

[@timfagan816]

@HomesteadingUncontained I seen that you did that towards the end of the video, it was quite a nice touch! I liked it! 💪🏻. If you spin the tracks 180⁰ and have the blade behind you, it gives you extra break out force for the tougher digging, also it gives you more visibility when working tight into the machine, the less reliant you become on the blade, the more, fluid and smoother your motions will be, and you'll find you pace picks up too, as you have less things to think about! Take care, amd good luck, I enjoy your videos!

[@kevinbushey1879]

You two are going to need a cold one after that 😂

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

We needed something - seeing stars and a little dehydrated

[@rjung_ch]

You two are what I call typical Brits, lobster red in the summer.

[@rjung_ch]

😂😁

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

🤣🤣🤣🤣 it’s my Viking Blood (Julie)🤣🤣🤣

[@rjung_ch]

You can lower down the water tank with the tractor maybe?

[@allanhughes7859]

ALWAYS PUT IT ON SAND VERY VERY HEAVY WHEN FULL AND STONES CAR BREAK THE SKIN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

We did a lot of sieving 😬

[@inseiin]

Oh wow, thats deeper- that's w hat she said!

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

I couldn't go too deep 🤪

[@inseiin]

Nothing you can do if there aint any more left :D@@HomesteadingUncontained

[@1MartinWaite]

Use some rope and lower it into the hole (think your an undertaker) fill the tank with water as you back fill around the tank or the tank wall may cave in and that’ll split the tank wall. I was advised by my tank manufacturer to use sand to back fill and to tamp the sand down around the tank that way it will help when the tank is emptied out and cleaned etc. I was fortunate that my garden is an old sand quarry so sand was no problem we’d dug loads out to get the new tank in. It was fitted 12 years ago now and it’s been emptied out a few times and we’ve not had any trouble with it at all.

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

If there were 4 of us it would be easy that way. I am coming up with plan though. Trailer is not available this week for sand so we are sifting though the dirt to remove any rocks and using that for the base and the sides.

[@71duece56]

the next time you have to dig a hole that deep , I would suggest putting the dirt into the bucket of your tractor to move the dirt away from the edge of the hole.

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

It is a difficult site for the tractor to move around with a bucket load of dirt. It may be me being a wimp but it feels like it will tip at an moment on the slopes.

[@71duece56]

the video never shows how steep a grade is very well@@HomesteadingUncontained

[@LB-bt9xr]

Oh I guess you didn’t have room to move the pile first No problem thx

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

That was it, it was tight. For the house I plan to use the tractor a lot to move the dirt as it is relatively flat 👍🏻

[@williamfenner9915]

Use the thumb to get rock on the ground.

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

It was just a little too heavy due to the angle I was at (tilted downwards). I needed the bucket to push myself upwards. And the height of the hole was too much to get it to the top.

[@meetjohndoe1078]

Maybe CHAIN it up like pulling an engine out of a car and SLOWLY bring it with the tractor? Put wooden planks around the outer edges of the hole for traction and reinforcement? It will probably begin to swing, so have someone walk with it to stabilize it.

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

I do have a plan - it is not too heavy, just awkward.

[@georgewest2096]

Please be careful in that ditch , a rock out of the wall would easily break a leg. I have seen that. I would slide the tank in from the end with the Kabuto rolling the bucket back then shorten the road each two feet, it really gives you control and dragging it with the tractor moves faster then you may want.

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

i pulled the big rocks out but I know what you mean. We are putting int he tank now so will get it filled in quickly.

[@meetjohndoe1078]

take the rock out with the motorized wheel barrow?

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

It was not too bad - it was quicker this way...but normally yes.

[@garrygrant2827]

Right in middle of the hole make level area for kubuto tractor then life water tank with 2 canves staps on the front of the tractor boom and . lift tank over hole lower tractot front bucket down into hole when its in release to high side straps and pull out pour pea gravel down both sides then slowly in fill on top of pea gravel soft soil making sure there are no jagged stones then compact soil either side back and front as best you can put more soil in repeat compaction again till desired high level then keep soil either side as natural compaction occurs add soil till soil is firm landscape the area and either grass seed or wait a few month's then grass seed as your soil looks very very dry

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

I am plotting a plan using both machines and some rope but at each end. I am hoping it works.

[@ChinaWHEELLOADERHIGHQUALITY]

How can contact you ❤

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

email is in the description. 👍🏻

[@BAtadCrazy]

Julie's like me. She works harder not smarter 😁

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

hahaha, I keep telling her....🤣

[@BobKatzenberg]

Engulfment.

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

😀

[@LB-bt9xr]

You had a tractor there instead of shovelling you could of back bladed the pile of dirt

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

If I could drive that tractor up a 1 metre high 80 degree slope I would have. Believe me, I do try and work smart but sometimes the machinery just can't get to the dirt.

[@jarlingesandvik9883]

Why you dont used the show on the tractor insted. Half the time used i think

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

Did you mean the front loader bucket - the slope was too steep to use the tractor - it is too unstable.