How to Level Dirt with Tractor Loader

[@geremychubbuck3730]

I have both a box blade and a land plane. I also have a rear blade. Each has its purpose. The land plane is perfect for gravel driveway maintenance. For what you are doing, I personally would have used the box blade or maybe the rear blade depending on how spread out the dirt was. I use the rear blade in the spring to reclaim washed gravel from the side of the road then I use the land plane several times a month to maintain the surface. The box blade is perfect for what you're doing. Thanks for the great video.

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

I genuinely appreciate your input. I think I still may need a landplane.

[@McScott76]

Another good use for the float setting is if you need to plow snow with the loader. Last winter I didn't have a back blade or anything other than the loader for snow removal. What I did was set the loader bucket down flat and then roll it back about a half inch to keep the front edge from digging into the gravel. Then I set it to float and could skim along the rock surface and push the snow. It takes a little longer than a blade, but it definitely works. I later made a DIY "bumper" for the front edge of the bucket out of a PVC pipe split down the middle (lengthwise). This let me get an even smoother, cleaner surface. If you can't afford other implements, you can do just about anything with a loader with a little ingenuity.

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

I have seen people do that. We don't get very much snow here. 12" of snow every few years.

[@davidcorless5581]

I REALLY THINK THAT TYM MAKES A BEAUTIFUL TRACTOR, I'VE USED A QUITE A FEW TRACTORS I MY TIME, IAM RETIRED NOW IAM IN MY EARLY 70S , LOVE EVERYTHING YOU DO ON YOUR VIDEOS.

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

Right on! Thank you. They are holding up well. I grease and maintain them often. No breakdowns yet.

[@deanbarr5740]

Good job you two. Also wanted you to know that I grew up with 8 siblings. We weren't poor but like everyone else we had our limits. Growing up on a farm in my opinion is the best ever. Taught us to look our for our neighbors, as they always looked out for us. Help one another, and when us kids had our disagreements we settled em out of sight of our parents. That way we didn't get in trouble. As my dad was a military man, he knew how to stop trouble before it got too far outta hand. Enjoyed your video today Tony and Tanja.

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

I enjoyed your comment. Thank you, my friend.

[@deanbarr5740]

@@TonysTractorAdventure thank you Tony

[@hammertime7721]

I filled in the trench to my shed with the loader. It was 100' from the house to the shed. Used my loader to do the same as you did. Honestly it did a fantastic job. Nice and flat. After a few rains I will have to add a little more dirt as you've said because it has settled.

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

To be honest, this was like play time for me. I am going to plant rye grass on it the fall and then fescue next spring after I touch up the settling.

[@northeastdigger-zi7du]

I have always had success back filling using the one foot method. Back fill in 1 foot lifts compacting each lift. Depending on the material each 1 foot lift will give you around 9 inches compacted. Roughly.. depending on material. I hate having to go back any time later to re-do.

[@davemiller3027]

My nephews are playing with my Tonka Dozer and dump truck. Boy that brings back some fond memories.

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

Don't it though!

[@Wheelloader__]

Awesome video Tony. I leveled a lot of dirt with a front end loader. I have a bucket from a skid steer with a long flat bottom. Works great. I do have a box blade. Hardly ever use it. Except for a counterweight. You are right. No matter how good you make it look. You’re still going to have to come back later and touch it up.

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

I like a box blade for big areas. My neck starts to hurt looking over my shoulder. I will touch this up next year, but for winter, I will put rye down.

[@Iartpixel]

It's so darn hard. I just got the land and a tractor thought it be easy to scoop grass like peeling an apple but boy I was wrong, it's looking really wavy and zigzag who would've thought you need a lot of practice and good advice to get better. Thanks for the video, I might need to rewatch it and try it out while on the tractor.😂

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

It is a learned art for each piece of equipment. Still, a tractor loader is not good at cutting.

[@scottfenton7607]

I liked the way you filled in your trench. I may of leafed some of the extra soil up over the trench line so I could finish it off 6 months to a year down the road because of the soil compacting down. But I do love the way you drove over the trench with the tractor. Thanks for for a different perspective & another way to finish it off.

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

I will bring some top soil in from by the creek next year. Good soil.

[@scottfenton7607]

@@TonysTractorAdventure I was not thinking that far ahead. Even better idea.

[@justinsikes2221]

Idk Tony, you did probably the best job the bucket could do, maybe a once over with a power rake, but even then settling will make it a two trip job no matter what. Tell your nephew good job on that pole station, very professional. Keep up the good work!

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

Thank you. Looking forward to getting more done.

[@hiddenacresoutdoors]

I'm not sure if you've since purchased a landscape plane but we absolutely love ours (and so does our neighbor!). It's a more specialized tool vs the box blade and yes, it does work on dirt just as well as long as the dirt isn't too wet. When we redo the yard this Spring the plan is to do the rough grading work with the box blade and the final smoothing work with the land plane. I'll let you know how that goes. For driveway work? It's the absolute easiest thing to use. Just drop it down and drive. No experience needed. I run it every couple or three weeks up one side and back the other to keep the 1/4 mile gravel drive looking new(er). We have a vid which includes a short bit of working on fairly wet sand rock soothing a filling in some holes on the neighbor's "pit road". Enjoy the vids so keep it up!

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

I have a land plane now. It is a very easy tool to use. It is hard for me to get away from my box blade.

[@sandrastanley1545]

Thanks for the tip about using the float on the bucket. I am new to the Mahindra tractor so this should help a lot.

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

You are welcome. This is a TYM T474. It looks like the Mahindra, because TYM makes a lot of the Mahindra tractors. Much of what we do on the channel should translate to you Mahindra. Mahindra does use their engines.

[@Billymacmims]

I still have my Tonka toys just like those from when I was a little kid!

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

I wished I had my old toys.

[@motor2of7]

Float is also handy when running a snow plow. I still have my Tonka dump truck and skip loader , maybe even the excavator

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

I have never used a snowplow. Not much snow here.

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Great work day on the tractor!

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

It was a fun day for sure. I appreciate you checking in.

[@esanhaider8727]

You are really good at narration. Thank you.

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

I appreciate your kind words. I am trying to do better in each video.

[@genewileyopa]

Tony, I think you just like playing with them tractors like a kids toys. Thanks for sharing. Iowa is watching

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

I would be lying if I said, I was not playing. Most days it is one of my favorite places to be. We got up early to beat the heat on this day. I still had fun. 👍

[@freedomisntfree_44]

You won’t be sorry with that land plain/lever! Man I’ve smoothed out ruts like crazy with it at the farm. Tricky part is getting grass to grow 😅 seems like it comes a monsoon each time I do dirt work.

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

Yeah I've got some places that washed out. I understand

[@HamiltonvilleFarm]

Nice work!

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

👍

[@servihomestead4324]

Great work! I really appreciate your practical explanations.

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

Thank you, my friend.

[@markd2858]

Looks like that project went real nice. Good video.

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

Thank you

[@davida.p.9911]

Looks real good! Great job Tony! 🚜

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

Thank you, my friend. We will do some touching up later, but it will do.

[@GY51360]

I still have my Tonka trucks from the 60’s.

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

I would love to have my old Tonka toys. I put many miles on them.

[@100texan2]

Excellent work!

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

Thank you. More coming soon.

[@garycurt6821]

Another entertaining and educational video, great work.

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

Thank you. It was a fun day. Hot, but fun.

[@gracelikerain5551]

Thanks for the video! All new to me! So far, I’ve got two left/right feet and hands. I’m determined!

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

We all started out that way. My Grand Daddy would say this, "If someone else can do a lot of it, I can do a little of it!"

[@gracelikerain5551]

That’s a great saying !!! I did really well filling and leveling some ground yesterday after watching your video. Thanks a lot! It feels great to be able to help out around here!

[@RichardGilbert2727]

A land plane would be nice to smooth it out even more, make it look done. But you'd have the same settling problem you are planning to address down the road. Maybe that's when one would really help more. But with your extra dirt and blade work, you got it.

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

It is going to settle unless I rented a trench packer. It is a lot of work. Put down a layer of dirt, pack, and then put the next layer in until it is done. I will let it settle for a year. Thank you for watching.

[@jaytank31]

Thats really nice dirt. I wish dirt was like that in florida we have sand.

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

Thanks 👍

[@howardkettner]

Land plane. Yes. One of the best investment ever.

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

Thank you for that input. I am leaning that way more each day.

[@terrymangum7635]

Another great video Tony. You make filling and leveling that trench look easy. For me it is a lot harder than it looks. Lol. Enjoyed.

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

I appreciate you saying that. It was all the Tonka toys growing up! 😜

[@chadgreedan4728]

Sorry. Was scrolling and watched your video. Get one. I have a land plane for my JD3046. It works great for gravel. Not so much for super large stone like #3s I believe they’re called. For dirt it has to be dry and loose. It would give a good finish look and level it up. Best with top soil. Hard clumpy clay not so much.

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

Thank you. I ended up getting a land plane to keep my drive. Our drive is already lone, and it will only get longer.

[@Lifeinthe906]

Hey Tony nice work with the loader and bucket. I like using the bucket when I can. It's always hanging there on the front of the tractor!

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

I totally agree. It was easier to back drag it with the loader than take the backhoe off and put the box blade on. I will be grading gravel soon, and I will touch it up with the box blade then.

[@davidweatherall1486]

Great and informative video. Thank you

[@tractorman4461]

Good job Tony !! It’s nice to see some nice clean rock free dirt. Sure makes finish grading a LOT easier. I think a land plane would be nice to have had for that project but as you proved it’s probably not really necessary. But hey… I never say no to another tool or accessory. Btw, they are just about giving that conduit away aren’t they. Three inch up here puts on heck of a dent in your billfold !!

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

I have been selling blood to help pay for the conduit. 😁 Everything is about twice as high. It is just crazy. I will have a long gravel drive at this place when we finish. A land leveler makes quick work of gravel drives.

[@tractorman4461]

@@TonysTractorAdventure hahahaha… selling blood. LOL. I feel your pain. My neighbor just spent $3600.00 on just the conduit for his underground. I agree about the land plane for an extended gravel drive. I thought you were questioning the need for just this dirt work project where you proved the loader itself was more than capable.

[@davidkarath6549]

Chain harrow levels and spread dirt nice...

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

I have used one before a long time ago.

[@richardglandus1576]

Super vidéo Merci Tony Je suis impressionné par la qualité de votre travail. On voit que vous êtes un très bon conducteur de tracteur. Merci

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

Je t'apprécie. J'essaie toujours d'améliorer mes compétences en tracteur. Merci encore.

[@kipcudd7253]

That tractor does alot better than my 1025r John Deere. Specially pushing that dirt.

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

That is understandable. It is a 48 hp tractor weighing in about 8000 pounds the way it is set up. I owned a JD1025R. I really enjoyed it, but it is not Apples to Apples. I think I have found the sweet spot with my other tractor; the TYM T25. It is just a bit bigger than a JD 1025R, with a good bit more capacity. Still, the 1025R will always have a place in my heart. JD has the best belly mower system on the market, hands down!

[@ProjectsWithPaul]

Looks good!

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

Thank you.

[@petehall2982]

personally I wouldnt use my land plane to finish that, i have a landscape rake ant that would have been my choice at the end and would work well for scratching in some grass seed. Thats my 2 cents, you may want some change back though :)

[@letfreedomring43]

Had all the same Tonka toys brother.

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

Good times!

[@123hotdog111]

I had the Tonka crane too.

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

The crane. That was a cool one.

[@caydensoutdoorlife4547]

Great! Very entertaining!

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

Thank you. We are back to work now, with so not many assembly videos anymore.

[@IronSharpensIronPv27.17]

To compact trench without need for future compaction: Do lilts of 6-12” depending on overall depth and soil type Before next lift use small compactor some call it a jumping jack Then next lift and run jumping jack Repeat until backfill is completed with little mound then run jumping jack to press mound some then use your method to finish grade it. We use skid steer tracks to get final compaction while smoothing it out Key to this is moist dirt. Not soaked just little moisture. If it’s dry then water buffalo to spray it down. Wet trench and top of spoils. First lift compact and repeat. Makes for solid backfill especially if it’s in or crossing a road way

[@jaytodd5809]

OMG..thanks man!...I got that same rod on my Branson tractor loader and never knew the reason..feel kinda dumb at same time lol..

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

Jay, Set your bucket level on the ground. Loosen the clamp bolt on the steel pipe around the leveling rod. Set the rod to the edge of the rod. Tighten the bolt back down. Every time you put the rod to the top of the pipe, your bucket is level. It may have or may have not been set correctly during assembly. Things click in my head that I have done wrong for 20 year. Never stop learning!

[@jaytodd5809]

Will give that a try...I've shoveled a few piles of gravel over past few years just kinda going at them blindly and this info would have made scooping much easier..

[@JanineMJoi]

i am looking everywhere trying to find HOW to use the scoop. So far this is the best one. So , the front raising like that is ok? Scared the heck outta me when it raised up. I guess? the backhoe on the back would stop me from going backward. Still.

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

I don't let it go crazy, but the front wheels will come off the ground some.

[@michelaylwin105]

Hey Tony. Nice job you do and im taking good tip from you because i try it and it work. I have lot of landscaping and more but is it worth to load tire because mine are not but my tractor always try to tip on a side is it the cause. Anyway your a good operator and know how to do it. Have a nice day from a Old Canadian beginer. Michel

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

Thank you. We all were beginners at some point. Keep plugging away and keep on tractoring!

[@brianmerrill657]

Tony tell me the good and the bad on this T474 and what any new buyer should know about this tractor.

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

I have 160 hours of very hard use. New video tomorrow working the tar out of it. It has never broken down. I work it hard; I grease it and do all maintenance required. TYM builds tractors more on the old fashion way. Heavy cast iron. I also have the T25 which I really like. My wife has kind of taken over the T474.

[@brianmerrill657]

@@TonysTractorAdventure I'm trading my T264 for the T25 very soon, also sold my bigger tractor and looking to replace it, thanks for the info and you2 stay well and healthy.

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

I am not a big fan of the shuttle shift version. The hydrostatic transmission is bullet proof.

[@stevewilliams4106]

I like to over fill, then wheel roll and do final level.

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

I agree. It will still need touching up, but very little.

[@nessav7258]

Would a chain harrow help with levelling? (not compacting). An issue I find is tractor tyre tread so I guess going backwards would help with that.

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

There is a hundred ways to skin it, and most of the can be correct!

[@Bodhranarama]

Yeah, anyone that thinks they can get all the dirt that came out back in the hole hasn't done It! No point spending hours trying, just wait for nature then top it up. Good job you two.

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

I appreciate you. Thank you for the kind words. Tony

[@kevinbrewer2141]

I think a land plain is unappreciated. I don't have one but I do have a horse drawn drag. It's built like a land plain we have used it for years on dirt and driveways. It's been in the family for years now.

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

We use to have an old steel spike harrow we pulled around by chains with a small tractor. It would put a good finish on the ground.

[@Mangold2865]

Are you using 4wd when using the loader?

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

Sure. Don't use 4x4 on hard surfaces like concrete or blacktop. All other lose surfaces will be fine.

[@jjacres129]

The land plane is nice but it needs to be very dry dirt

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

I can see it needing to be very dry. I may still get one, because we are going to have a very long gravel drive way.

[@darkwinter6028]

You are lucky. Instead of high clay content, I’ve got high rock content. 🤨

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

I have lived that and got the tee-shirt. East TN has so much rock. Thanks for watching.

[@yourlogicalnightmare1014]

Need a loader that can maintain a height regardless of tractor angle. I cant level a gd thing with my 4 series John Deere because front or back attachment, it raises and lowers off the ground with the humps the tires follow, making it nearly worthless for leveling. Really need a bulldozer with the power to push tons of dirt and etch a perfectly flat plane into the ground

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

All tractor do this. You have to use a cross pattern. I even dump gravel where my back tires are and level there first so my by loader is level when I go forward. I grew up on dozers. It is much harder than it looks to push level.

[@WellsFamilyHomestead]

How is the tym holding up

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

425 hours with no breakdowns. All I've done is normal maintenance.

[@Haulingforaliving]

at 4:18 was that a dead critter ?

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

I don't remember any dead critter.

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

I looked at it on the computer. It was just a clump of grass.

[@sahmadi1000]

I don't like changing implements. Call me lazy if you want but I rather have 3 or 4 old tractors each doing one thing.

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

Each to their own.

[@danbushilla2865]

Hope they arn't using smart meters in your area. they are very evasive and dangerous.

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

I am not sure what you are talking about. Old video

[@timhelmle8377]

Land planes are great but dirt will still settleu

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

Dirt settles no matter the implement.

[@matthewsims359]

Looks good. Float on a loader is a handy feature. I use it a lot when im working the gravel driveway. I would like to have a land plane though, they seem to do a really good job with gravel

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

A landplane is on my list. I appreciate you watching.

[@IronSharpensIronPv27.17]

To compact trench without need for future compaction: Do lilts of 6-12” depending on overall depth and soil type Before next lift use small compactor some call it a jumping jack Then next lift and run jumping jack Repeat until backfill is completed with little mound then run jumping jack to press mound some then use your method to finish grade it. We use skid steer tracks to get final compaction while smoothing it out Key to this is moist dirt. Not soaked just little moisture. If it’s dry then water buffalo to spray it down. Wet trench and top of spoils. First lift compact and repeat. Makes for solid backfill especially if it’s in or crossing a road way

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

We have a lot of it to do. I though about buying a used walk behind packer. I can sell it when I am done.