Sub-compact tractors can build roads // E67

[@j.l.daltoin2238]

needs to be ditched and some drains put in to redirect water of new drive I have mine title away from the downhill toward the uphill that way water drains against the higher bank side ad I clean it out everyone in a while plus it being tilted toward the bank side when the ice of snow come in I slide toward bank side instead of going off down into the woods lol it took a lot of gravel over the years to keep drive in place my land eats gravel lol

[@nookworm1]

Logs and sticks and branches, logs and sticks and branches.......Jon can really handle the machines very well - Impressive! Meg you are THE ROCK THOWER!

[@KODArunner]

John, "How to build an inexpensive wall for your future Choi-pond." Begin with a good layer of 6-mm Visqueen or thicker. Lay it in the stream bed, from side to side and as high as you want to go. Then begin laying double rows of sand bags to build a wall. When you have the wall as high as you want it, lay the top end of your Visqueen over the top of your wall and add two more rows of and bags on top of it. Meg, ya really do need to buy 3 pieces of heavy-wall 1 inch water pipe and give that to John and tell him, "Here is your new TRI-POD, make it work!" lol

[@deanbarr5740]

Your exactly right John, with a compact tractor an experienced operator can accomplish just about any task at hand. I've got a younger brother who like you can really make a big show with just a tractor and a loader. A backhoe added makes it a real game changer.

[@WalnutsandWineberries]

Thank you for the compliment, Dean! It is an extremely versatile machine and very efficient to run - not to mention productive. It has taught me a lot in the short time I've had it. I see myself getting into heavy equipment work as a side hustle in the future and the lessons I'm learning on this machine will make me a good operator when I get into bigger and more expensive equipment.

[@PeaceIntheValley]

@@WalnutsandWineberries Jon, I was thinking something similar! I never realized how much fun it is to play in the dirt!

[@ronbridges7438]

you do you i will do me!, is my Philosophy. What works for you is all that counts! Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and looking forward to the trommel build. God Bless

[@VowellVentures]

The ever present battle between time and money.. less money.. more time.. more money.. less time.. in the end the project is still to the same quality. I love watching you guys do more with less having the time to spend constantly.. honestly.. I am jealous in ways! LOL I would love to be on our property getting to work on the million or more projects everyday to see what I can do and learn! Keep at it, you're doing great!

[@jimhart4488]

Great motto!: "You only live once, build your own road."

[@garycrumrine9538]

Yes, it will fill. You might build a dam where the two streams meet and have a small pond, a water source for fighting fires, a source of water to draw animals like deer, turkeys etc. Most lakes you find are mostly spring fed.

[@tazmankb26]

Nice work and way to make it happen with what you got. Explore cutting in some drainage ditches on various points on the road so it doesn't wash out in a heavy rain.

[@jasonalexander5746]

Clear & Grub, good sequence of construction thoughts you two

[@jasonalexander5746]

John, be aware, only 10% of the drip line of any tree can be distributed before it will die. I am a civil engineer and the state of Maryland won’t allow us to damage that much before it soon becomes a dead tree. Then they want money or trees to be planted. Don’t won’t those coming down once you start using it.

[@WalnutsandWineberries]

I really try to avoid as much damage as I can. I remember during the planning phases; I took a lot of time picking a path to avoid mature trees and not cause a lot of disturbance. Thankfully, we picked an area where such laws don't exist (yet).

[@spookje111]

I am wondering if planting new trees is not a viable option because apparently planting a tree only costs one dollar.

[@zockery4148]

You are right, Ricky can build that road, might take a little longer than a D4 but the sense of accomplishment can not be beat in the end. And yes you can build a dam wall on that spring box area. Test a wall a little at a time to not go too high to allow a outflow pipe at the top to keep the water fresh. You could also dig it a little deeper if needed to make the fish pond and pull the banks back to dress it up. Thats my thoughts, I built a fish pond when I had my place in Michigan and had bass and pan fish in it, the grandkids always had a blast fishing there. Thanks for another excellent video.

[@WalnutsandWineberries]

I like the idea of building up the wall before going outwards. I didn't even think about expanding it but that makes a lot of sense to prove the concept before putting a lot of effort in. That would be a fun side project. I used to love walking the creeks and ponds as a kid - scooping minnows or catching and releasing frogs. It would be a neat little ecosystem on the property for us and the kids to enjoy on our walks.

[@sidgreatorex5484]

Proud of you guys 😀

[@johngersna3263]

I just ran across your channel yesterday with the Dexpan video. I also have a big rock to deal with in the Spring. But that being said, I really like your down to earth (if you'll pardon the pun) style. I also have a sub compact tractor of the green variety and I would never part with it. I think that a lot of people don't realize what they are capable of doing. The main thing is that you're having fun and enjoying yourselves. God bless you and keep making your great videos.

[@WalnutsandWineberries]

That's refreshing to hear, John. I remember when I bought that tractor, I made a very long pros and cons list to decide whether to buy that or a used track skid steer or an excavator. The versatility of a sub-compact greatly outweighed all the other options for what our intentions were. I don't regret our purchase one bit and I totally agree that a lot of people underrate them. Lol "green variety" - never heard that phrase before.

[@DrewsReviews07]

You are the man 💪🏼🙏🏼👏🏼 serious inspirational shit right here

[@WalnutsandWineberries]

Thanks bro

[@brendabamsey9516]

Let go of that branch ! Way to "stick" with it Meg. We have springs on our property, with natural slope going down hill. Not sure if ours would build up enough GPM to create a pond. We may have to try that too.. The road is looking great!! You guys are making it happen! BYODR 🚜💪 Merry Christmas 🎅 🎄

[@WalnutsandWineberries]

I had a good laugh watching Meg fight that stick too, Brenda. 😆 Based on the response, I might just add a few rocks at as a dam and build it up vertically a little at a time. See if it holds... or get a pet beaver for consulting purposes 🤔

[@mikelynch4127]

I had doubts in the beginning , but, Wow! You three are making it happen. Your problem solving skills are second to none. Work ethic is outstanding! There is nothing you can’t do! I have a very similar tractor that I wish I had more to do with it since I met Ricky.Good luck and keep doing what you do!

[@WalnutsandWineberries]

That's quite a nice compliment, Mike, and very appreciated. I like how you consider Ricky as one of us! 💪

[@mikelynch4127]

@@WalnutsandWineberries what gets me the most is how cute little unassuming Meg turns into a jackhammering, wood lugging, rock stacking machine lol.

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

I was looking into the camera yesterday saying the same thing as I dug fill dirt and moved it 250' to my pole barn....might be easier (and maybe cheaper?) to have someone bring me fill dirt, but I moved my dirt, with my machines, on my time table. When I'm driving out of my pole barn in the future, I will look back fondly on the time I took to do it myself. Just like your road as you drive on it everyday!! Good work. Did anyone else hear @35:57? --> "Catch of my life" was a fish.....not Meg???!!!! Oh boy....

[@WalnutsandWineberries]

You get it! It's very rewarding and peaceful working in the woods away from the world. Also, since I'm getting heckled here about the fish comment, I'll share a little story with you. My father met my mother by literally hooking her while fishing. They were both young at the time. My Dad was fishing in his backyard and my Mom was at the neighbor's house visiting them. I guess she got curious and snuck up on my Dad from behind, only to get hooked while my Dad casted his line. They were inseparable from that day.

[@markholland2612]

Common practice previously to put construction debris, appliances, old trees, any junk into wet weather creeks and streams to reduce/slow down erosion. Keep up the good work!

[@Frank-bh3cm]

I admit, at first I thought the tractor is a bit flimsy but I have to give you credit for working it to its limit and beyond! I am really surprised how much you got done with Rikky and how well he copes all things considered. Rural King is lucky to have you showcase their product. I recon they should throw in a UTV & trailer combo or at least some more tractor implements 👍👍

[@WalnutsandWineberries]

We agree! The girls have their eyes on the go carts. ;) - Meg

[@IronOakSawmill]

Just a suggestion on the road bed. Don't use topsoil as fill. Scrape down to the clay. You mentioned not using organic material like trees, because it will become a soft spot. Topsoil is all organic material. It won't pack well, even with stone over top of it. Definitely getting your money's worth from that tractor. We did the same with our little Kubota BX1500 and our sawmill business. Definitely sub to the channel. Waiting for the next adventure.

[@timothybageant7429]

You’re having too much fun on that tractor. lol... I envy you

[@WalnutsandWineberries]

It is truly my zen!

[@paulshimer1870]

It's what my father would say, make do with what you have. He would not rent a backhoe or anything else. When I was a teenager we dug the sewer line by hand from the house to the alley. And I am only 48 lol. Come home from school and work till 10 pm every nite. It was 9 foot deep at the house and 16 at the alley by hand. Took a week and a half but DID it.

[@rastagrastag7784]

Thats right!

[@jerrygilliam7349]

Looking good!!! I've been doing the same thing on my place. It's slower than an excavator or dozer but you can get a lot done in a short time. Just take patience and persistance.

[@WalnutsandWineberries]

Exactly! It's repetitive, but I really enjoy the time alone in the woods. Very therapeutic.

[@jamesseltenreich652]

Great job on your road and French river crossing bridge lol

[@eskippathiki]

As for your pond idea, potash is apparently the fix. Fixes leaky ponds so if your wall didn't hold water, just add potash! I would google it first but I recall some old farmers doing this in KY.

[@wild1bill1950]

I know that a pond on your property has great value. it develops an attraction for game. Can be used for fire suppression source water. And of course fish both imported and or native stock. plus a water source for gardens and landscaping.

[@WalnutsandWineberries]

The list of pros is overwhelming!

[@thewinteryears1973]

Thanks for all the videos of the RK Tractor. We would have never considered purchasing one of them if we had not seen how you used it and how versatile it was. We brought ours home RK 21 a few days before Christmas. Happy New Year.

[@PurpleCollarLife]

You're certainly testing that tractor! Very impressive. And congrats on the channel growth!

[@carld3184]

Good work, I have good luck with a boxblade, the tines cut deep into the soil and the box helps with leveling. But first I had to grade with a rear scraper to change the angle. I ended up buying an old dump truck that barely runs because the front end loader was too inefficient to move lots of fill.

[@WalnutsandWineberries]

I'm in the market for an old F700. That's the biggest I can get in VA without a CDL. Here, it's all about GVWR and that truck falls right under the line.

[@carld3184]

@@WalnutsandWineberries Our F-450 will stay on the property, it was cheap because it wouldn't pass safety but the brakes still work. We need annual safety for all commercial vehicles here so sometimes you can buy them inexpensively.

[@carld3184]

@@WalnutsandWineberries I wanted to add that we use the boxblade for building roads but I can see that it would be difficult to constantly swap the backhoe for the boxblade. I have wondered if I can attach a 3 point quick-hitch to the frame at the front of the tractor and only use the loader to raise the quick hitch. Then I could mount the boxblade to the front and use the tines for digging and the boxblade for leveling. BTW, I want twice as many tines on my boxblade. I don't want to stress the loader too much to use it for heavy digging. But I am over 70 so I will keep watching your videos until I can get some help.

[@carld3184]

I know that this is too many comments but I just thought about it some more. I remember using my brother's Ford 8N with a six foot scraper and it worked very well. An 8N should easily handle your 4 foot boxblade. 8N are available in good running condition for less than $3000 and are very useful on a farm property. Your new home building site is very far away from the RV. You will both be commuting between both sites many times a day and another small tractor could be more useful than a side by side ATV. I often drop the box blade when driving between sites to smooth out ruts etc. I also installed a trailer hitch to the back of the boxblade so that I can tow the utility trailer without removing the boxblade. You could tow a trailer full of stones and dump them on the road then smooth them with the boxblade all with an 8N. NOTE, you have some big hills there so please make sure that the brakes on all your vehicles are working properly. Have fun, take care.

[@johnmiley458]

I have a small spring like yours. I dug in to it and found the flow rate to be about 5000 gallons a day in the dry season and 10 times that in the wet season. when you dig in to a spring and take the back pressure off of it sum times the flow rate goes up. I wound up setting up a dewatering pump so I could work better now I have a small 12 ft deep pond there.

[@gregred78]

Yes it definitely depends on the water pressure there and how much area you clear around it. I'd love to have a little spring like that and dig a large pond to fill over a few years.

[@charminghollowforge1109]

Hydraulics beat hand work any day of the week can’t wait to see the mushrooms and other wild edibles you guys find this coming spring and summer

[@heberthwirbiezcas2307]

100% agree

[@poconoeng5519]

Hey brother great video!! You guys can use the wood debris as the base in any raised beds you guys may be planning (add great nutrients as the decay) also look into a 19hp PTO wood chipper for your unit, mulch goes a long way!! Looking forward to your videos, keep em coming !!!

[@WalnutsandWineberries]

Appreciate that! I was going to leave it in the woods for a few years and wait for compost. Maybe throw a little soil on top or grass clippings. Might use some right away for the base like you said. 👍

[@charminghollowforge1109]

Also just a dumb thought may want to make a few safe pull off spots in your driveway in case you’re leaving John and megs coming home or vise versa or guests coming and going

[@TheAdminjack]

Don't build a "dam" or wall too close to the source. As someone mentioned build it closer to where this branch flows into the creek. If the flow spot is covered with water it could be block up and seek another outlet around the wall. Check the grade and fall between the source and the spot where you want to build a "wall/dam." Use a line level and cord if you don't have a transit. This will help you locate a good spot for the dam, but still leave the source as it is.

[@karljolley8346]

I guess you might already know, fill will settle with time and be ready to re-fill with more gravel. Great content channel, sub...

[@kennethcoder2989]

Man-your wife is a worker! Have a day.

[@joel530johnson2]

I just found your KZbin site. I think you guys are very brave to do all this work yourselves. Having watched many other videos of people doing similar things, I just wanted to make one comment. Have you thought about how you are going to get all your building materials to the top of where you are building your house. You might need a 18 wheeler to bring up rafters, beams, etc. Do you think the road you are making will handle that?

[@Joe-dt9gt]

it will be fresh as it is spring fed

[@rogerdudra178]

The only reason I ever improved my fishing or hunting was to stabilize the flow of inputs.

[@charlesmarshall3396]

The water that is coming out of the ground is a freshwater spring

[@mr_p1240]

looks like fun

[@WalnutsandWineberries]

It really is. Feels good at the end of a day of work like that.

[@loydwesselschmidt9630]

Drop a couple dozen bags of quickcrete across your spring drainage to form a water hole

[@chewy2069]

You could turn all those branches into biochar, great for a garden.

[@JohnThomas-gj2zg]

Right were you are putting the fell brecks I would have put in some of the trees for post and used some of the trees to shack up for a well to hold the breaks in place..........

[@mardeclardy2961]

I just found you site a few days ago. Great information, thanks! I have an RK 37 on my property in SW Virginia. I too want to build a road to my planned building site. . Everyone one says "hire a dozer". Glad to see with patients & persistence it CAN be done. My biggest question to myself is

[@mardeclardy2961]

I am super untechie..so hit the wrong space before zi finished my comment. I have a big hill to get up. How do you know what slope to use? Meanwhile. Your all doing great stay safe & keep going!

[@WalnutsandWineberries]

That RK37 would be very capable. If you're into it for the adventure and countless hours spent in the wonderful mountains of Virginia, do it yourself. Forget the dozer. I don't know about you, but hiring another man to do my work just isn't the way I roll. Where's the adventure in that? As far as the slope goes, a great place to start is to look for game trails. Memorize your property and know what spots to avoid, like rock outcropping and massive trees. Going with the contour is quite easy. I just remove the high side and dump to the low side. As far as the angle, you'll feel it on your tractor if you're going too steep. Use an app called ViewRanger to plot a tract and then follow it on your initial walks. I did this and then marked trees with flags and fine-tuned it from there. Of course, this is just how I do it. You do you! Best of luck on the project.

[@robinpearson4583]

Guys, Maybe, the trench was dug to help prevent that flat area staying waterlogged by water from the spring. Just a passing thought. Regards Robin....

[@petermarsiglio9464]

get a 1000 gallon septic tank and put it in the ground and use it for fresh water.

[@derekbrin4182]

I know this will be a late comment but have you guys started to cut ditches along the inside of the road to keep the water off the road? You could do a culvert at every switchback to push the water to the outside of the road. A compact tractor can do anything a larger one can do it just has to do it a certain way that might not be normal. Keep it up guys

[@WalnutsandWineberries]

We are in the process of storm water management.... Keep watching. 😉- Meg

[@mikestanley6724]

they built a spring box and blocked the flow is what it looks like. you can build another spring box and capture the water that would allow you to water your crops and do other things with.

[@rogerdudra178]

The pond should work. You have input and output defined.

[@finniganshomestead2956]

I have a dump area for that sort of thing and when I have a good pile of it, I cover it up with dirt. That stuff then starts to rot quit fast and turns into into stuff ya can work not the garden soil to improve it.

[@jeremyraeber4234]

Don't get a D7, might as well go all out and get the D11 instead. It would be incredibly efficient on your farm lmao. Your doing awesome with the equipment you have. Keep up with the good work and awesome videos.

[@WalnutsandWineberries]

Your comment wins, Jeremy! Thanks for the chuckle. - Jon and Meg

[@patrickwiklund2039]

👍

[@Joe-dt9gt]

clean it and dame it closer to the creek

[@jaymcnaughton8368]

The wood will rot so just put it 20 feet away from the road. The animals in insects will love you for it.

[@johnbutchc.jenkinsii8910]

the old spring box probably silted in over the years...if you dig it out, it may start flowing from the original area again.

[@WalnutsandWineberries]

Cool, John! I'll poke around with the backhoe. Didn't think of that 👍

[@jaymcnaughton8368]

maybe tracked skid steer would help you a lot.

[@WalnutsandWineberries]

In the market for a TL8 👍

[@paulslocomb6805]

Little sticks make kindling

[@JohnThomas-gj2zg]

Need to make a place to put all the wood that you aren't going to use and make a compost and us it for your garden and you will have very good soil ......

[@WalnutsandWineberries]

Good minds think alike! We designated an area for all those small sticks and it's turned into quite a pile. I'm looking forward to reaping the rewards in a few years. Should I add dirt on top?

[@JohnThomas-gj2zg]

No do not add Dirt To The Top take all of your old vegetables coffee grounds and what leaves you can gather from your property and add to the top of it and that will create heat to make it rot faster and take your little red tractor once a month and keep turning it over and that will help it right to

[@JohnThomas-gj2zg]

And that Creek that you are working with that has the natural spring I would build a wall down at the end of the creek meeting the other Creek and the water that comes over the top of the dam you can use a water wheel to produce energy but I would dig that Creek out to to make it flow more

[@thedonkeypuncher2395]

They might have put the concrete in the creek as erosion control.

[@WalnutsandWineberries]

Yes, plus there was a house on the property at one time. I'm sure the foundation was demolished and pushed down there and covered with soil.

[@adamroof9460]

Jus dig a trench on the inside edge of road. Don’t let the water flow perpendicular over your road. Great work and impressed with Ricki. As for the spring dam, do it! A layer at a time. Have fun with it. We are excited to see the trommel come together. Enjoy the holidays hope you and kids make it wonderful. Why didn’t Meg go crazy over that rusted milk jug? Was it there a long time in view or did you unearth it in the “pimple” lol.

[@WalnutsandWineberries]

Hi Adam! Meg found that jug months ago wandering around in the woods near the pimple. I made sure I moved it out of Ricky's path of destruction before I started excavating. I don't want to crush it like the tripod (woops) haha! I think I will spend some time on the spring to pond transformation. I'd love to see a little ecosystem form over time and give the kids an area to go explore and get muddy.

[@jda1961]

you need a second tractor, used 4x4 for using rear blade. nice videos

[@bassblom]

took a few days to get from E1 to E67.. love the channel, love the girls and the dogs. but I hate it when Meg starts yelling high pitch/volume :(

[@WalnutsandWineberries]

Well I anticipate more exciting moments on our channel and I'm not going to hold back being myself. Since I do all the editing, I will be sure to put in some extra squeals for you. 😆 -Meg

[@jamespino1108]

DIG A BIT MAYBE 2 FEET DOW, ABOUT 5X5 FEET SQARE, BUT FURDER DOWN SAY 10 FEET AFTER THE LITTLE TREE YOU MENTIONED

[@croquest8749]

That backhoe sounds like it needs greased lol

[@PeaceIntheValley]

The swtichback is looking very good! Are you concerned at all with moving the equipment to the low area when sometimes, maybe once every few years or so, there is a massive rain that floods that lower area? The spring could be used to water the garden or maybe chickens down the road. Have you thought of getting animals at all for your homestead, or do you vegan/vegetarian? How many hours you have on the tractor now? What do you think of the piranha bar now? I think it is great! I hope you had a merry Christmas!!

[@WalnutsandWineberries]

Hey Bryce! We've had some torrential rain recently and it gave me a lot of confidence with where we cut in the driveway and the natural flow of water seems to be cooperating and not washing anything out. We are definitely going to get into chickens when we feel the time is right (meat birds), but I feel like we have enough on our plate. That will probably come after the house is dried in at least. We'll get our fix from the garden again this year, which also needs improvement. We're going for the "less is more" approach this year and focus on the good stuff. Ricky is doing great - just hit 500 hrs and the toothbar is a really nice addition. I would have struggled a lot more making the driveway cuts if I didn't have that thing. It's never been taken off yet!

[@newhampshire-bob1604]

Sounds like you needed a little grease on those pivot points.

[@jaymcnaughton8368]

Stick a 2x8 down in the spring and see what happens.

[@chrisbartlett6022]

Not sure if you are already using it, however is it worth digging a small sump at the Spring to use the water for your new Garden?

[@michaelshore2300]

Imagine what you cold do with a compact

[@jjtt7408]

AT ONE TIME IT WAS DONE WITH A HORSE AND ELBOW GREASE

[@WalnutsandWineberries]

Very true! I say that all the time when I'm told you can't build a road with a small tractor. It's very satisfying doing it all with your own machine.

[@roberto.peterson9917]

Building road or anything else is like eating an elephant 1 bit at a time key word is time

[@jaymcnaughton8368]

Does it snow where you are. Are going to gravel the road. I can see you being house bound for several weeks if not months a year.

[@jimhart4488]

Great channel. I really like the work you two are doing and the way you go about it. When planning and building your drive, did you give any thought to where you are going to have to run the sewer line from your house to your septic tanks? Can you get there without trenching across your drive?

[@WalnutsandWineberries]

Absolutely! That was step one and approved by our department of health. I was very surprised that an effluents line can run that long to another set of tanks, but it's apparently done every day of the week around here.

[@jimhart4488]

@@WalnutsandWineberries In the mountains, I would imagine with all the rock, most of the places that percolate properly are pretty far down, so if you are going to build on top they have to eithre require an aerobic system or make allowances. Our lot has only a 10° slope but they said it was too much for a leachfield so we have aerobic.

[@mochouinard]

Is that Thumb on the backhoe after market ? What the model ?

[@sobconners]

Why did you stop wearing the chainsaw chaps when using it?

[@bobbycampbell9529]

Join I built a 1acre pond with a tractor like yours. Bucket an boxblade took me 6weeks.Normally that fresh water spring is the.best drinking water on the place. An.you.can.dam up the spring an make a pond sn.stick it.wiyh.trout .SEMPER FI

[@talkingcargojunkremoval]

How many acres do you guys have? I'm looking for about 5 acres to start my recycling business. I love the compact tractor to. I gotta get one of those to. Just subbed. 😎👍🤙☝️

[@WalnutsandWineberries]

The RK tractors are great. Very versatile and strong. We have 30+ acres here in VA. Thanks for subbing!

[@raytalbot5890]

Not a good idea to have your equipment there it’s the flood plane for the stream?? Have equipment on hi ground 🇬🇧🇬🇧👍👍

[@j.l.daltoin2238]

where is this i dont mean exact but just the area

[@pauljuhan7863]

You're switched back turns are not wide enough for concrete trucks or trailers

[@WalnutsandWineberries]

Don't need that stuff.

[@doubleoddbs4357]

What’s a trammel ?

[@scottdupuis3316]

needs grease

[@stephencamenzind765]

Jesus christ grease it.

[@WalnutsandWineberries]

I could use His help. I have a really stubborn pin that won't take grease. Tried changing the fitting but it didn't fix the prob.

[@stephencamenzind765]

@@WalnutsandWineberries oh I see, hmm. Well, sometimes you can get them to take grease if you have somebody move the function in and out while you try and pump grease into said fitting. That has always worked for me. If not I think you'll be pulling that pin.