Have never done a backhoe bucket transport of concrete for 100 yards, anybody with direct experience think it will settle to much for that length of run? Neighbor did the trailer thing once for 2 miles on smooth road and it had to be remixed it settled so bad.
Have situation where cannot get a concrete truck or a pumper closer than the 100 yards of a 25 yard pour at son’s house (soft ground, do not want to put in a permanent drive), but can get my 4×4 truck and backhoe right to the forms. Have a 1 yard bucket on the backhoe, so about 9 trips per mixtruck load.
Other option is to mix 3 cu ft at a time which I’ve done for a single 20 yard pour but when 30 years younger and would not look forward to doing that again. .
Replies
Just thinking out loud.... how much hose can you get on a line pump?
Shouldn't be much of a problem at all- we've pumped concrete up just under 1,000', so pushing it horizontally 300' through a hose is a cakewalk for anyone with a decent pump.
Bob
Finding someone that does residential jobs and carries more than a few sections of hose might be the problem.
I've walked by high-rise jobs and seen standard pumps pushing mix into a riser pipe at street level, up to the top floor. It must not be THAT heavy.
I've transported concrete via helicopter and bucket, about 10 minute trip (5 miles or so, 6000 ft vertical distance). It was fine when it got to the top.
Helicopters are expensive, so I don't think you'll be going that route. But the backhoe seems workable.
zak
"When we build, let us think that we build forever. Let it not be for present delight nor for present use alone." --John Ruskin
"so it goes"
Ya' see, now I think we've met. I was on the John Muir trail in Sequoia NP with my hiking buddy and we came across some guys constructing a bridge over a large creek. They had blasted out some rock and built forms on both sides. We chatted awhile, all being construction types (and a few of them being ex-Nam explosives types) and pretty soon their chopper-load of mud showed up. They chased us away so he could hover and drop the stuff, but it was a bucket with a cable hanging so they could pull the gate open.
Wasn't me, but I've done the same sort of thing.
Unfortunately, the number of times that I've mixed yards and yards of concrete from 80 lb bags is much larger than the number of times that I've had it brought in with a helicopter. $1600 an hour for a UH-1 plus getting a portable batch plant truck to a remote landing zone buys a lot of sacrete and man hours.zak
"When we build, let us think that we build forever. Let it not be for present delight nor for present use alone." --John Ruskin
"so it goes"
Should be able to get a line pump to do that. Most can run between 400 and 1100 feet of hose. Call around - it's a lot better than the alternative of ferrying 25 yards, one yard at a time.
Hey, check under that pile of stuff in the back shed.
You must have about 100 yards of steel mat laying around somewhere.
I wish!
Like VaTom - I wonder about 4,000# of cnocrete in your bucket on soft ground.The machine might carry the weight just fine. But would the tires stay on top of the ground? You migth end up with a backhow buried in the mud while your concrete sets up in the concrete truck.
I had a rough childhood. When I was born the doctor read me my rights
No chance of a temp fabric road?
Hundred yards is a lot of plywood...
I've done a 15 yd pour out of my old 440 bucket. Came out great, but shorter distance. Much cheaper than pumping (@$750), which always results in inferior concrete for me (spare me the re-lectures, please). The only pump I've been able to get is very large, too large. Noticeable difference between the 440 pour and the pumped concrete on the second 8' lift.
Rubber tire on soft ground, I'd be leery. That's a lot of weight up front. We're officially allowed 10 min/yd before over-time charges kick in. I've bought enough that they give me a lot of slack, plus I'm careful to schedule the trucks. I wouldn't hestitate with your 440.
You didn't say how far to the batch plant, another factor.
PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!
Would not use the 440, would use the Ford 4500 backhoe/loader. That thing is light in the front even with a full bucket.
Ground is solid enough for the 15 psi rear tires.
How big of a 'funnel' did you put at the top of your forms for the 440 dump or were you able to drop it straight into the forms? I figured would need to make a sliding contarption for the top of the forms with at least an 18 inch mouth.
These were 8" walls, no funnel, but I did need spotter help to get the tractor just right. Also have to dump slowly, even if you use a funnel. Probably your eyesight's better than mine. I have depth perception issues- don't have stereoptic vision, and the tractor's got to be just right to hit the top of the form. Even so, plan for some spillage. The last truck wants to have more space available if you find you're spilling more than you expected. I always order 1/4 yd more than I need, for a bucket pour I'd bump that up to 1/2 yd.
Pay attention to height. 8' was the limit for my 440, no funnel possible. Your hoe should dump higher. You didn't say, but with that much concrete those forms should be pretty high.
Far as I know, all hoes are very light in the front. What I have against them is the size of the front tires, unless they're substantially larger than the Cases I've run. My rubber-tire loader I wouldn't hesitate, but it's got 17.5 x 25 tires. I've spent more than a little time with Cases with full buckets. Soft ground and a bucketful of wet concrete, which is going to be heavier, don't sound like a good combination. Hope you're thinking low slump. I always ask for 3-4".
Good luck. This was my site:PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!
I've done it MANY times with either backhoe or skidsteer. Never had a single problem. We did a job last spring with 2 skidsteers bucketing concrete to the back of a house. The sideyards were too small for the hoe. But the skidsteers are faster anyway. Figure 3/4 yard per trip with 1 yard bucket or you'll be paving the yard. Lots cheaper than pumping.
John
J.R. Lazaro Builders, Inc.
Indianapolis, In.