Our Land Project

pfrsantos · **Reply #30 on:** April 02, 2021, 10:34:45 PM

Quote from: Aloha on April 02, 2021, 09:41:05 PM

YOU CAN DO IT. I was in no way suggesting you were not outdoorsy or didn't have building skills. The folks I've seen go out and do it had little if any skills and they did it. I think it was mostly due to collaborating with those that did have some skills be it online or locally. I think that basics can get you pretty far especially with enjoying the process with those you love.

I've no doubt you will do it. It'll be one heck of a journey for you and the family. I look forward to seeing whatever you end up with.

+1

Hope you turn that piece of land into your dream home.

enki_ck · **Reply #31 on:** April 02, 2021, 11:12:09 PM

This looks AWESOME.

Looking forward to seeing updates to this thread a lot.

And I very much like the chainsaw winch. How much weight can it pull? With a pulley system that could be a real work horse. Might have to look into this for our mountain campground.

Btw, I'm guessing you already seen Les Stroud's Off the grid but by a far chance you did not, it's worth the watch for some ideas.

Syph007 · **Reply #32 on:** April 02, 2021, 11:55:14 PM

Quote from: enki_ck on April 02, 2021, 11:12:09 PM

This looks AWESOME.

Looking forward to seeing updates to this thread a lot.

And I very much like the chainsaw winch. How much weight can it pull? With a pulley system that could be a real work horse. Might have to look into this for our mountain campground.

Btw, I'm guessing you already seen Les Stroud's Off the grid but by a far chance you did not, it's worth the watch for some ideas.

It's rated 4000 lb pull straight line or 8000lb with one pulley, but you could rig up enough pulleys to move even bigger stuff. A guy In Alaska used one to pull his whole cabin up a sloped hill. My camper is 3500 lbs so I think it will work. I'm going to get Melissa to film me trying. We might head up tomorrow.

Syncop8r · **Reply #33 on:** April 03, 2021, 12:05:57 AM

Fantastic, literally!

A camber on the driveway might help with the mud situation?
Is the caravan visible from the road? Does it have a GPS tracker? Mind you, if you can't tow it out, thieves might not be an issue...

Awesome thread.

Syph007 · **Reply #34 on:** April 03, 2021, 12:17:05 AM

Quote from: Syncop8r on April 03, 2021, 12:05:57 AM

Fantastic, literally!

A camber on the driveway might help with the mud situation?
Is the caravan visible from the road? Does it have a GPS tracker? Mind you, if you can't tow it out, thieves might not be an issue...

Awesome thread.

Definitely no chance of anyone stealing it, it's still quite stuck in ice.

We also met some people that live down the road and drive by daily so they have been nice enough to keep any eye on the area and will text us if they see anyone there that isn't us.

Syph007 · **Reply #35 on:** April 03, 2021, 01:46:19 AM

Here is camper ski version 2 guaranteed to be better than a round log I think. Ratchet strap to secure it.

Syph007 · **Reply #36 on:** April 04, 2021, 02:49:30 AM

Oh it works baby! Only moved it about 20 feet but it pulled it right through the worst of the mud.

Syph007 · **Reply #37 on:** April 04, 2021, 02:54:07 AM

And I'm wrecked. Bedtime at 9 is fine I think. 🤔

SteveC · **Reply #38 on:** April 04, 2021, 02:08:31 PM

This is awesome, thanks for sharing !

Poncho65 · **Reply #39 on:** April 04, 2021, 04:01:24 PM

Just now seeing this

That is awesome, Bob

Congrats to you all on the land purchase and I hope it all goes along smoothly and you can get a nice build up there and get everything better accessible

Thanks for sharing this with us so far

Never seen a chainsaw hoist

I have used chain hoists and ratchet hoists but nothing like that

I have used electric hoists as well but they were attached to a vehicle already. That seems very nice and portable with a (few) ton of power

Great idea with making a sled for the hitch as well

Syph007 · **Reply #40 on:** April 04, 2021, 06:22:53 PM

Quote from: Poncho65 on April 04, 2021, 04:01:24 PM

Just now seeing this That is awesome, Bob Congrats to you all on the land purchase and I hope it all goes along smoothly and you can get a nice build up there and get everything better accessible Thanks for sharing this with us so far

Never seen a chainsaw hoist I have used chain hoists and ratchet hoists but nothing like that I have used electric hoists as well but they were attached to a vehicle already. That seems very nice and portable with a (few) ton of power

Great idea with making a sled for the hitch as well

I'd never heard of them before either. I was searching for off grid winch and it ce up. Bonus for me was they were made in Canada so easy to get. It's called a Lewis winch. They also make an attachment for drilling fence post holes.

Ive doing double line pulls all morning and have the camper about 75% to its new home. Trying to get some video but it pulls way better than I expected.

Poncho65 · **Reply #41 on:** April 04, 2021, 07:03:03 PM

That is great

Will have to look both the winch and the post hole digger up

Hope you get the camper to its final spot in the next little while

Syph007 · **Reply #42 on:** April 04, 2021, 10:58:55 PM

Lol I tried making a walk around tour but mostly I made a heavy breathing in the woods cuz I'm out of shape video.

Syncop8r · **Reply #43 on:** April 05, 2021, 02:52:18 AM

Cool! It seems bigger than I first thought.
I camped on a similar type of plot once which had a covered cooking/eating/hang out area which was good as people were camping in vans and tents. It's nice to have a communal space as well as your own.

Aloha · **Reply #44 on:** April 05, 2021, 04:59:07 AM

Looks great. Glad you got the camper a bit more down the path. You'll all look back one day at this video and remember this wonderful journey

pfrsantos · **Reply #45 on:** April 05, 2021, 06:09:52 PM

Great video intro.

How's that area in terms of fires? It seems you have a pretty dense area with dried trees.

Any wild life around? Like rabbits, squirrels, grizzlys?...

Awl those small branches laying around, could you use them to "pave" the way? Having them mixed with the mud, to give it more consistency? It would be a way of getting rid of them and the mud at the same time (if it works).

Having make a ski for the front of the camper, have you thought of making a couple more, for the wheels?

Seing the video, the rock formation at 7m50s looks like a steady spot for the camper. It's also away from the trees, might be safer in case of a fire.

Syph007 · **Reply #46 on:** April 06, 2021, 03:35:32 AM

Yes after having the tires sink in the mud I'm going to make skis for under the tires too. 👍

Lots of wildlife. I've seen rabbits, squirrels, weasels and grouse. The people I was talking to down the road said deer are around and they see moose now and then.

Low fire risk as we in on a narrow peninsula sounded by water but I for sure will be cleaning up all the dead dry wood.

The grouse arent too afraid of humans. I stalked this one through the tamarack and took his picture. He didn't run until I got about 8 ft away.

pfrsantos · **Reply #47 on:** April 06, 2021, 05:20:35 PM

Quote from: Syph007 on April 06, 2021, 03:35:32 AM

Yes after having the tires sink in the mud I'm going to make skis for under the tires too. 👍

Lots of wildlife. I've seen rabbits, squirrels, weasels and grouse. The people I was talking to down the road said deer are around and they see moose now and then.

Low fire risk as we in on a narrow peninsula sounded by water but I for sure will be cleaning up all the dead dry wood.

The grouse arent too afraid of humans. I stalked this one through the tamarack and took his picture. He didn't run until I got about 8 ft away.

Well, seems you have two options with the wildlfe: hunting them, which should be easy if they're not too afraid to let you get close (preferably with something silent, like a bow or slingshot). Or you can set up a few feeding spots, to lure them close and enjoy their company (I'd go for this one).

There's awlso the lake, for fishing. Even if you don't catch anything, it's bound to be relaxing and peaceful.

Syph007 · **Reply #48 on:** April 08, 2021, 03:43:31 PM

Gravel isn't as costly as I feared. Roads are too soft for them to bring in a dual axle full size dump truck but they can drive the small one in that holds 5 cubic meters. $166 per delivered load of stone #3. This is coarse base stone average of 2.5 inches per stone. I've never been so excited for a bunch of rocks.

GearedForwards · **Reply #49 on:** April 08, 2021, 04:49:00 PM

Quote from: Syph007 on April 08, 2021, 03:43:31 PM

Gravel isn't as costly as I feared. Roads are too soft for them to bring in a dual axle full size dump truck but they can drive the small one in that holds 5 cubic meters. $166 per delivered load of stone #3. This is coarse base stone average of 2.5 inches per stone. I've never been so excited for a bunch of rocks.

Nice! How many loads do you think you'll need? Is this to cover over the clay road you've been winching the camper down?

Syph007 · **Reply #50 on:** April 08, 2021, 05:47:06 PM

Quote from: GearedForwards on April 08, 2021, 04:49:00 PM

Nice! How many loads do you think you'll need? Is this to cover over the clay road you've been winching the camper down?

Ya I'd love to cover the whole road but even part of it will be a good start. It takes me a day when I come home to wash all the mud off my tools. I'm going to get one load dumped this week so its there for when we go back and maybe I can guesstimate how many total loads it would be.

Syncop8r · **Reply #51 on:** April 08, 2021, 10:35:14 PM

Might be good to scrape the mud off first and shape it so that it drains off to one or both sides first?

Sorry, more armchair expert advice....

Syph007 · **Reply #52 on:** May 06, 2021, 03:36:08 AM

I fled the city again for some peace. Got a small load (7 ton) of coarse gravel dumped that I can hopefully fill in some of the worse mud pits.

I was changing from winch mode to get the bar on and lost a damn eclip so I'm out of luck for working until I go into town and hunt one down.

👍😁

Weasel · **Reply #53 on:** May 08, 2021, 12:50:51 PM

Fantastic I wish I had some land

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Aloha · **Reply #54 on:** May 08, 2021, 02:50:12 PM

Bummer about the clip. Hopefully the rock as you say can help a bit.

Syph007 · **Reply #55 on:** May 08, 2021, 06:51:01 PM

I spent about 2 hrs looking through the gravel for that clip with the help of random walkers by but had to admit defeat. Went into town and found one close enough to work to get my saw running the next day though.

We had the guy that installed the culvert back for a quote on some driveway and turnaround area and the price was good enough for me to accept the quote and move forward. Maybe if I was in my 20s I could do manual road building but I think it's worth the cost at this point to be able to drive in further and not get stuck.

So I'm getting 165 ft more of the mud road graveled and a rectangle about 40 by 50 as well. We spent two days felling the trees and clearing land and that was damn good exercise!

My wife was very proud of her first wood pile lol.

We plan to keep moving our camper further in and will likely make a bigger clearing for it next time.

SteveC · **Reply #56 on:** May 08, 2021, 09:23:45 PM

kottskrapa · **Reply #57 on:** May 08, 2021, 09:33:07 PM

Looks like a lot of hard work but also fun, and nice thing to do with family

[It's not failure if you learn something from it]

enki_ck · **Reply #58 on:** May 09, 2021, 08:12:54 PM

Good decision

You could probably do path yourself, but that needs stomping to make it solid enough so you don't dig yourself in the next time you drive on it, and if the guys who do it professionally also have a steamroller or that stomper thingie to do it properly, that's far better than you could ever do yourself and much better in the long run.

Also look into if someone will be repairing an asphalt road somewher close by. They sometimes take the old asphalt out, and that's excellent driveway material you could probably get cheap or even free.

Aloha · **Reply #59 on:** May 10, 2021, 05:33:00 PM

Great idea enki.

Your wife does look proud, as she should. Thats a heck of a pile

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