Driveway disaster

[sgreanbeans]

Yesterday, we went to take out an Ash, had to use next door drive to get to it, Drive way HO wanted the tree down real bad as it was dead and hanging over the garage. Went to go in thru his gate, to narrow, told him I wasn't gonna do it, don't want to damage anything and the drive is real narrow as well, left side is held up by a 2ft railroad tie wall, drive is gravel. Driveway HO says he will take corner post out to give us room, again , really wants the tree out. I reluctantly agree, repeat that I don't like being that close to the edge, don't want it to give out. " YOU WONT HURT THAT THING, HAD BIG TRUCKS ON IT BEFORE" haha, hehe, as he walks away like I am scared. Well , I was! Get it in after a bit of hassle, attack the tree, tree is down, chipping is done, time to move bucket out, and dump trailer in. Im backing the truck out, inch by inch, making sure I don't hit anything. The all of a sudden, guess what! Drive goes out! Truck suddenly, drops and slides to the left, full load of chips sealed the deal I think. Truck felt like it was going to flip, scared the hell out of me, now I pissed, as I was assured that the wall was sturdy and would not blow out, WRONG, my tires where about 3ft away from the wall and still blew it out. After we get it out, I start looking at his materiel for the rock drive, 2ft of CA-6, crushed concrete for those who dont know. Not how ya build a drive. Now I need to fix it, could walk, but not gunna. Still my fault for going in in the first place. Then I find out it has happened before, now I am really pissed cause that tells me he knew it would not hold. Just looking for a scape goat, to get a new wall. So my lesson for the day is, drum roll please:
When yur gut tells you NO!, listen to it!

 

[Bigus Termitius]

Man....the whole time I'm reading I know what's coming.

A couple of years ago we had a single phase follow a back gravel drive around to the transformer pole, then on to a little shed. It was this time of year, but the drive was solid thru the lowlands, up the natural embankment, and around the corner. Then it transitioned to a very narrow drive with large dark gray rocks. We worked it, didn't really add too much extra weight. The drive looked solid and was holding fine until I backed out. We had an old dog tracking chuck and duck that had been brought back from a roll over and had no choice but to back out. Had to make slight adjustments and be careful not to step off the side. Pulled forward a couple of times and the drive started to give, not bad, but I was done playing.

I pulled through to even it all out. Cocked the chipper into the yard at the small building lot and went to dump what chips we had to get light. I backed in after the chipper when I got back and pulled straight out. It was a little sunken, but nice and smooth. HO had no problem and we went on.

HO calls the coop and demands rock to fix the drive the "contractors" screwed up. System forester calls me and wonders if the company will buy the loads of rock. I told him I couldn't be sure and that the HO said it was fine when we left. He said we might lose the contract over this if not, but the HO finally caved in and said it rose back up enough.

That wasn't the last time something like that happened, but the most deceptive. The other was some late winter yard ruts from dumping chips. Land owner said no problem, just keep bringing more chips. Old folks got back a month and a half later from Florida and raised cain with the coop. Just a little miscommunication on their end, but didn’t matter.

I didn't need any more lessons after that. I just skipped places like that during this time of year until it dried out…then I got in trouble for that…lol. They should stop calling it the right of way and just call it the catch 22 zone. Good riddance.

You’re a good man to help alleviate the situation, even though it's not really your fault entirely. That lesson will pay higher dividends in the future.

 

[Treetom]

I feel ya.

Last summer I pulled in on the neighbor's driveway with my bucket to remove a tree for a client. All's going well til I notice the boom contols aren't working. When I turned around to look down at the truck, I saw a lake of hydraulic oil covering the driveway. The main hydraulic line had broke. I ended up paying for a steam power washer for the driveway. Then had to dig out the oil-soaked gravel at the end of the driveway and replace with new. Gotta make it right. sgreanbeans. Needless to say, the bucket was stuck at 45-foot, so I had to have a rope sent up to get down. 8 gallons of hydraulic oil and a new line and we were back at work.

 

[jefflovstrom]

That suck's Scott. Too bad you didn't have him sign something saying you are not responsible for the drive, since he urged you on.
Jeff

 

[treemandan]

That suck's Scott. Too bad you didn't have him sign something saying you are not responsible for the drive, since he urged you on.
Jeff

I still would let him know I was not interested in fixing the drive and most likely would wait until he tried to sue me .

 

[Bigus Termitius]

The trouble with leaving it be is that bad news travels fast and gets twisted with every turn. The HO is more likely to tell the truth and give you good rep if you just fix it up and move on.

 

[treemandan]

The trouble with leaving it be is that bad news travels fast and gets twisted with every turn. The HO is more likely to tell the truth and give you good rep if you just fix it up and move on.

This is true too.

 

[ropensaddle]

Yup I put them on my detoured customer list lol. Sorry you had trouble pard cost of business good you manned up.

 

[flushcut]

When yur gut tells you NO!, listen to it!

:agree2::agree2:, and get it in writing I know it does not mean much but it is a good detourent for the HO to listen. I have done that and all of a sudden they change their minds.

 

[komatsuvarna]

That suck's Scott. Too bad you didn't have him sign something saying you are not responsible for the drive, since he urged you on.
Jeff

Yep, I always do that. We install water and sewer mains and someone always comes along wanting some of the extra dirt. Doesn't bother me to give it to them, but when they stop I tell them to bring me a piece of paper signed and dated that says you want the dirt and give me permission to drive a 80,000lbs truck down your drive or across your yard. Some of them come back with the paper, 80% dont.

 

[sgreanbeans]

Line 7 on my contract reads
"Economy Tree is not liable for any inadvertent injury or damages which may occur to persons or property during the performance of services"
Signed by the customer, but I should have had him sign it too, truly my bad for not doing that

That said, I should have gone with my gut feeling and not gone in. And I might be able to throw it back at him due to the prior incidents that have happened, as his drive was not built right ( he told me after the fact). I did it, so I feel I need to fix it. If it was more than a little railroad tie wall, I might have a different approach. Just burns me that I know he knew it would fail.


I had a guy last year try and claim I broke his driveway with my truck, I didn't, I had pics of the driveway before I went in. It was all jacked up, cracks everywhere. Plus, his own dad told me that is was like that, and that his son is always trying to pull some B.S. like that! Just trying to get over on some body. Guy calls me, cusses me out, tells me he is going to sue me, I tell him to go for it, I will sepena(sp?) his dad and I will give the Judge some pretty little pics. He went away!

 

[treeclimber101]

Breaking the wall sucks , but I think being treated like a fool and completed lied to makes it a lot worse , I would have been pissed especially at the end of the day ... I drove my truck into a yard once and accidentally fell into an old well hole that was booby trapped like something out of a road runner cartoon by the HO and he had the nerve to ask me if I would fix where the truck sank after he threw down a piece of plywood and covered that with soil and than watched me pull a truck in and fall right in it ...I truly believe after dealing with the public for a long time they are complete and totally ####ed up and will lie just to accomplish what they want ...

 

[jefflovstrom]

Some people see us as an opportunity to sue. We get people all the time saying we did this or that. They get saw dust on their car and claim damage and want a new paint job. We handle it pretty good.
Jeff

 

[treeclimber101]

Some people see us as an opportunity to sue. We get people all the time saying we did this or that. They get saw dust on their car and claim damage and want a new paint job. We handle it pretty good.
Jeff

Yea the old dusty car , if I had a quarter for every time I ruined someones paint job I could afford a paint job lol , I just tell people if the cars that important move it and I don't control the wind , if that fails I offer to wash it with there hose and that usually scares them away ...

 

[jefflovstrom]

Yea the old dusty car , if I had a quarter for every time I ruined someones paint job I could afford a paint job lol , I just tell people if the cars that important move it and I don't control the wind , if that fails I offer to wash it with there hose and that usually scares them away ...

I shouldn't post this but you made me remember. Several years ago, chipping in a mall parking lot, the guy's turned the chute but it did not lock in and they never looked up to see the little Mazda Miata convertible getting filled up with chip's. Dang Morbark's vibrate themselves to ectasy!
Jeff :msp_flapper::msp_flapper::msp_flapper:

 

[treeclimber101]

I shouldn't post this but you made me remember. Several years ago, chipping in a mall parking lot, the guy's turned the chute but it did not lock in and they never looked up to see the little Mazda Miata convertible getting filled up with chip's. Dang Morbark's vibrate themselves to ectasy!
Jeff :msp_flapper::msp_flapper::msp_flapper:

Thats real funny , can't hide that little boo boo , I have on several occasions turned the chute to fill the back corners and shot chips right past the side and into traffic a, few times all over the lawn and once I even shot about half a yard over the truck and onto a parked car in front of the truck , I am not ashamed its happened to all of us , its helps to laugh about it ..

 

[mpatch]

That suck's Scott. Too bad you didn't have him sign something saying you are not responsible for the drive, since he urged you on.
Jeff

Policy where I work is no driveways without a waiver. I carry them with me to every job. I have seen my fair share of driveway damage. Most memorable one was had a new guy fill up saws on a near new asphalt driveway and spill a fair amount of gas on it.

 

[treemandan]

I still would let him know I was not interested in fixing the drive and most likely would wait until he tried to sue me .

I take that back, I probably would not have driven the truck through in the first place.

 

[Saw Dust Smoken]

when not to

When ya have that nagging feeling in the back of your mind. Thats when ya stop and reconsider the approach. Save ya a lotta headache.
Nice to park chipper by the tree! Or suckitup and drag to chipper. Or just get a mini... problem solved.

 

[Mikecutstrees]

... I drove my truck into a yard once and accidentally fell into an old well hole that was booby trapped like something out of a road runner cartoon by the HO ..

Thats funny..... Iv'e had many people tell me I can drive my bucket across their leach field. I never do it. They will tell you they have had other big trucks do it. I have asked further before and found out it was an F-150 or something similar. When I tell them my truck weighs 10 tons empty they understand. People just don't get it. As was said before get it in writing.....

Mike