Had a major setback to the excavation on Sunday.

I was dumping a load of dirt with my Ford F8000 tandem dump, the box rolled to one side and collapsed over the drivers side of the truck. The truck is pretty much a total loss as far as the dumping goes... The telescoping cylinder was completely destroyed...

Since I got the truck, the box always wanted to sway towards the drivers side. Over the last few years more & more welds were breaking. I figured I'd loose a side of the box one day, hopefully after my ponds were done.

I took this week off from work, and had just started getting the pond dug yesterday when it happened...

Now I need to find another tandem axle dump truck... As I really don't have time to try to find the parts to fix this one. The frame is pretty twisted as well...

I'm glad I was in the truck when it happened and not my Dad or younger brother...

I was lucky no shrapnel came through the cab...

I really can't dig with the 225 & push the dirt to the pile with the D6C, it would work, but would take so much longer & cost so much in fuel and UC wear... Pile is just too far away...

Here's some pictures: usera.imagecave.com/whitedwarf4/Truck_Damage/

ETD,

I'm glad nobody was hurt. I was shocked at how much damage to the ford's box there was.

As to your question as how to excavate, in steps or benching, what I like to do is cut to the toe /bottom first, then side slope down to that point. I find it faster that way.

Looks like you need to find an old dump or rock truck to handle the spoils. A nice Cat articulated haul truck sounds good too.