The fact that they went to the problem of bringing you a new compactor instead of just taking the sheep head's drum off themselves let's you know the swap wasn't the simple job they made it out to be.

Thanks for recording all this and showing us. I'm sure it'll help me with my uphill driveway, which will be shorter than yours.

The retaining wall should use tie backs (dead man). Spacing on that type of grade and soil conditions would normally call for 6 x 6 PT GC (pressure treat ground contact) posts, buried and set 48" min under ground (or more if soil is disturbed and 48" O/C (on center) apart with tie backs at roughly 1/3 and 2/3 of retention height. Max wall height would be roughly 60" above grade normally for something like that. All of the above assumes normal soil conditions and is generally how most walls would be built and how most building codes may dictate for timber retaining walls. Also, if you have 4ft on centers, you should stagger seams when nailing into posts using your 8ft retention timbers (so your seams don't all line up on posts (like a brick pattern). While there is still some space back there you could add tie backs or cable ties and extra posts .... I think (I know) it would perform better in the long run.

That wood retaining wall is okay for now.  I would suggest digging behind it and using as a form for a concrete and stone one you can slowly build behind it.  give the stones and concrete a lean into the slope and slowly back it with drain gravel and you will get a nice retaining wall over time.

A Swedish YouTuber cracks such rocks with two drill holes and a rock splitter. Or he blasts them directly xD

One he'll of a Job done on driveway!! Donnie Garrison Naples fl.

Good start with a base for a year or two.  Next layers are going to be nonwoven fabric and geohex in a tear or two? That will give the drainage to prevent icing and load bearing for rut proofing you may need.

New Subscriber : That was great ! I never knew youl could split big rocks like that. Here in Europe, the amount of permitting you'd need for the job would make your eyes water. You'd need signs, and traffic management out the wazoo .... Although it was undoubtedly hard work, it must have been fun all the same a least a little bit using those machines. That "grabber" attachment was very cool. I imagine that even just 50 years ago, most of that would have had to be done either manually, or with some huge oversized Caterpillar thing. And kudos for the video production : huge variety of shots. I guess it does hours of editing to get the final result to look that good. You'll have many, many more subscribers in no time ! Greetings from Prague, CZ !

Excellent work there.

The retaining side fence is neat and tidy but only a token gesture to any land creep. (an uglier reinforced side fence would be stronger but I’m guessing that the city’s woodland code would not like the appearance). I also like the off ramp from the highway that allows you to come off at a good speed, when rush hour traffic is too close behind you. Nice work 🖖🇬🇧

Nice job and nice location.

I was thinking you should put solar led light post caps on you posts. Than I realized you have too much shade. Maybe low voltage lighting post caps? Everything looks great!

Great video! For those rocks next time you should use Expansive Demolition Grout👍. Break it into 20 pieces all at once

Old school for wood posts was a 55 gallon drum of a tar, diesel, borate, etc. anti-rot and bug mix.  We always had posts soaking starting left to right.  Replacements and new projects.  We had posts that were pre-grandaddy and still solid.

No way it lasted long. You have to have good drainage. I’d say most of the gravel is in the road.

you could use all your rocks to make a retaining wall that won't rot, cut the bank back a little and place your large rocks, every time you dig a hole you'll get more rocks anyway. it looks good but wait 10 years wood is wood

Muy bien trabajo, .me gusta este tipo de ambiente de campo de la colina .. saludos desde Colombia América del Sur 😅

I think I would have used road fabric before the gravel.

Looks nice. I sure miss living in the mountains, (Vermont). I hope you don’t get snow and ice with those steps grades. Rich in Florida

That ground looks like it would really suck up the gravel. Nice work. Looking good. Thanks for sharing!