what gizmo do I need for digging ditch

[RussMan]

I have a small tractor (30 HP Kubota). I also have a rather steep driveway, and I want to carve a small ditch alongside the driveway to minimize water running across it. I am thinking the ditch needs to be only about 4-6" deep but maybe 12-16" wide or perhaps it doesn't need to be that wide.

The question is what type of 3 point gizmo would I need to use on my tractor to help with this. I don't think I would have much success with my FEL given the driveway is fairly hard. I do have a blade, but not sure I can tilt it enough to carve out a ditch. It seems some sort of small ripper would work but I don't know if they make such a gadget. Any ideas?

[Dyer, retired]

Originally Posted by RussMan

I have a small tractor (30 HP Kubota). I also have a rather steep driveway, and I want to carve a small ditch alongside the driveway to minimize water running across it. I am thinking the ditch needs to be only about 4-6" deep but maybe 12-16" wide or perhaps it doesn't need to be that wide.

The question is what type of 3 point gizmo would I need to use on my tractor to help with this. I don't think I would have much success with my FEL given the driveway is fairly hard. I do have a blade, but not sure I can tilt it enough to carve out a ditch. It seems some sort of small ripper would work but I don't know if they make such a gadget. Any ideas?

Russman,

You don't have a small tractor....I do,... BX1800, ha! I've got a 6 foot blade on the back of mine and can't imagine the friggin' around you'd have to do to dig a proper ditch with it. It's great for digging down into the driveway and smoothing that out, but would be way too much maneuvering to work a ditch with it. The other problem is that there generally isn't any down pressure on the 3 point drag bars, so you'd only get limited penetration with the blade....depending on the soil, angle and weight of the blade, etc. I'm anxious to see what other TBN'ers have to say about this, because I'm trying to find some cheap way to to work on some stumps...without spending $6,000 for a backhoe. Good luck. Dyer, retired

[CinderSchnauzer]

I ran across a gadget that might be perfect for your task. It was called a "Ditch Pro 60". Ditch-Pro - Reist Industries - Elmira, Ontario, Canada They are expensive new, but if you could find one used or similar product it might be perfect.

Picture a drainage swale between two houses - that's one of the tasks they are designed for.

[GilaSlim]

I just did a similar job with a B7800 and a box blade. Ran two shallow ditches about the size you specify across a one acre horse pasture. The pasture is irrigated, but not enough water was getting to the trees in the corners furthest from the ditch. Also have Top-N-Tilt. Dropped the right side as far as it would go, stuck it in the sod and started cutting. Multiple light passes did the job. Biggest problem was trying to take too big a bite. Several times I got three of the four tires slowly spinning on the grass. Bermuda can be pretty slick. Raised the blade a bit and off I went. Worked better than a straight blade - I carried most of the dirt to the end, then picked it up with the FEL and used it to build up the berms. Straight blade would probably cut more agressively, assuming you have the traction, but would require more clean up. Since you are cutting along your road, if you want to add the dirt to the road, the straight blade may be better.

GS

[Soundguy]

You could probbaly scrape out that small swale with a rear angle blade.

soundguy

[snoboy]

Originally Posted by Soundguy

You could probbaly scrape out that small swale with a rear angle blade.

soundguy

I agree. I would think you could get creative enough to obtain drainage with a rear blade. Rear blades can be had for pretty cheap.

[Barneyhunts]

Maybe a middle buster would do the job for you.

[ToadHill]

I've kept my ditches running by driving the tractor along the length every spring and fall. The weight is enough to "ditch" the soft soil to about 5 or 6 inches deep.

[3RRL]

That's what I'd do...tilt that blade you got as much as you can and start cutting in that ditch.
I do it all the time with my boxblade.

[ctpres]

I've been digging and cleaning a 700' ditch thru woods for five years. So far best tools are: Subsoiler- two or three passes to define ditch, loosen soil and cut roots. Middlebuster to shape ditch and occasional cleanup. Shovel to remove dirt. Note: with top link and depth adjusted just right - middlemuster shapes bottom to match curve on shovel making cleanup easy. End result is a neat ditch twelve to eighteen inches deep and narrow enough to straddle with mower the entire lenght