Using a subsoiler as a ditch digger

[tpulley]

I have an idea... I am thinking of building a sible point subsoiler 4 inches wide that I can get to go down to about 12-18" deep. This will be used primarily for running drip irrigation feeder lines. I beleive I can easily get by with this depth as i will be completely draining each line at the end of the growing season.

It costs me about $100 to rent a ditch witch for a day. I need to do this once or twice a year. The ditch witches I have rented in the past do not do a great job of keeping straight lines or making wide turns. I am thinking the tractor with a subsoiler I could really get this done just as well.

Is 4" wide enough? I plan to put in 1 1/2 black plastic pipe. Would the tractor pull a 6" subsoiler point?

I have seen on everything attachments a trencher that hooks to the 3pt hitch but wince at the over $6 price. That would equate to me using a rented ditch witch over 60 times and no upkeep costs.

My tractor is a 45 hp Kioti 4wd.

Any ideas?

 

[samhudson3]

I've heard the TS middle buster is a good tool for trenching, it's on my list of future implements.

CountyLine Middle Buster - 2128228 | Tractor Supply Company

 

[Gary Fowler]

Trenchers straight line depends on the operator. Just like your tractor, you have to control it. I dont think you want to be hand digging a bunch of sprinkler lines which is what you would have to do with a subsoiler. It is not going to throw out the soil, rather just loosen it up. I dont think a middle buster would go 18" deep without sucessive passes and still would likely require lots of hand shovelling to complete a rather level ditch and it would be awfully wide for you to have to fill back in. I know I wouldnt want you in my yard digging a trench for sprinklers with a middle buster. Save your money and stick with the trencher. $100 per day for 2 days a year is not that bad and you will spend that much or more with all the hand labor to clean out and then backfill the larger ditches with anything other than a trencher.
PS: If straight lines are an essential for your, rent a bigger ride on trencher that will make much straighter ditches than the walk behind which is actually walk in front but backward which is likely why you get the curves.

 

[chucko]

I have "pulled" lines with my middle buster and it worked great. Got the idea on TBN

 

[Baby Grand]

I found the standard subsoiler point worked just fine for 1" or 1.250" line:

 

[teg]

There are threads about pulling the pipe under ground with a sub-soiler ... I had 4" drain pipe (flimsy) so I had to trench it in... I used a middle buster that is adjustable (can lower an extra 6" down.)
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/projects/227548-putting-drain-pipe-underground-middle.html

I had to make several passes and clean it out as I went. If not, the dirt would fall back into the hole. The project went better than most of mine... (it actually worked) but I had to use a shovel more than expected.

 

[tpulley]

Thanks for the posts guys. I think the one in the link posted by TEG is what I need and want to accomplish. I am fine with it being a little bigger than my pipe. I can always fill in with the box blade.

The terrain I didn't mention earlier is mostly field, well at least for the initial test. I do have to run down a 150' beside a wooded secion to get to the crest of the hil. Then its all open field. Not very many rocks as it has been tilled over the last 50-60 years or so. Some pop up all along but we just remove them as the do.

So TEG, did you make or buy your "trencher"?

 

[teg]

So TEG, did you make or buy your "trencher"?

I'm pretty sure it was a close-out at Agri-Supply. They were changing to the fix/solid ones that looked like King Kutter at $50 more. I paid $95 IIRC, when I saw that it was adjustable, I had to have it.

 

[J_J]

This what I use for trenches. It is a hyd motor turning a 26 in carbide tipped wheel. Does an outstanding job.

You could make something like this with a hyd motor, blade disk, and carbide teeth. Mount it on the bucket , 3pt or make a push/pull trencher.

I also have the subsoiler for pulling pipe.

 

[bigdad]

This what I use for trenches. It is a hyd motor turning a 26 in carbide tipped wheel. Does an outstanding job.

You could make something like this with a hyd motor, blade disk, and carbide teeth. Mount it on the bucket , 3pt or make a push/pull trencher.

I also have the subsoiler for pulling pipe.

Those would be great if roots were an issue. Looks like the miniature version of what Vermeer makes to cut pavement. Nice!