I own a JD 1026r with the 260 backhoe and sometimes I need to go back over part of a ditch I dig out to enlarge the hole, clean up, etc. The stabilizers on the hoe aren't long enough to cross the trench when I park the tractor at a 45 degree angle to it. I have filled the trench with 6x6's before to drive on top of, but the hoe is still not stable. What do the big boys do in this situation, where you want the boom pivot lined up with the trench but don't want to fall in or completely cross it? I thought about building some steel plates to drive over, like you would find closing off a mechanic's pit. I am also considering some slip on stabilizer extensions. Any ideas?