3pt trencher available?

[RobertN]

Is anyone aware of a 3pt mounted trencher for a compact tractor?
Thanks,

 

[Anonymous Poster]

www.easternfarmmachinery.com
3 point trenchers plus a bunch of other goodies.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.taletattachments.com/images/Bradco/612_trencher_photo.jpg>Bradco 612 Trencher for Compact Tractors…</A>

Key Features & Benefits
Category 1, 3-point mounting for 20-30 PTO HP hydrostatic tractors.
PTO shaft-driven with heavy duty slip clutch for overload protection.
Trencher drive is through gearbox with chain reduction to the headshaft giving it a more productive digging chain speed.
24" discharge auger places dirt well away from the trencher.
Shipped fully assembled, so you can be movin' dirt just minutes after you receive it.
Note: Front counter weight or leader may be necessary for proper transportation and operation of the tractor and trencher.

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.taletattachments.com/Products/Bradco/612_trencher.htm>Trencher Spec’s…</A>
~~~from the web~~~

Robert, I believe I have a picture of this posted somewhere ??? on TBN from a farm show...?

 

[rf33]

Robert,
I remembered seeing one at gearmore.com, <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.gearmore.com/trencher.pdf>here</A> is a link to the information page about it. I think that their advice about front weight is right. I have driven quite a few ride on trenchers (ditch witch and vermeer), and can speak from experience that without alot of counterweight, not only does transport become interesting, but hitting roots, etc. can really jerk you all over the place.

 

[RobertN]

Doh! It sounds wonderful, except the part about PTO HP... My little B8200 Kubota is only 16hp on the pto... I love this little tractor, but somtimes wish I had spent the extra $$$ for the B2150 that was sitting next to it(more hp)

Thanks!

 

[rf33]

In addition to the HP being on the low side, I think that you would want more weight than a B8200 unless you are trenching in really soft easy soil conditions. You might consider renting a ride on trencher. It is really amazing what you can get done in a day or two with one of these. I trenched, layed 1 1/4" PVC pipe, and backfilled about 2000' of pipe in a day with one just last week. The blade on the front of them really makes backfilling a snap too. How much pipe / wire / conduit or whatever are you needing to put in? For some projects with requirements for wider ditches, for deeper ditches, or with alot of unusual corners, etc. sometimes a small excavator can work better. If you require lots of feet of relatively straight 6" or less in width and 4' or less in depth, a ride on trencher is the way to go. I would really recommend staying away from the walk behind models unless you really need a workout/w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif. Those things will make you feel like you just got in a fight and lost after a day of trenching.

 

[RobertN]

Right now I am fact finding. A friend is a contractor, and I occassionally do post holes for him. He asked if I had a trencher, as he could often use one on jobs, and would sub the work out to me if I wanted it. There's fair potential there for the capabilities of a compact tractor with a loader, scraper, auger and trencher...

Basically, I have found that my tractor is perfect for my home application, and does everything I ask of it. But, for other applications, I am low on HP.

I could upgrade, but mine is paid for... I could not afford to upgrade without payments right now, and would prefer to stay away from that.

 

[longway5]

We have one of the Bradco pto trenchers at work..about the only thing it doesn't like is large rock. We usually have it attached to our NH that I believe is way out of the recommended hp range. We put the tractor in first gear in creeper and it just idles along with the rpm all the way down. Last time I used it was in April, and we still had all the front weights on the tractor from using our heavy chipper; even with all that weight its quite the ride when you get into rock.

 

[RobertN]

I checked with my local shop; the Gearmore is about $6000 with proper hookupo, chain, boom, and all.

That, and the $17,000 for a tractor big enough to run it, are out of the question right now...

 

[rf33]

Yeah, some of these implements would take a long time to pay for./w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif You might want to contact some rental yards in your area. If you were renting something like a trencher quite often you might just get a good enough deal to make it worthwhile to rent one for the occasional trenching job.

 

[RMulkey]

Hi Robert,

I have rented a few dedicated ride-on Diesel trenchers to put in utility and water lines to 6 houses in our neighborhood. The Ditchwitch 3700 (43 HP) and Vemeer 4150 (50 HP) are nice machines that work well in our Sierra Foothills decomposed granite. The DW rents for $250 and day and the Vemeer rents for $350 per day. I like the Vemeer best because it easily digs a 5' deep trench. It is big enough to cut through a limited amount of solid rock (3'-3' rock bolders). I looked at the bradco 3Ph unit, but after using one of these dedicated trenchers, I quickly decided that this is one tool I will just rent when needed. The bradco would probably be fine for installing sprinkler systems and such but I will still rent a ride-on to make things go faster. The utilities we installed so far required 3500' of 8" wide x 5' deep trench. The neighbors did all the work ourselves. In fact, you can probably see 2" PVC pipes stubbed up along Auburn Folsom Road near Kingmont drive on your way to work... We are waiting for PCWA to come under the road and install the meters. Let me know if you want to talk more about trenchers.

 

[Darren]

I've got a Du-Al which is now made by Woods. The model 1250 was designed for tractors in the 15 to 35 hp range so it might work with your tractor. The trencher works well except of course for solid rock. Anything up to about 12", it will bring to the surface.

You'll either need a creeper gear or hydrostatic.

 

[RobertN]

I think we are going to rent one. I was prety much in fact finding mode, and the facts were too $$$ /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

 

[Keoke]

Darren, I also have a Woods Du-All trencher. Mine is the model 1250-A with a hydraulic motor that is used to push the tractor and trencher along. This unit can be used with stick shift or hydro tractors.
I have done a lot of trenching with absolutley no down time.

cheers,