Best attachment for filling and leveling trench

[jenkinsph]

New to the tractor world and am still learning how to best use attachments. I have a 400 ft long trench that I need to fill and level in the yard. What's the best way to do this? Drag my bucket, use a rear blade, box blade, land plane, something else? I have the bucket and a rear blade.

Thanks scott

If the trench was dug recently you can use the rear blade to backfill as Brian indicates in the pictures. If the dirt has set and packed down for some time you might be better off scooping and dropping it in the trench with the fel. Either way you get valuable seat time and all is good. More important for a newbie is don't get too close to the trench side where the tractor could roll over.

 

[Deezl Smoke]

If you are using your bucket, fill it with dirt and don't dump it. Your wasting time by dumping it every pass. When it fills with dirt it acts more like a blade.

This is a reply based on observation and experience. Of course it's funny as it come from a member with red neck in his handle, but it works. I've used this method a few times.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I filled 250 feet of water line trench by just pushing the dirt into the trench using my B26 FEL. I had dirt on both sides of the trench in most cases so I pushed all of it in on the side with the most dirt going the full length of the trench. This filled the trench mostly full so I then walked the dirt in by putting the tractors tires in the trench and going back and forth till it was well compacted. I then went to the other side and put the rest of the dirt in the trench which in some cases resulted in a mount of dirt while others it was just level. After a few rains, some spots had subsided so I had to go to my reserve dirt pile and put more dirt on to level it up. I walked that in with the tractor then back dragged the whole trench with the FEL. You cant tell where the trench was now.

You do need to compact the loose soil when filling it in. When you get enough dirt into the trench so you can safely walk the tractor tires on top of it without excessively tilting, then do so .

 

[Cataclysm]

On 400' with loose dirt I would put the FEL down and level just at the edge of the trench and drive forward. Your not straddling the trench, your driving along side of it. Don't try to go too fast until you get the hang of it. The bucket will partially fill then start filling the trench. Keep some weight on the front tires so you can steer. Once at the end of the trench dump the bucket then turn around and run it the other way. No back and forth 100 times or killing your neck looking back. You will be surprised how well this fills the trench. Roll it in with your tires and clean up with the BB.

An old timer backhoe guy showed me this and it works great on longer runs.

 

[Jorel7563]

thanks guys. My rear blade can be set at angle like the pictures, so I may give that a try.

 

[jenkinsph]

thanks guys. My rear blade can be set at angle like the pictures, so I may give that a try.

I would try it as above first if this is a small trench with limited dirt to move. If it is a larger trench with a larger pile of dirt to put back in you will have to push from the side. Use the fel rather than straining the 3 pt hitch in reverse travel. Any time you are pushing with the 3 pt hitch you need to be careful as it is designed for pulling more than pushing. Damage may not be covered under your warranty.

 

[LD1]

What kind of trench are we working with? A 4" wide trench done with a trencher? or a 24" Wide trench dug with a backhoe.

If a trencher trench, I'd opt to angle the blade and roll the dirt in.

If done with a backhoe, Like we have to open alot for fixing/laying field tile, you need to push it in from the side. Dont worry about compaction if it is a drain tile. Dont want to risk smashing it. Just mound up the dirt over the trench, let nature allow it to settle over the next several rains.

 

[pmsmechanic]

On 400' with loose dirt I would put the FEL down and level just at the edge of the trench and drive forward. Your not straddling the trench, your driving along side of it. Don't try to go too fast until you get the hang of it. The bucket will partially fill then start filling the trench. Keep some weight on the front tires so you can steer. Once at the end of the trench dump the bucket then turn around and run it the other way. No back and forth 100 times or killing your neck looking back. You will be surprised how well this fills the trench. Roll it in with your tires and clean up with the BB.

An old timer backhoe guy showed me this and it works great on longer runs.

I like the above method the best. With a blade if your driving over the dirt before you move it the dirt compacts and you've make twice as much work for your self. You can go in reverse with the blade but it's harder to control.