Need V Ditch advice

HarleyBob · Nov 28, 2006

What is the best way to put in V ditch for drainage?
Looking for about 18" deep and 18-24" wide at top.

DieselPower · Nov 28, 2006

Experienced backhoe operator. The local township did the drainage ditch's along the road on two sides of my property about a year ago. The first day was a inexperienced hoe operator and it was a total mess. 3 foot deep 4 foot wide crater's is what I ended up with. The next day they sent out a experienced hoe operator to do the other side of the road (not mine of course) and he made some perfect looking V shaped ditch's that were about 16-18" deep and 24" wide. Wish they had sent him out the first day when my property was done.

Can't say I have ever seen a V cutting implement. Guess you could make one or even a V shaped bucket for a backhoe. If you had a old hoe bucket you could cut the sides loose from the bottom. Cut the bottom plate to a point and bend the sides in and weld back together to make a pointy bucket. Add some teeth to the sides and you would be V ditching in no time.

BTDT · Nov 28, 2006

DieselPower said:
Experienced backhoe operator. The local township did the drainage ditch's along the road on two sides of my property about a year ago. The first day was a inexperienced hoe operator and it was a total mess. 3 foot deep 4 foot wide crater's is what I ended up with. The next day they sent out a experienced hoe operator to do the other side of the road (not mine of course) and he made some perfect looking V shaped ditch's that were about 16-18" deep and 24" wide. Wish they had sent him out the first day when my property was done.

Can't say I have ever seen a V cutting implement. Guess you could make one or even a V shaped bucket for a backhoe. If you had a old hoe bucket you could cut the sides loose from the bottom. Cut the bottom plate to a point and bend the sides in and weld back together to make a pointy bucket. Add some teeth to the sides and you would be V ditching in no time.

Rock buckets are usually already this shape, but they are mostly (I think) used on larger excavators.

DieselPower · Nov 30, 2006

You mean one of these tiny little guy's.

Turkeyman · Nov 30, 2006

Our DOT uses a Dondi ditch maker, web site is US Ditcher & Dondi provide the best Rotary Ditchers for both Industrial and Agricultural use.

They even have a model that will cut one 6-8 ft to one side.

DieselPower · Dec 1, 2006

Now if that ain't the neatest gadget I have seen in a while. What do they use to do the cutting? A rotary carbide cutter head?

I need to take this picture over to my local township roads maintenance shop and show it to them. This baby would save them weeks and weeks of work every year.