Simple trencher?

[strantor]

I'm looking for the cheapest/simplest method or attachment for digging trenches with my 40hp tractor. I need trenches 1ft deep by 4-6" wide. My ground is black dirt, no clay, no rocks. I think something like a subsoiler would work, but from the videos I've seen, those don't lift the dirt up out of the trench and move it to the side. I am willing to purchase something that meets my needs if the price tag makes sense, but I'm anticipating fabricating what I need, and I'm looking for some inspiration. I can't find anything that resembles what I see in my mind's eye, which is a red flag; I usually confirm that my ideas are good by finding that other people have already done it. I'm picturing a subsoiler with a long upward sloping tooth that moves dirt to the surface and a perpendicular angled blade at the surface which catches the rising dirt and scoots it off to the side.

Does such a thing exist? If not, would it work? Why/why not?Any better ideas? I'm not paying $5k-$10k for a PTO driven chain trencher, nor am I going to try to fabricate one. If I can't fab up what I need for around the same price as a 1wk ditch witch rental then I'll just rent the machine.

 

[oosik]

I would say you are thinking of a - middle buster. Google - "middle buster" and see if that what you need. The one I just look at was rated up to 50 hp and listed for $170.

Its not exactly a trenching tool but for what you need it just may do the job.

 

[BLSXJ]

I'd build it... for black dirt I'd build a sub soiler type attachment, that has a piece of 6x6 sq tubing instead of the chisel... weld so its angling down... then add a miter cut to kick the dirt off to one side. think elbow macaroni. 3 passes and you'll be down to your depth

 

[kthompson]

I would say you are thinking of a - middle buster. Google - "middle buster" and see if that what you need. The one I just look at was rated up to 50 hp and listed for $170.

Its not exactly a trenching tool but for what you need it just may do the job.

Totally agree. Many many trenches like wanted made here with middle buster. Now those were ag middle busters and not the light weight ones sold in box stores.

 

[jeff9366]

Dirt Dog seems to make the heaviest Middlebuster, AKA Potato Plow, AKA Layoff Plow:

Dirt Dog LP layoff plow / middle buster | eBay

Dirt Dog Manufacturing >> Disc Harrows Tillage - Lay Off Plow


You will still need to shovel out spoil.

 

[strantor]

I'd build it... for black dirt I'd build a sub soiler type attachment, that has a piece of 6x6 sq tubing instead of the chisel... weld so its angling down... then add a miter cut to kick the dirt off to one side. think elbow macaroni. 3 passes and you'll be down to your depth

Hey, I think you're really onto something there! Sounds perfect! Thanks for the idea!

 

[strantor]

I'd build it... for black dirt I'd build a sub soiler type attachment, that has a piece of 6x6 sq tubing instead of the chisel... weld so its angling down... then add a miter cut to kick the dirt off to one side. think elbow macaroni. 3 passes and you'll be down to your depth

Been mulling over the idea for a few hours now and I'm growing more concerned about clogging, if using an enclosed chute, such as square tube. That, and having to poke out all the stuffed dirt inside after each use. I'm leaning more toward the open top inclined tooth again. Just not sure yet. Maybe I'll try both. I have some square tube I could do this with, but I had other uses in mind for it. I need to prioritize my projects... I'm not sure which direction I'll go at this point but I'll update the thread when some action has been taken in some direction.

 

[Lelandwelds]

If you are installing cable and don't have rock, a vibrating blade might work. The work like a concrete vibrator and feed cable down the backside.

 

[/pine]

You don't say what you're burying...if you want a clean ditch without having to use a shovel...rent a Ditch Witch etc...

 

[DieselBound]

^^^ I agree. If one-off jobs just rent the right tool for the job.

That said, I have a middle buster plow and have used it effectively for creating initial ditching: I'm able to kind of prototype a ditch, first see if it's actually going to work before digging a real ditch. I've used just the shank to bust up ground (really, really rocky- fill material) to lay electrical wire (in piping); not optimal, but better than anything else that I had, and, I couldn't justify the cost of renting something (read: "I was impatient to get the job done and though that the shank would be sufficient- hours later after hand shoveling I got the task done!).

 

[ratpie]

something like this...

 

[BLSXJ]

instead of square tube.... what about a U shape (or the top cut off the square tube)?

 

[strantor]

You don't say what you're burying...if you want a clean ditch without having to use a shovel...rent a Ditch Witch etc...

I'm not burying anything. I want make a half-buried concrete retaining wall for some raised gravel installations I'm planning (driveway, lay down yard, patio, etc). That's why I want the dirt up and out of the trench. I don't plan to put the dirt back in. I want to do the work at my leisure without having to worry about rental return deadline. A

 

[strantor]

instead of square tube.... what about a U shape (or the top cut off the square tube)?

Yeah that could work, and I would get twice as much bang per inch of square tube.

 

[quicksandfarmer]

How about something like a Quick Spade?
Paumco Equipment | Quick Spade

I've done shallow trenches by cutting with a middle buster and then clearing the soil out with a trenching shovel. Once the soil is broken it's pretty easy.

 

[bcp]

I want make a half-buried concrete retaining wall...

Here is a someone making a flat bottom trench with most of the dirt removed.

Bruce

 

[Doofy]

Look at Bro-Tec Rippers and Trenchers. They will give you an idea of the shape needed. These are made to replace the backhoe bucket but same principle as a subsoiler.

 

[dragoneggs]

Here is a someone making a flat bottom trench with most of the dirt removed.

Bruce

Thanks for sharing. Love the tool and must be sweet not to have rocks.

 

[strantor]

Here is a someone making a flat bottom trench with most of the dirt removed.

Bruce

Haha touche. I guess my noob is showing. I didn't even consider the very first implement that tractors were designed to pull. Well I'm not your typical tractor owner. I bought this thing with zero consideration for farming. I needed a 4WD offroad forklift for my small business and couldn't find one at a reasonable price so I bought a tractor with pallet fork attachment. Now that I have the tractor I'm finding new uses for it, including its original purpose. My land is perfect for farming (except that there's only 2.5ac of it) and I'm kicking myself for not buying a tiller with it. And a plow too I guess.

Anyway, yeah the plow is essentially doing exactly what I asked for, but the result isn't exactly what I had in mind. I'm looking for ditch witch results without a ditch witch. Or as close as I can get. Maybe a plow is actually as close as I can get. I don't know.

 

[strantor]

Look at Bro-Tec Rippers and Trenchers. They will give you an idea of the shape needed. These are made to replace the backhoe bucket but same principle as a subsoiler.

Yes, that shape is the same shape I had in mind.