What is good for digging Small Trenches

[SOS]

I would probably need about 8 inches deap max for the drain pipes and I do not have any rocks.

It sounds like the cheapest way is to go with a middle buster but the easiest with the rented trencher and I have not seen any cheap 3pt hich trenchers.

 

[Tom_H]

There are two different types of 3ph PTO driven trenchers: one is the chain type that looks like a chain saw and is often called the "Ditch Witch" style after a major manufacturer of such devices. The second style is a rotary device built in China and having only one U.S. distributor that I know of. The chain style is quite expensive and the rotary is for a tractor of Utility size or bigger.

Neither is appropriate for this application.

 

[MossRoad]

What is good for digging Small Trenches

Small children... I tell them, "It builds character!"

(Sorry, couldn't resist)
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​

 

[johnnylight]

I need a 3pt hitch tool for digging some small trenches. It has to be cheap as my financial advisor (wife) is already at her limit with the cost of the tractor.

Here is what I want to do:

• Bury plastic drain pipes from the house's gutters (about 6 to 8 inches) I need to run the drains about 30 to 40 feet away
• Trench water away from paths to drain into the woods
• Run some power cables to a few telephone poles for outside lights around the house (about 50 to 100 feet)

What do you all use besides a shovel and you back?

I agree the fastest and cheapest is the trencher(rental) for the electric min-18" that's for gas and electirc in NY anyway check your area for codes.
never mind codes you want that stuff out of your way.

your drain pipes why are you going with 6 to 8" ?
the corrugated 4" comes in a roll 100' cost about $40.at homedepot or lowes
the mid buster at tractor supply comes in a combo version subsoiler/midbuster $100.

did you check out this thread:http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/87388-cable-laying.html

I know you are trying to justify the tractor,this might be the opp to justify a backhoe --there's always a use for the backhoe..
we love our backhoes.

 

[Tom_H]

Here is the Chinese rotary trencher:

http://www.boltonpowerequip.com/ptotrencher.html

Here's a chain style (will add more as time permits):

http://www.earthmoving.com.au/trencher_tractor.htm

http://www.lewisequipment.co.uk/section.php?section=trencher&page=trencher

www.bradco.com/_includes/ fileblob.asp?I=20&table=product&ext=pdf&name=612.pdf

http://trenchit.mara.nzoffice.com/products.asp

 

[schmism]

this is the bettter trencher vs backhoe thread i started

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/88291-trencher-vs-backhoe.html

 

[Tom_H]

O.K., this one didn't paste correctly last time, here goes another try:

www.bradco.com/_includes/fileblob.asp?I=20&table=product&ext=pdf&name=612.pdf

If you don't want to download the PDF, here's a regular HTML page:

Bradco

 

[SOS]

I could really invent a lot of reasons for getting the 3pt trencher besides the ditches and drain pipes -- but the price is pretty high. Could I use it for putting in fence posts for a long chain link fence (about 900 feet) or would that be overkill for digging the holes?

My grand kids are only 8 and 10 --- I think I would only get one foot dug a day.

 

[Tom_H]

For those fence holes, the cheapest 3ph-PTO post hole digger and auger I know of are made by Greene and sold through N.H. Northern Tool and Supply. I got my PHD for about $329 and auger for about $69.

 

[Superduper]

Like others have suggested, rent a trencher. You'll be able to manuever it in places the tractor can not. Besides, it's very very fast, can cut very deep, and is very cost effective. I believe I paid about $65 for a hydraulic self propelled unit and only used it for about 1/2 hour at which point, I was practically looking for reasons to make more ditches. It took longer to transport it to and fro, than the actual ditching, all this through hard packed clay.