They have 3pt trenchers for ut's 60 hp+ :/ that is 1 of 2 attachments that may get me to buy a full ag tractor for. If i were to get a serous business going for mowing and needed a batwing that would be the other 
Ditchwitch capability
- Thread starter daveinnh
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Any thoughts on pto trenchers? I have a horse boarding facility in Maine. I need to put in multiple water line through the property over the next few years. I have a JD 4520 with a backhoe but it seems that trenching with a backhoe, while it works well, causes a great deal of soil disruption, which I always work about sinking and soft spots once it is backfilled. Those horses are heavy. I need to get at least 48" below grade for frostline. I know some PTO trenchers will go to 60". Our soil has some clay but it largely rock free. I've seen very mixed results posted here with trenchers. Some have said they work great and others say forget it. Just looking for the experience of others.
montejw
Gold Member
wayupnth said:
You still need to be concerned with compaction of the backfill with a trencher. 48" down is a long ways in a 4" - 6" slot, it will not compact by itself without help from you somehow. Chances are it won't completely fill the slot if there's too much clay without forcing it down to the bottom somehow.
schmism
Super Member
i rented a 3x36" when i trenched in my undergrown power this spring....
it was a 2wheel unit (to my surprise) and will NEVER again
1) rent a 2wheel unit to trench deaper than 18"
2) trench a 3" trench more than 18" deep
if you need to be 36" or deeper stick to 5-6" in width and a 4 wheel walk beside or ride on.
it was a 2wheel unit (to my surprise) and will NEVER again
1) rent a 2wheel unit to trench deaper than 18"
2) trench a 3" trench more than 18" deep
if you need to be 36" or deeper stick to 5-6" in width and a 4 wheel walk beside or ride on.
A riding trencher will out trench a backhoe all day long. Trenchers leave a small foot print which id easy to back fill compared to back filling the backhoe residue. It's like taking a Canon to a turkey shoot, way over kill ot backhoe for an 2-4 " electric or waterline.
I back hoed 300' and the trencher did the same dig it in a tenth of the time.
Walk behinds will beat you up, ride-alongs are the only way to go.
I back hoed 300' and the trencher did the same dig it in a tenth of the time.
Walk behinds will beat you up, ride-alongs are the only way to go.