Middlebuster-subsoiler for ditch digging ??

[Aquaman]

I've tried to do light trenching with a subsoiler before and I agree with the others - it just doesn't work. You'll spend all your time with a shovel in your hands and at some point, you'll realize it just isn't worth it.

 

[EdC]

I have a LOT of rock where I live. Mostly lava and then some basalt and the occasional granite bolder. Have had some success digging trenches for my irrigation lines using a Rankin Ripper (subsoiler). I still have to clean out the holes but the lava is so brittle the ripper breaks it up. Much easier than using a pick axe which is what I used to do. Still have to clean out the trench but it is whoops easier.

If you do decide to do this go slow. I go at a crawl because while the ripper will break up the lava it brings the tractor to a sudden halt if I hit one of those granite boulders.

 

[charlz]

I made a depth-adjustable middlebuster, there is a thread over in build-it-yourself, I would think you can't go much deeper than the height of the plow shovel. At some point some/all dirt will just roll over the top of the shovel or fall back in after it passes. I wanted the extra length on mine so I could still re-point the bottom of already dug ditches. I had to go back over all of them with a rake and pull dirt up to get a clean ditch.

Since you are going to be putting in galvanized I think renting a trencher is probably the best solution.

Charles

 

[Erik_in_Hoyt]

Home Despot rents a trencher that will dig up to 36" deep and about 5" wide with a clean bottom. I did an 86' run through heavy clay in about 90 minutes which let me get it back to them before my minimum time ran out.

subsoiler/middle buster combo is handy for a lot of things, but I suspect it won't meet your needs for this job.
on the other hand, using a middle buster to cut the sod and start the trench then follow with subsoiler/ripper blade to loosen everything up wouldn't save you the shovel work, but it'd make it a lot easier.

good luck.

 

[Pooh_Bear]

Home Desperato rents trenchers??
What did it cost, if you don't mind sharing.

I'd like to have this project done before summer.
The city is running water lines out by us
and we want to hook up to it.
Last summer wells were going dry around us.
This comming summer is predicted to be worse.

Guess I'll be calling around and seeing about a trencher.
We checked in Chattanooga. Crossville and Mcminnville
are about the same distance away. Hour drive one way.
Makes 4 hours just to pick up and return the thing.

Pooh Bear

 

[ToadHill]

In our area you can usually rent equipment from tool rental places for less than HD wants. My experience is that the upkeep is better also.

 

[Erik_in_Hoyt]

I think I paid $80 or $90 for 4 hours - 24 hours would have been about $130.
they even supply the trailer to haul it home with.

check other rental yards near you or maybe call a landscaper and see what he'd want just to dig the trench - you can always use the tractor to fill it back in. (as long as you dont use the tractor to tamp the soil after a night of rain... but that's someone else's thread )

 

[Ford850]

Pooh,
Around here most rental places have a weekend policy that allows you to rent a tool on Saturday a.m. and return it on Monday, but only get a 1 day charge. I have rented a large trencher (4' depth) that had a backhoe on it, for $250. The smaller units were somewhat less, and that's all you will need. At 16" you will fly through your trenches and have soft fluffy spoil to back fill easily. I would stick with a ride on unit though. I used a walk behind unit one time and will never do that again.

 

[loulblades]

I just used my subsoiler to bury about 100' of 1" conduit.

I had to run the subsoiler through several times to get the depth I wanted (attached a concrete block on top to help push it in). I drilled a hole at the bottom of the subsoiler and attached a couple metal straps which had holes for a bolt to go through the conduit which was closed off with duct tape. Of course I had to stop every 10 feet or so to attach another 10 foot section.

I also removed the "blade" or "plow" or "foot" (not sure what to call that thing) to keep the turning of the ground and resistance to a minimum.

Cleanup didn't require alot of effort. All this done from info gathered on various threads here.

I need to make another run of about 150 ft soon. There is a building at each end of the conduit so I will have to use the backhoe to dig out about 12' on the start end and at least the length of the tractor on the other end.

What I do know is I will hopefully never rent a trencher again (well maybe if I have to put in a French drain or something of the like).

 

[JC-jetro]

The pipe is most likely gonna be 3/4 inch galvanized.
It will either be 1/2, 3/4, or 1 inch galvanized.

The last ditch I dug was for 80 feet of electrical conduit.
I used a bottom plow and a 24 inch dirt scoop.
That was an awful lot of dirt moving for a 12 inch deep ditch.
And this ditch needs to go at least 16 inches deep.

Pooh Bear

Pooh,

I question use of Galvanized pipe for under ground water distribution. Galvanized is not a good choice even with cathodic protection. Black steel with coating is a bit better only in larger sizes for domestic main or Fire main. I would highly recommend cross linked polyethylene or even push in type PVC for water distribution. Galvanized and you'll be doing it again soon.

JC,