Skid Steer trencher

[crowbar032]

Does anyone have experience with a skid steer trencher? Do they work well? Any things in particular to look for in a used unit? I have some gutter drain to install and a walk behind trencher rental comes close to covering half the cost of a skid steer trencher I found for sale. This would also allow me to install at my own pace.

 

[Barnbuilder]

Make sure it cuts a trench wide enough to get the pipe in. Heck of a lot easier than walk behind trencher.
I think the one I rented was suppose to cut 6" and I had to use a garden rake to push the corrugated pipe in.

 

[Redlands Okie]

Buying the skid steer unit sounds like a no brainer. Should test it before you buy it if possible of course.

 

[EddieWalker]

I've never used one or even seen one in use. I guess I would YouTube it to see how well they work if there are any videos of them. I rented walk behind trenchers for awhile and really hated how slow they where, and how much effort it took to get them to cover any distance. I found a riding trencher at an auction for $3,500 that I bought and it's been amazing. It might sit for a year, but when I need it, it's always performed great. I've trenched thousands of feet with it through super hard red clay like it was butter. Even better is using the front blade to put the dirt back in the hole. In my experience, it's more work filling the trench then it is using the trencher to dig it!!!!

 

[PJ The Kid]

They work great, but I they are 1 of 2 attachments I refuse to run on my own equipment. They are very hard on the hydraulic pump and rattle the whole machine loose. Even at work we rent a skid steer with one instead of using out own.

 

[Todd727]

They work great and I've never had an issue with rattling. I'm guessing it may depend on what type of soil you are trenching.

 

[crowbar032]

I posted this and then life got in the way so the trencher I was watching sold. However, bright and early this morning I met a gentleman with a bradco 625 that he had listed on Craigslist. This one is in much better condition and cheaper. He sold his skidsteer and this was in the way and he (his wife, ha!) wanted it out of the way. It looks new, still has paint on it. It's currently set to 48" dig depth with a 6" width. As soon as it dries up some I'm getting my gutters trenched.

 

[bdog]

I have one for my skid steer. They work well but it is difficult to go straight. If you paint a line where you want the trench you won’t be able to see it once you get started. The solution is measure from where the trencher is to the outer edge of one of your tires or tracks. Paint your line this distance from where you want your trench and then you will be able to see and follow it.

 

[crowbar032]

Holy old thread batman! I ended up buying a trencher for my normal flow New Holland LS170. It's rated to dig to a depth of 4', recommended water pipe depth for my area is 32". I used it to dig a waterline for a neighbor after the ride on trencher he borrowed broke down. All the warnings in this thread were correct. It works ok. It was impossible to go in a straight line. In dirt it went plenty deep enough, but through gravel or rocks it was adequate. The biggest issue I had was going slow enough to ensure that the trencher stayed in the ground at the right depth. To fast and it wanted to raise up too shallow for water line. For what I paid and what I have to do, it will work fine and I can get my money back when I'm done. No regrets buying it, but I'd really hate to make a living with it.

 

[laurencen]

I have the Bradco, use it on a Bobcat 590, it works great, getting straight trenches is a challenge, I run a string a foot off the ground and close to the wheels, works for me, the trench goes well but 4 foot deep in a gravel material it needs to advance slow

one thing I will add, before the Bradco i picked up a cheap Chinese unit, it was a piece of junk unless cutting thro soil, when it hit a rock even 1 inch in diameter it would fall in the chain and jamb, clear it by reversing the chain but decided after 20 foot of trench sold it and picked up the Bradco, it never seems to jamb