Thinking about building a drain field tile and gravel laying tool

[mx842]

A friend of mine wants me to build him a tool that has a hopper for gravel with a channel on the bottom that you can run that black drain tile through that he can drag through each ditch that will lay the tile and also put down the right amount of gravel under and above the tile. I saw one of these things years ago but don't remember just how it was configured. He had someone build one for him years ago that they used for a long time until someone snatched it up off one of his jobs awhile back. He doesn't have a clue how it was built all he knew was he could run the tile through the tube on the bottom, fill the hopper with gravel then drag it down the ditch with the excavator until the hopper was empty then fill it back up and go some more.

I don't know what the thing is called or who even makes these things but he knows they were very expensive when he went to buy one. He had this old guy build it for him but he has long ago passed and the design went with him. I was just wondering if anyone here has ever seen one of these tools or knew how one was fabricated. I have a pretty fair idea of how it was done but would like to have a little better idea of how they are put together before ruining a lot of good 1/2" plate trying. Thanks!!

 

[texasranger556]

Sounds like an interesting project. I'd search YouTube for drain tile machines. Here is one after a quick search.

Land Drainage with 2030GP Inter Drain Plough with Mastenbroek Gravel Trailer - YouTube

 

[CADplans]

I thought black pipe, and gravel was a WAY out of date concept?

There are so many newer drain field techniques,,
possibly,, pipe and gravel may no longer even be legal where you live?

I know I would never use the gravel and pipe drain field,,,

 

[mx842]

Sounds like an interesting project. I'd search YouTube for drain tile machines. Here is one after a quick search.

Land Drainage with 2030GP Inter Drain Plough with Mastenbroek Gravel Trailer - YouTube

That's not exactly what I'm looking for thats more like a plow trenching machine. What I'm thinking of is you use a backhoe to dig the trench and place this thingy into the trench fill it with gravel and pull it along the trench and it feeds out the tile along with the proper amount of gravel both below and over the tile. I've only been able to find one of these on the net and they are really tight lipped about how it's put together. see link: New Technology and Installation Tools | Onsite Installer

I went to the manufactures site and they have a video showing it working but they were really careful about the critical points. I sent them an e-mail requesting information, we'll see how it goes. From what I have heard they want $22 to $30,000 for them depending on the width of the trench.

 

[mx842]

I thought black pipe, and gravel was a WAY out of date concept?

There are so many newer drain field techniques,,
possibly,, pipe and gravel may no longer even be legal where you live?

I know I would never use the gravel and pipe drain field,,,

Well I guess in some cases they may not be the right choice but I put mine in back in 1990 and never had a minutes problem with it. I had it pumped out about 4 or 5 years ago and the pump truck guy said it didn't even need it. I told him to pump it anyway being he was already there and had the access cover off.

I know the state and some counties are getting funny about these systems and some want you to install those 20 to 30 thousand dollar sewage systems instead. I remember even back when I built my house they would like me to install this type system but I went the other route. At the time it was a matter of $2500.00 Vs. $15,000 thing and I went the low road way. If you have good soil and they are put in like they should be and maintained properly It's no reason they shouldn't last 100 years or more.

 

[mjw357]

I thought black pipe, and gravel was a WAY out of date concept?

There are so many newer drain field techniques,,
possibly,, pipe and gravel may no longer even be legal where you live?

I know I would never use the gravel and pipe drain field,,

They are not talking about septic leach fields, they are talking about drain tiles for crop fields.

 

[CADplans]

They are not talking about septic leach fields, they are talking about drain tiles for crop fields.

I am pretty sure he is talking about leach fields,,
no farmer on YouTube has EVER put gravel in a farm field,,,

If he has enough money to put gravel in a farm field,, he should be living in Beverly Hills next to the Clampetts,, not working,,,

 

[mx842]

I am pretty sure he is talking about leach fields,,
no farmer on YouTube has EVER put gravel in a farm field,,,

If he has enough money to put gravel in a farm field,, he should be living in Beverly Hills next to the Clampetts,, not working,,,[/QUOTE

Hehehehe, That was good:thumbsup:

And yes I was referring to septic leach field installation.

 

[CADplans]

Is it cheaper to buy one off CL??

Here is one for sale,,

drainfield constructor box - heavy equipment - by owner - sale

 

[CADplans]

pics,,