Trenching - Backhoe or Sub-soiler?

[Raspy]

I really enjoy getting into a trenching project. After a while it just goes along pretty fast and really accomplishes something. The bigger bucket really does help me because I can get in there and groom the bottom, but it also means a lot more spoils to deal with. Also, my inspector wanted a foot spacing between the power line and the water line going into the house. More as a suggestion than as a requirement, but the wider ditch made that work too.

My first ditch was very slow, not straight and not even on the bottom. Now it's much easier and much better quality. But cave-ins can be disheartening. Sometimes you can drive out over the ditch and fix it, sometimes not. My soil is mainly decomposing granite with football size rocks and doesn't have much strength to hold a vertical side.

Owning a tractor means the difference between dreading a road or ditch project and embracing it as fun. I don't see how I could get along without a tractor now.