Is there a Trencher implement for 3-pt on a BX

[CountryBumkin]

I will be needing a trencher this summer. Lots of irrigation pipe to lay and conduit for driveway gate and lighting, etc.

I was thinking of renting a walk behind "DitchWitch" type, but that forces me to do a lot of work in a short time or spend a bunch of $$ to rent equipment then leave it sit for a while (while I rest between jobs and do other stuff).

So know I'm thinking maybe I should buy something - then I can work at my own pace - and have another tool in the arsenal.

Is there a 3-pt mount, PTO-driven Trencher implement available for the BX tractors? If there is such an attachment, how much would it cost?

 

[CountryBumkin]

I sort of answered my own question - there are 3-pt mounted PTO-powered Trenchers - but they a Lot more expensive than I expected (i.e. $6,000+).

I was thinking $1500 to $2,000. Maybe that's a reasonable price for "used".

http://www.everythingattachments.com/3-Point-Hitch-Trencher-s/6384.htm

 

[Diydave]

Unless you have rocky soil, the cheap way to go would be a 3 point subsoiler, and one of these. It is a tube, that attaches to the subsoiler, and as you subsoil, it lays pipe. If you have an occasional rock, or want to lay it deep, you can always rip it twice, once in each direction, laying the pipe, on the 2nd pass.

http://www.agrisupply.com/product.a...XW7wRcpcPLnqfZF38zmfZ7lawP_jtLQFPEaAo_Z8P8HAQ

If you want to buy a 3 point mechanical chain digger, I'm sure someone makes them, but likely it'll set you back about 5 grand or more...

 

[85Hokie]

Ditto what Dave said - excellent tool for "soil" - ifn you got a lot of rocks, might be hit and miss.

 

[meackerman]

I've looked at the 3pt ones and concluded I'll just rent a ditch witch when I run about 500 feet of 4" PVC.

 

[CountryBumkin]

Unless you have rocky soil, the cheap way to go would be a 3 point subsoiler, and one of these. It is a tube, that attaches to the subsoiler, and as you subsoil, it lays pipe. If you have an occasional rock, or want to lay it deep, you can always rip it twice, once in each direction, laying the pipe, on the 2nd pass.

http://www.agrisupply.com/product.a...XW7wRcpcPLnqfZF38zmfZ7lawP_jtLQFPEaAo_Z8P8HAQ

If you want to buy a 3 point mechanical chain digger, I'm sure someone makes them, but likely it'll set you back about 5 grand or more...

That's a good idea for flexible pipe.
I was going to use ridged PVC for irrigation and conduit, but flexible piping is a good idea.
So I would need a "single tine riper" and that "pipe feeder" you linked to.

Where do you mount the pipe spool (assuming I would buy the irrigation pipe and direct burial cable in large spools)? Or does someone need to walk along side and feed the pipe into the "feeder"?

How does this process work?
I'm by myself for this work.
Thanks.

BTW - I'm in central FL, so no problems with rocks.

 

[meackerman]

here's the idea, video doesn't answer all your questions ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ntj0YLrcng

 

[cerlawson]

The trencher plow idea attached to a BX sounds like way t0o much for the small machine.

 

[WFM]

I had bought something similar at tractor supply a few years back. I was running a underground wire to a light pole. With hard ground it did not bite it. A friend happed to stop by while I was doing it. He stood on the ripper and I would make a pass several tractor lengths. Pick it up , back up and do it again. After several passes (and my buddy standing on the ripper wasn't fat) it made a trench for the elec wire. Beats digging by hand.

 

[car compulsive]

The trencher plow idea attached to a BX sounds like way t0o much for the small machine.

I also wonder about that. The video posted by meackerman features a 45 HP tractor.

 

[meackerman]

it all depends on the ground conditions. by the end of summer, my subsoiler won't bite into the ground and if it does I'll spin my wheels trying to pull it through the ground. in the spring when the ground is still soft my B2910 can pull it no problem.

 

[Dalroo]

Just a word of advice if you go the DW route, go bigger than you think.

Last summer I needed to run 375' of water line and 125' for power. I rented a walk behind trencher and spent 6 hours and did not get the depth I wanted. Also had a difficult time keeping the trenches straight and was constantly having to re-do parts.

I got frustrated and returned, and went with a tractor mounted trencher from a different rental shop. With that larger, ride on machine, I was able to do the entire job, 3' and 4' deep in less than an hour.

I can't remember the exact prices, but I had the walk behind for a day, + trailer, and it was just under $200. The tractor, + trailer, rented all in for 1/2 day was just shy of $300.

I could have done 5x the work, and it was cleaner, deeper, and much less effort using the tractor.