Trench Digging Fab for 3902 w FEL

[John RHR]

Folks -

I need to dig some trenches for french drains, perhaps foundation footings. I've seen the hacks using a ripper and a piece of conduit to direct bury rolled irrigation tubing, etc, but I need something a bit wider. A foot deep would be nice; more, better. If it was 6"-8" wide, that would be fine. I was wondering about a reinforced trenching shovel head fabbed onto the bucket somehow, but I also suspect that one of you, smarter than me, has already figured this one out. Your thoughts? I am all ears!

Thanks,

John Moorhead

 

[radas]

6-8" wide trench at 1' deep is backhoe or large rental trencher territory if you don't feel like using a shovel. The barreto rental trenchers at HD can do a 4" trench so you may want to rent one from a heavy equipment place that have a wider "chain". IMHO you're not gonna get a clean, level trench using your bucket even with a spade on the front.

 

[Runs With Scissors]

Sounds like you need a Backhoe, but I ran across this video if you are in "Mac Gyver/A-Team" mode.

 

[RCW]

John - -

I'd be cautious, especially in rocky soil. A home-made trencher could really extend the reach of the loader, and increase leverage/lateral forces on the loader booms, possibly causing damage.

You likely have SSQA. Might mitigate the issue some.

Could likely be done with care and good soil, but would take time to design, etc.

@edritchey posted a picture of his backhoe-type bucket on a SSQA plate in last couple weeks.

What about a middle buster, which is basically a subsoiler with a two-sided moldboard?

Just a couple thoughts.

 

[D2Cat]

The problem using a tool to drag through the soil to obtain a ditch 6-8" wide is much different than burying a water or elec line. In the case of the elec or water line you are only opening the ground enough to get them in behind the implement. With a footing 6-8" wide and 12" deep, you have to get the material out of the ditch and out of the way.

Since you mention footing in your area only need to be 12" deep you might consider a tree spade. Here's an inexpensive one. Or if your inclined fab something up to fit on a quick attach plate.

https://www.amazon.com/Titan-Attach...9Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

 

[PoTreeBoy]

Folks -

I need to dig some trenches for french drains, perhaps foundation footings. I've seen the hacks using a ripper and a piece of conduit to direct bury rolled irrigation tubing, etc, but I need something a bit wider. A foot deep would be nice; more, better. If it was 6"-8" wide, that would be fine. I was wondering about a reinforced trenching shovel head fabbed onto the bucket somehow, but I also suspect that one of you, smarter than me, has already figured this one out. Your thoughts? I am all ears!

Thanks,

John Moorhead

I probably shouldn't admit it, but I've found that your forks (if you have them) can be used to cut a pretty good trench a foot or so deep. Of course, you have to clean the loose dirt out by hand. I've also seen trenches cut from the side with the loader bucket, but a foot deep but not very wide is probably pushing it.

 

[Vigo]

I second the middlebuster idea for this. I think that would work really well other than needing (maybe?) to clean it out by hand afterwards.

If you really want to go deeper than a foot the best option probably becomes something else.

I can't recommend anything FEL-mounted for this task, other than perhaps the stump bucket and a lot of PATIENCE. Because a stump bucket and a lack of patience is a recipe for regret.

 

[ken erickson]

I dug a 2 foot to 2 1/2 foot deep trench 280 foot long or so with the 66 inch bucket on my L2501 coming in from the sides. Not saying it is the most efficient way of digging a trench and does not leave a flat bottom and disturbs more soil than a backhoe or some other more suitable implement. For my one time only trench needs , in the soil type I have it worked out well. In a similar situation I would do it again.

 

[Chanceywd]

I dug a 2 foot to 2 1/2 foot deep trench 280 foot long or so with the 66 inch bucket on my L2501 coming in from the sides. Not saying it is the most efficient way of digging a trench and does not leave a flat bottom and disturbs more soil than a backhoe or some other more suitable implement. For my one time only trench needs , in the soil type I have it worked out well. In a similar situation I would do it again.


View attachment 101538

Oh how I wish my soil in central upstate NY was like that! My rock to dirt ratio is about 80/20.

Bill

 

[GreensvilleJay]

Why not rent a miniexcavator for a day, you can easily do 500-700' of french drains if you don't live on a 'terminal moraine' (rocky mess from glacier...) ? Using a middle buster would probably be a 2 or 3 pass chore. Miniex...one and you're done !