Skid Steer Trencher?

joasis

Anyone use a trencher attachment for a skidsteer? I posted this in equipment talk....but no answers yet, so here it is. I am thinking about a trencher attachment to run on my 763G, and getting rid of my R40 Ditch Witch. So I was wondering how hard it is to stay on line? Use a marker string? I can't imagine trenching backwards, but we use it primarily for footing work. Thoughts?

Glasshousebltr

If it works out like any of the other skidsteer attachments I've used it will just be a matter of becoming accustom to it.

Bob

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Bob

joasis

I think we sometimes take our Bobcats fro granted...after all, they will not walk on water. I use mine for a lot of things...but trenching I am unsure of..seems like it would be hard on the hydrostat motors..since you would be just creeping...

I hate to spend a couple of grand on a used attachment to find out the old Ditch Witch can't be beat....or worse yet, sell the witch and but the attachment..and then be pissed.

Glasshousebltr

Yea......I feel the same way every time I fork out some bucks.....but taking risks is what makes us who we are.

Contact your local Bobcat dealer. Talk to someone in the service dept, the salesmen will tell ya anything.

Post back what ya find out, I'm curious about the attachment as well.

Bob

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Bob

TMatt142

I have trenched 600ft of pvc waterline with a T-250 bobcat with a trenching attachment. The first thing I thought was...."I've never trenched anyways so what the heck..might as well start off backwards!!!" Like the others have said, it takes some getting used to but it works really well (I thought). As long as you paint some markers to the sides and mark your center. I caught on within the first 50ft, and went along at a pretty good rate, although it was good soils. I'm not much of a trencher but what was nice was manuevering around, and I even trenched a wider part at the end of the run for a water spicot (sp). Really the bonus was I was trenching in hot weather and I was in the cool A/C cab while doing it!!!!!!

dirtibarry

Try placing two stakes/posts about 20' or so apart and in line with your trenchline. Now trench backwards keeping both posts lined up (only can see one). This guarantees that you are straight.

tnmtn

i have used a trencher attachment of the front of my dingo. it did very well and as far as staying on line i didn't think it was a problem. for me it is definitly the way to go. perhaps you could rent a trencher attachment first and get the feel of it before purchasing one.
good luck,

Tim Doyka

renting would be the way to go,

dayexco

measure how far it is from outside edge of skidsteer tires to center of excavation you desire. drive stake at start/stop point at that offset, stretch a string, have your tires just barely touching the string as you go, done deal

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someday, i'll be as patient as Nick.

TMatt142

Man this thread is old!!! Thought we fixed this one WAY back????

Alan Mesmer

I have a Lowe trencher that I use on my L785 New Holland skid steer. I bought it used for a couple of large drainage jobs on fields. My skid steer is low flow and it works OK. Since I was just dropping perforated plastic pipe and not really caring too much where I was going I made the first line as straight as possible and then used it for reference for the rest of the lines. The trencher does OK in moderate soils but in moderately rocky soil this trencher is not really set up with carbide so it will beat the heak out of the machine and you. I don't prefer using the trencher in areas that have any possability of any other lines of any type in the area that I'm trenching. In most cases I would rather use one of the excavators.
Also, the trencher just does not care what it brings up and if you hit any field drains or anything for that matter you end up needing an excavator to open the hole up for repair or bust you *ss with a shovel. I don't like going backward and not seeing where you are going either. The guy I bought it from had mirrors mounted so he could see.
As for digging anything where you have to be straight I think it would be tough but not impossible unless you are on the side of a wet hill then forget it because it will drift down the hill no matter what you do even with constant correction. At least that is what is does for me. I think the trencher attachment is good for what it is designed to do as an add on but does not come close to a decent sized trenching machine. It is fairly fast out in the open for field drains or a utility trench in good ground up to 30" deep or so.
If anyone is interested I am considering selling it this spring after I do one more field drain job that I have on the books. I have some spare parts (teeth, bearings, etc.) that came with it from the previous owner. I have ran it approx. 50 hours and have really not had to do anything to it beside greasing, etc. It has paid for itself in the short amount of time that I have had it but I am not sure that I want to keep it because it is sitting much more than I am using it.

Alan