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Drainage equipment

5 posts
  1. Jeremy Hreben
    Jeremy Hreben avatar
    0 posts
    8/10/2014 7:08 AM
    I have been doing small drainage projects, using my back hoe or a rented mini excavator. I am about to start doing them more frequently and larger projects. What equipment would you recommend or have used or would wish for? I am looking to purchase: A trencher(ditch witch)? A mini excavator? Is there an attachment for a PTO tractor? Maybe a skid steer with a trencher attachment? My soil is extremely heavy with tons of clay



  2. Joshua Styles
    Joshua Styles avatar
    0 posts
    8/10/2014 9:08 AM
    We have been doing projects totaling about 2000 ft/year for the last 3 years in Georgia Red Clay. I cannot express how valuable our ditch witch 2300 48" depth with a 4-way blade was during these projects. When it broke down and it wasn't feasible to spend the money to fix it, so we thought, the projects became much more time consuming with a rental Toro or Boxer platform trencher. A good ride-along, like the Ditch Witch, can pretty much handle any roots or rocks that you may come across. It is also a non-event if you decide to add another lateral to a run, just drop and dig! We added the spacers onto the chain to have a 6" trench for our 4" perf pipe, but you can leave them off if you are putting in wire or irrigation pipe. There are even trenchers with a backhoe accessory, but I have not operated one so I can't tell you how efficient it is. I would definitely keep doing the research based on your needs, especially since there are so many options out there. Good Luck!!



  3. Andy Jorgensen
    Andy Jorgensen avatar
    1 posts
    8/10/2014 9:08 AM
    If I were looking to buy something that would mainly be used for drainage, I would get one of these. The labor savings alone would pay for it.

    http://www.trenchers.co.uk/AFT-45-digging-chain.html



  4. Jack Tripp
    Jack Tripp avatar
    3 posts
    8/10/2014 10:08 AM
    Andy Jorgensen said: If I were looking to buy something that would mainly be used for drainage, I would get one of these. The labor savings alone would pay for it.

    http://www.trenchers.co.uk/AFT-45-digging-chain.html


    Would second the AFT45.

    Great machine and Great Lakes Interdrain who is the distributor is also excellent. The conveyer can be easily taken off if you want to trench for irrigation and leave the soil behind.

    Jack Tripp
    La Crosse Country Club
    Onalaska, WI



  5. Patrick Quinlan
    Patrick Quinlan avatar
    0 posts
    8/11/2014 2:08 PM
    Jeremy

    Buy a mini-ex. I know its the most expensive option but it will pay you back ten fold. If you buy a trencher and you begin doing tons of drainage work and you want to put in a 6 or 8 inch trunk line you wont be able to do so. The mini is so versatile, get a knuckle bucket and your can do some bunker work as well.



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