OldandWorn
Senior Member
I need to trench 1800' for power to my retirement property. The trench has to be 3' deep and a minimum of 6" wide for 3" schedule 40 rigid PVC. My machine is a late 70's Deere 410 with a 12" bucket. I'm not an operator and have only dug a couple of small holes with this machine but got comfortable operating it pretty quickly.
I may end up renting a trencher but because of rocky soil, unlevel ground, and 3 small creek crossings I think there will be a need for the hoe.
Some concerns:
1) How to get through the creeks while water is flowing? The flow is small enough I could possibly dam them up and pump the water around my work area if necessary.
2) Picture these creeks as a 3' deep 10' wide swale with steep sides. I need to keep my pipe as straight as possible so the power company can pull the wire through. Do I gradually taper down to 6' deep entering and exiting the creek so the pipe will be 3' deep at the bottom of the creeks? I can use 22 degree elbows to help with the transition if necessary but I would like to keep all pipe joints out of the creek bottom. From what I understand this conduit doesn't bend much.
3) These creeks and about 800' of the run is on a neighbors undeveloped property (grass fields) and I'm concerned about making a mess and the trench settling over time. Any advice to minimize trench settling? Grass seed and straw over the trench? There is water availiable from a large creek but difficult to pump.
4) I'm really worried about digging in the hard rocky soil. Does anyone have experience with using a ripper on their hoe? I'm thinking I could rip the entire run and switch back to the 12" bucket. This could help the rental trencher also.
Any general trenching and back hoe advice greatly appreciated!
I may end up renting a trencher but because of rocky soil, unlevel ground, and 3 small creek crossings I think there will be a need for the hoe.
Some concerns:
1) How to get through the creeks while water is flowing? The flow is small enough I could possibly dam them up and pump the water around my work area if necessary.
2) Picture these creeks as a 3' deep 10' wide swale with steep sides. I need to keep my pipe as straight as possible so the power company can pull the wire through. Do I gradually taper down to 6' deep entering and exiting the creek so the pipe will be 3' deep at the bottom of the creeks? I can use 22 degree elbows to help with the transition if necessary but I would like to keep all pipe joints out of the creek bottom. From what I understand this conduit doesn't bend much.
3) These creeks and about 800' of the run is on a neighbors undeveloped property (grass fields) and I'm concerned about making a mess and the trench settling over time. Any advice to minimize trench settling? Grass seed and straw over the trench? There is water availiable from a large creek but difficult to pump.
4) I'm really worried about digging in the hard rocky soil. Does anyone have experience with using a ripper on their hoe? I'm thinking I could rip the entire run and switch back to the 12" bucket. This could help the rental trencher also.
Any general trenching and back hoe advice greatly appreciated!
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