CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT: Tips to Trench

As trenchers have evolved over the years, they’ve became easier, safer and more productive to use. Today, the machines meet most landscape contractors’ underground needs, including irrigation installation, outdoor lighting installation, water feature construction, downspout and drainage system installation, root pruning and tree planting, to name a few.

Because trenchers are specific to underground duties, manufacturers suggest contractors know their uses for the machine to ensure they choose the right one for them. “The first thing that comes to my mind when advising contractors how to choose the right trencher for them is that they really need to know their job requirements,” says Brent Bolay, senior product manager, Ditch Witch, Perry, Okla. He suggests contractors consider how deep and wide they will need to dig, what type of soil they’ll be digging in, the kinds of jobs they will perform and how long will they have to get the work done. “Most contractors make money based on how many jobs they can do, so purchasing a machine that their crews can operate quickly and efficiently is important,” Bolay says.

NOW AND THEN. While the basic idea of the trencher has not changed much over the years, the ability of the machine to perform its job has improved. “Today’s systems are much more refined, with more safety features for the operator,” says Jon Kuyers, compact solutions manager for Vermeer, Pella, Iowa.
 
Today’s machines come with hydrostatic rather than mechanical systems, eliminating most of the exposed gears and belts that caused performance problems and downtime in the past, Kuyers says. They are also more advanced in terms of ergonomics, with fewer, more accessible controls.
 
For example, some manufacturers identify the controls on their trenchers using a color-coding system that expands across their product line.
 
“This can help the novice operator recognize the control functions and be a productive member of their crew more quickly,” Bolay says. 
 
Operator safety has improved over the years with features like automatic stop and electrical protection. “With today’s trenchers, if you let go of the handle, the machine will stop running, when before it would continue running until you physically disengaged the clutch,” Kuyers says. “In addition, electrical protection protects contractors in case they cut through an electrical line or wire while digging underground.”

ONE OR THE OTHER. Ride-on and walk-behind trenchers are the most common varieties, though both have their own advantages. Walk-behind, or pedestrian, trenchers are more popular in the landscape industry because they easily fit on residential properties, Bolay says.
 
“The preference toward one type of machine or another is driven by the job it has to do,” he says. “If most of your jobs are in suburban backyards, you probably won’t need to invest in a ride-on trencher. But if a contractor is involved in commercial landscaping and has bigger jobs of, say, 5 acres or more, he might look into a larger machine with more capabilities.”
 
Trencher price also influences which machine a contractor chooses to purchase. Walk-behind machines  cost from $5,000 to $14,000, Bolay says, depending on the type of chain, horsepower and digging capabilities. Ride-on machines cost from $25,000 to $40,000, varying for the same reasons.
 
Digging capabilities and horsepower go hand-in-hand, so Kuyers suggests contractors purchase a trencher with horsepower that reflects how deep they will need to dig. Walk-behind trenchers have horsepower suitable for digging 12 to 36 inches deep. Ride-on trenchers are better for installation depths of up to 4 feet. Chain type also depends on how deep the trencher will need to dig, as well as what kind of soil the machine is digging. From basic to most powerful, cuptooth, shark-cutter and rotary chains are the most common for contractors to choose from.
 
The market also offers trencher attachments to use with skid-steer loaders. Prices of these devices range from $4,000 to $12,000, depending on their capabilities, says David Kweram, work tools sales support consultant for Caterpillar’s North American commercial division, Peoria, Ill. (For more information on attachments, see “Trencher Versatility” on page 130.)

OPTION TO BUY. Until a contractor’s trencher needs are firmly established, renting machines on either a monthly or as-needed basis is common practice. “Many contractors rent trenchers before they purchase them, so they need to evaluate how often they use a trencher versus their rental costs,” Kuyers says. “If they are renting three or four times a week, purchasing might be a better financial investment.” 
 
The price of renting a trencher will vary depending on the type of machine. Most manufacturers agree that a standard walk-behind trencher can be rented for $120 to $200 per day. The rental of smaller trenchers can range from $45 to $60 per day and renting larger trenchers can cost from $70 to $100. Renting ride-on trenchers can cost from $150 to $400 per day, Bolay says.
 
Most manufacturers offer financing options, which vary depending on a contractor’s credit history, as well as the cost of the purchase being made. By working closely with a local supplier, contractors can determine the best purchasing method.
 
“It’s beneficial to work closely with your sales rep or dealer to work through issues from financing to determining which machine is right for your business,” Kuyers says.
 
Bolay agrees that establishing a relationship with a trencher dealer before investing in a machine has benefits that last long after the purchase.
 
“Most manufactures have complete confidence in their dealers to help customers identify the best machine for them based on their individual information,” he says. “This communication gives the customer the opportunity to see the dealer’s support system and to know that there will be supportive service for them after the sale. By the very nature of what a trencher is asked to do, there is going to be some wearable parts, so it’s reassuring to have a dealer you can trust to back your machine up.”

ROUGH AND TOUGH. Trenchers are often asked to do some strenuous work, so this support can come in handy should performance problems arise. The chain is usually the first part of a trencher to need some work, as it is arguably the machine’s hardest-working component.
 
“The chain is the piece of the machine that is actually doing the work of excavating the soil and pulling it out of the trench,” Bolay says. “With tougher soil conditions, you have to move to a different type of tooth and chain that gives more cutting ability.”
 
Cuptooth chains, sometimes referred to as entry-level chains, are the most common in the landscape industry and are great for working with light soils. Shark-cutter chains are another good all-purpose chains, Kuyers says, and they work particularly well in hard-packed or clay soils. Rotary chains are powerful enough to dig through hard, rocky soil. “If a contractor is in Florida and usually works with sandy soils, a cuptooth chain would be fine, but in Montana’s rocky conditions, a sturdier chain should be used,” Bolay says.
 
Despite wear and tear, like any machine, the life of a trencher can be extended with proper use and preventive maintenance.
 
“Depending on usage, trenchers can last from three to 15 years, and proper usage and maintenance can prolong that,” Kuyers points out. “Use it for what it was intended – don’t use it to try to cut through a concrete parking lot.”
 
The specifics of preventive maintenance are usually spelled out in the owner’s manual, but some common-sense tasks include changing the oil and replacing the air and oil filters every few months, and adjusting the chain, sharpening the blades and greasing the bearings before or after each use. Trenchers should be winterized by draining the fuel, repairing the filters and placing it in a dry area before being stored away for winter.
 
“If the machine’s joints are not greased regularly you’ll have metal-on-metal wear and the machine will have to work harder to do the same amount of work,” Bolay says. “If the chain is adjusted too tightly it will wear out faster because it’s being strained, but if it’s too loose it will jump off the sprockets.”
 
Such problems result in downtime of the machine and lost money for the contractor. This used to be a common thing for Mark Levi, owner of Levi Landscaping in Riverside, Calif., who uses his trenchers for installing irrigation systems and drain lines and digging holes for trees. Levi began using trenchers 25 years ago and has found that ones with too many mechanical parts tend to be problematic.
 
“The trenchers we used to use had too many moving parts which resulted in too many breakdowns,” he says.
 
Levi invested in hydraulic powered trenchers and discovered that fewer moving parts mean less maintenance and repairs. “The hydraulic machines move slower, but they break down less often,” he says. “From a productivity standpoint, I’d say it was a trade-off.”
 
To prevent machine downtime, Levi requires his crew to change the filters, clean the booms and grease the zerks before each use. “We do all of this preventive maintenance in house and it is absolutely required,” he says.
 
Levi prefers using walk-behind trenchers because he finds they create less mess and less potential for damage than ride-on machines. However, he says that every contractor has a personal preference for which machine is best for his or her company.
    
“Everybody has equipment that works for them,” he says. “I personally prefer walk-behind trenchers, but some contractors only use riding trenchers. It just depends on what they perceive to be better.”
 
Taking advantage of manufacture demonstrations is a good way to test the machine before making a final decision, Levi says. “A company representative came out and demoed all of my trenchers before I purchased them,” he says. “I found that very helpful when choosing the right machine for me.”