DIY Ride-on Irrigation Trencher

For too many years I have been considering adding additional sprinklers to the underground irrigation system that came with the property. Since I, really, hate to move dirt by digging, I have not been very eager to accomplish the task. Then, one day last summer, I was shopping for metal at a local welding shop, and spotted a large piece in the discard barrel. I knew, immediately, what I could turn it into, as I had been waiting for decades for it to show up. So, I took it home, and with a few modifications, it transformed into a useful tool. I, first, set the knife to depth (8" to 12"), and cut to depth. Then, I return to the start, and pull in the pipe. I steer the sled by weight transfer on the "ailerons." The long T-handle provides sufficient leverage to, easily, rip through any roots that are encountered.

I failed to find a shapely young lass in a bikini to demo the trencher, so had to settle for the old guy... sorry!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVOwolfCBRs

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Thanks Gadgeteer! We've added your Ride On Trencher to our Farm and Garden category,
as well as to your builder page: Gadgeteer's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

<div id="blocks"> <div class="block b1 pngfix"> <div class="bimg"> <div> <a href="https://www.homemadetools.net/homemade-ride-on-trencher"> <img src="/uploads/253711/homemade-ride-on-trencher.jpeg"/> </a> </div> </div> <div class="head pngfix"></div> <div class="left pngfix"></div> <div class="right pngfix"></div> <div class="blockover b1 pngfix"> <div class="title"> <a href="https://www.homemadetools.net/homemade-ride-on-trencher">Ride On Trencher</a> <span> by <a href="https://www.homemadetools.net/builder/Gadgeteer">Gadgeteer</a></span> </div> <div class="tags">tags: <a href='https://www.homemadetools.net/tag/farm-tools'>farm tools</a> </div> </div> </div> </div>
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Gadgeteer - how does the winch handle the work load? Does the winch drive heat up for those long pulls, or does it handle it OK?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by desbromilow

Gadgeteer - how does the winch handle the work load? Does the winch drive heat up for those long pulls, or does it handle it OK?

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I have checked the winch for heat, and so far, it has not heated over the expected slight warming from normal use. It is the smallest ATV winch from HF, similar to the one I used for my powercaster, a few decades ago.

Great idea...I built a tool similar to that a few years back but pulled it with the winch on my truck. It has since been upgraded to being used on the 3pt hitch on my tractor.

Brilliant idea. Safe bet less effort to build than trench by hand, and tool is ready to use again. The clip on wheels to cart it off, icing on the cake.

I LOVE the ape hangers!:dance: You need a "straight pipe" on either side & a tall sissy bar behind a 'king/queen' seat! ��

Congratulations Gadgeteer - your Trencher is the Homemade Tool of the Week!

A clear win this week, and a great use of weight and leverage to turn an onerous task into an easy one.

Some more good builds from this week:

Shop-Vac Micro Attachment by projectswithrich
Magnetic Chuck by neilg4dbn
Hydraulic Tube Bender by warsztatOdZera
Cordless Tool Vacuum Cleaner Starter by Dr.Al
Chain Clamp by orioncons36
Clamp by Rustinox
ER40 Hex Collet Block by ttmrj
ER40 Square Collet Block by ttmrj
Tap Handle by Improvised DIY
Motorcycle Lift by Metalgeria
Hose Pinching Clamp by projectswithrich
Splinter Tweezers by projectswithrich
Transformer Mounting Brackets by Frank S
Dowel Jig by Daturat100r
Bar Stock Bender by Marsh
Bench Grinder Stand by trevor_60_r
Ratchet Handle by diy creative crafts
Electric Wheelbarrow by Kwandotechnic


Gadgeteer - we've added tool entry to our All Homemade Tool of the Week winners post. And, you'll now notice the wrench-on-pedestal award in the awards showcase in your postbit, visible beneath your username:

https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/...OfTheWeek4.pnghttps://www.homemadetools.net/forum/...eWeekIcon4.png

And, you'll be receiving a $25 online gift card, in your choice of Amazon (US-only), PayPal, or bitcoin. Please PM me your current email address and award choice and I'll get it sent over right away.

Nice work! :thumbsup:

I'll agree worthy, it's of Tool Of The Week.
But how, with 19 other entries listed, and 17,163 different forum members, is there only 12 "Thanks"?
Jon, I'd suggest a page of instructions or some means to increase participation. Might be idle forum legacy members? Seems a slam-dunk the paying crowd would be all over this stuff.

Don't see how I missed this one. A great solution for a laboriously back straining job when having to use a trenching shovel or sharpshooter as we called them

Sharpshooter?? Not at today's ammo prices.......

My only question is, whilst the vid showed installation of the pipe, and that clearly works, where does all the dirt coming out of the trench go when making the trench to start with?

old kodger
My only question is, whilst the vid showed installation of the pipe, and that clearly works, where does all the dirt coming out of the trench go when making the trench to start with?


That's a good question, which I plan to explain and show in further detail in another video, as soon as the ground thaws, which will demonstrate how to install sprinklers from start to finish.

I, first, determine where I want to insert the sprinklers, and indicate where I want to place the connecting pipe by laying string along the route. Then, I follow the string, using an edge trimmer to bust through the grass roots, which leaves a shallow trench to follow with the sled. Following this, I lay a soaker hose along the route, and let water soak the route for about 20 minutes. This turns the dry dirt to mud, which is easier for the trenching knife to cut through. When the knife is pulled through the mud the dirt is not removed, it is just pushed to the sides. After the pipe is pulled through the trench the slit just fills in by itself, leaving very little evidence that the soil has been disturbed. Attached video shows the results of this method after a few weeks... most of the cut has healed all by itself. And, I didn't have to dig, or remove (or replace) any dirt to make the trench!

I tried to add a video of the sprinklers working, but couldn't get it to load. So, here is a photo of a "healed" trench.