FASTEST WAY TO DIG A DITCH? WE TRY 4 DIFFERENT ATTACHMENTS.

Today we compare four different attachments for digging a shallow ditch. We use our front-end loader bucket, the GWT Stump Wrecker, a Dirt Dog Rear Blade, and a John Deere 260B backhoe. These all come in at vastly different price points have lots of other considerations besides speed, but we cover all of that in today's video.
Products in video:
GWT Stump Wrecker: bit.ly/3vLnjUB
Dirt Dog Rear Blade: bit.ly/3s4rqsA
GWT HD Stump Wrecker Waitlist: bit.ly/3vXxWSZ
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[@GoodWorksTractors]

So, what's your tool of choice? If you're in the market for tractor attachments, then we'd love to help! We sell and ship all over the country! www.goodworkstractors.com GWT Stump Wrecker: bit.ly/3vLnjUB Dirt Dog Rear Blade: bit.ly/3s4rqsA WANT TO SAVE MONEY? CHECK OUT THE GWT DISCOUNT CLUB! Use code GWT at any of the vendors below and you will save cold hard cash :) I will also get a commission for the sale, so it's a win-win-win! 5% OFF WITH CODE GWT AT 247PARTS.COM www.247parts.com 5% OFF WITH CODE GWT AT ITC QUICK ATTACH! itcquickattach.com 5% OFF WITH CODE GWT AT JU FAB WORKS! www.jufabworks.com 5% OFF WITH CODE GWT AT 511 DESIGNS (CUSTOM GRILLS): www.5elevendesignz.com 5% OFF WITH CODE GWT AT TRACTOR PTO LINK! tractorptolink.com 5% OFF WITH CODE GWT AT YARD GLIDER! www.yardglider.com 5% OFF WITH CODE GWT AT MUDD'S CUSTOMS! www.muddscustoms.com 5% OFF WITH CODE GWT ON TRACTOR FLOORMATS! www.tractormat.com 10% OFF WITH CODE GWT AT OUTBACK WRAP! www.outbackwrap.com 5% OFF WITH CODE GWT ON HYDRAULIC SAFETY! www.hoseendchamer.com 5% OFF WITH CODE GWT ON SELECT PRODUCTS AT SUMMIT HYDRAULICS! www.summit-hydraulics.com 5% OFF WITH CODE GWT AT LUBE SHUTTLE! www.lube-shuttle.us/store 5% OFF WITH CODE GWT ON PROTERO DUMP SYSTEMS! www.proteroinc.com 5% OFF WITH CODE GWT ON SWEEP-ALL SWEEPERS! www.sweep-all.com 5% OFF WITH CODE GWT AT MILLER TIRE! www.millertire.com 5% OFF WITH CODE GWT AT BIG TOOL RACK! http:www.bigtoolrack.com 5% OFF WITH CODE GWT AT HEAVY HITCH! www.heavyhitch.com 5% OFF WITH CODE GWT AT KBC TOOLS! www.kbctools.com 5% OFF WITH CODE GWT AT TRAC SEATS! www.tracseats.com *Discount codes cannot be combined with any other promotions, offers, or deals! **I choose to sell some products through 3rd parties instead of stocking items myself. Know that I will receive a commission if you choose to purchase through certain links. Thank you very much for your support! This video is for entertainment purposes only. Good Works Tractors (Good Works Lawn & Power, LLC) cannot be held responsible for content found in any video. Always reference your owners manuals, use extreme caution, and proceed at your own risk.

[@roblawrence9495]

I did the same comparison myself unintentionally. Started digging a shallow ditch with a BX23s backhoe and got frustrated with the speed. Switched to the 8' bucket on my M100 and knocked it out in no time. Anything deeper than about 1' and you are limited to the backhoe, though. I have put a couple hundred feet of drainage lines in using the backhoe and it works fine for that, but when it came time to bury 4000' of water line at more than 18" depth, I rented a dedicated trencher. I shudder to think how long it would have taken with the backhoe.

[@DKSorg]

Angled Blade = Think like a Knife cutting... You Cut with the HEAL to the TIP. Point Angled Down... Furthest from Tractor... Spill Pile Exits Quick...Kicks it Quickly to the Outside... Last Two Passes How you had it... Flat Path with Spill pile Centered until the end.

[@barelystablefarm7151]

For the backhoe, no need to keep getting off the seat to move the tractor. Just raise your front bucket and your outriggers and "push" yourself forward with the backhoe. Works perfect on flat ground, no need to even move from the BH seat. Nice to see a 2025R... nice machine!

[@hammerandnails73]

You beat me to it! It's great too because there's no guessing. You push the tractor forward as much as the backhoe can go set it down and get back to work.

[@barelystablefarm7151]

@@hammerandnails73 Exactly!

[@cjoshem]

Was going to say the same thing.

[@chomp7927]

came to say the same, can be much faster that way

[@doughoist]

Sorry, I see you beat me to it. Should have just liked your comment and moved on.

[@ericcrockett479]

When using the rear blade whichever side is tilted down, that corner needs to be angled at at least a 25⁰ angle forward so the blade pulls the material out of the ditch

[@cuper4295]

Absolutely. It also shears instead of cutting--less horsepower required and cleaner cut.

[@NSEasternShoreChemist]

I'm jealous of your nice soil. LOL. Where I live, there's masses of rocks everywhere. I do have a toothbar, which helps a bit. One way to remove stubborn rocks which works (and is totally not an OSHA violation) is to jam a bucket tooth under the rock, tie up the controls with a bungee cord to keep the pressure on, then help the tractor out myself with a long prybar. Bonus: leave tractor in 1st gear, low range so that it's constantly pushing forwards and doesn't let the rock fall back into the hole it came out of.

[@deanbarr5740]

I'm impressed with your stump bucket techniques Courtney. Of all the small ditch demo's you showed us, I believe the stump bucket was the most effective, well the backhoe is the best. But, if your budget is limited the next best solution might be the stump bucket. Good video buddy.

[@GoodWorksTractors]

Haha, thanks Dean!!

[@shadowulf]

And my thought is, stump bucket paired with a blade, one could have a lot of pipe/conduit in and covered in a short time

[@philliptanner5313]

@Good Works Tractors what kind of soil were you digging through? Looked fairly sandy. I'm looking at getting a Stump bucket for doing a long drain and future trenches but wondering if I can push it through clay. I have a 35ish horse kioti and a 90ish hp skidsteer.

[@stevensaxon8888]

​​@@GoodWorksTractors a 3pt single bottom plow works great too.3pt root ripper works for a narrow width hole for electric & water lines.

[@fredcarlson5775]

Two of them to me are ditches and two are trenches if you want to ditch the front loader and back blade make a beautiful ditches for runoff, the stump bucket and the backhoe make a good trenches for laying pipe or cables so it depends on to me what your goal is in the end

[@court2379]

I just had this scenario last weekend. I dug a 700ft long trench about 16in deep with a little backhoe for the purpose of draining water to another side of the property. Sandy clay soil, no rocks, orchard grass sod on top. It took me about 10hrs (plus 6 more moving dirt around to dam off the source to run into the ditch). Key to that time was not getting on and off the backhoe. Left the tractor in neutral, and pushed it forward with the backhoe. With all the vibration I was quite sore after so many hours in the seat.

[@randallquiring9525]

By turning the rear blade cutting edge forward more than you did the spoil will exit the trench instead of piling some in the trench. Similar results can be had by off-setting the blade which angles the cutting edge. I farmed for many years and became quite comfortable with our rear blade.

[@haroldwoods541]

yes the blade would have cut better and much quicker.

[@TelescopeJunky]

You are so lucky good sir to have boulder free ground. 😁 Great video as always!

[@jamesyates5191]

Thanks Courtney for a great comparison. Since I have some much sandstone around my property I didn’t choose to get a backhoe but with the FEL with tooth bar, your stump wrecker and my rear blade I’m happy. For laying pipe or conduit in the ground the stump wrecker rocks.

[@ncm55449]

Good comparisons!!! Again.... Great job showing a range of ways to get the job done!! Thank You!

[@joebarrett9830]

Once you use the front loader bucket and have the length large enough for the tractor to get into, Once the rear wheels are in the "ditch" then basically you have the angle you need to use the loader bucket to cut the remainder of the ditch on both sides and can drive down the ditch instead of cutting into the ditch from the side. Good video though. I kind of thought the blade would be a disaster. What about a box blade, maybe give that a go in another video if you have more options to compare later. Tilt the box blade at the 3 point arms and drive away. Same principal as the grader blade but more stable and not flexing as much.

[@TheBrushcutter]

I was thinking the same with the bucket, I've done it. But on the back blade, idk what was going on there. My back blade can be rotated in both the horizontal and vertical planes. As a commenter stated earlier, this arrangement allows the blade to function almost like a plow. That makes drain work along the ¾ mile road on my property go a lot faster than any method demonstrated here. Most times a single pass along each side of each swale will get it done. Or, it did until feral hogs were released in the area. Nothing ruins a pasture faster than hogs. Amazing how much damage as few as a single boar can do in a night's time.

[@jacobbush2213]

great comparison video. someone else may have mentioned it but another way to dig a shallow ditch maybe one of the quickest and easiest is a middle buster plow/potato plow however you refer to it. works great for it

[@MacBailey]

My backblade will turn near 90 degrees to be nearly straight with the tractor instead of perpendicular as normal. It could basically be uses as a single bottom plow in that configuration and it cut a pretty good drainage ditch I needed, without pulling too hard on the tractor.

[@Ratheon1075]

I wish I had that nice soil to dig into. That is a factor to be considered when choosing the attachment. In my hard rocky soil that flat edge loader bucket is digging nothing. With a tooth bar perhaps but then it is nowhere near as clean. The scraper blade would also not fair very well. I could see the stump bucket being effective and I know the backhoe can get it done. All digging is not the same and a trench or swale in two different locations may require 2 different attachments.

[@Bierstadt54]

Same

[@JH-ms3ny]

My tool of choice for narrow trenches for electrical, irrigations, and shallow drain lines has been using a single pallet fork in the middle of my fork frame.

[@leestovall2936]

Great vid to show the differences. Good job. Although I own a backhoe, this has shown me the usefulness of the stump bucket for speed and keeping ditch shallow (e.g. underground utilities)

[@theElderberryFarmer]

How about a couple-three passes with a subsoiler? I'd think that can make a ditch deep/wide enough for putting in a wire or pipe. No good for anything much wider than that, but still a good option for laying a wire or a water pipe.

[@GoodWorksTractors]

Yeah, could definitely work to lay wire or skinny pipe.

[@JP44SU]

I've see folks attach a pipe to the back of the subsoiler to carry the wires down! Usually with my subsoiler the soil is completely collapsed back where it came from, just loose. Also in my rocky soil it would be extra tricky

[@kdegraa]

This video shows one way to do it. kzbin.info/www/bejne/ql6uaYx7rax6mtk

[@rodzimmerman1979]

Thanks, I'm new to the Tractor life and I am learning from this type of thing. I have a 4 series tractor with a loader, bucket, and a back hoe. I also have a fork skid steer and a Grapple. Next two Implements I want are a rear blade and a Stump bucket.

[@cdayejr]

I love all of your videos thank you for sharing I wish it was that easy up here. Total different animal in the mountains of Colorado lot of rock and very hard soil

[@tracksoneverything4085]

Hard to beat the front end loader if you have the space, but the Gwt Stump bucket is still on my list of attachments I want a soon as I can get down to you. Good comparison of options to do the job.

[@GoodWorksTractors]

I hear ya. The regular old front bucket works really well, but is pretty darn slow. Trade-offs for all of them!

[@tracksoneverything4085]

Definitely slower, I think the best all around considering speed and space is the Stump bucket for sure. I bet you could get pretty smooth ditches with one of you had a little practice time with it. Maybe a flat bolt on front edge for ditching in softer ground could work well.

[@kenlee5015]

Wow, that stump bucket worked wonders for little money. Looks like a good tool for sprinkler lines or electrical.

[@markhall3434]

I have this rather large "Shovel" that fits securely onto the fork lift attachment. The long forks add a ton of leverage. Dig the ditch sideways, move forward to dump, stay out of the ditch. Have to manually clean out the ditch by hand, but can rather easily dig a ditch for drainage pipe (6"). I use on a small ASV track loader. Good results for the relatively low cost. This shovel can be clamped to the bucket or fits on closely spaced forks. Forget the bucket clamp method..

[@bruceaplin]

Great Video, Great explanation. Educational. Thanks !

[@earlyriser8998]

Courtney, I loved this. I have a blade and bucket, and box blade, and land plane. I have tried all 4 to edge my driveway and the bucket and blade work best. The blade is crucial to get my druveway shaped. My blade can offset so I don't have to drive in the ditch. The comparison was great. I need to do some trenching around the new house we are building and the stump bucket looks like a great compromise. Gets deep enough and then easy to back fill and clean up. Or I could rent a mini-ex for a few days ?

[@tomrunning357]

What a great side by side comparison, looks like tractor size is in the mix as to the available options.

[@bradw3313]

Good practical video…I have two existing swales that need refreshing and a 3rd I need to add. Each about 125 yards long. I have a box blade and was thinking of tilting and dropping the far downside ripper to help bust it up. Other option is my straight blade, but it needs adapting for the top hook on quick hitch…also have an old single middle plow but that would involve follow up with the blade. Reckon I will be experimenting myself….I have a manual gear and all the back and forths would make for a long day. I like the look of the straight blade for what I need though.

[@kdrltd]

A three point “trencher” works really well too

[@BackyardMaine]

I'm planning to make a shallow ditch with wide soft edges so I can mow over it. Just enough to drain water in the spring when snow is melting and the ground is frozen holding water. My back fiend looks like a pond in March.. I think I'll use the tiller first and then the loader. U was thinking the back blade would be the best tool but maybe not. Great comparison!

[@woodyholland9865]

While watching this I was seeing which way would be easy to mow. Looks like the FEL would be best to cut.

[@spenceryoungblood1235]

Based off my potential uses, the stump bucket was the clear winner for me. I gotta have one!

[@markstearns2980]

I use my box blade for ditches, because that is what I have and it works well. Adjust your three point so that it is on as steep of an angle as you can set and then work one side of the ditch at a time. A couple of passes each way usually does the trick.

[@MrFlintlock7]

Very useful video! Thanks a bunch!

[@kenwilson3689]

Thanks for the video, very helpful. I'd like to see some work in harder soils. Not all of us get the luxury of working in wet oatmeal. Nothing but a backhoe is realistic in most harder or even rocky soils.

[@easttexasengineering3489]

I had the same issues with the rear angle blade, they tend to make a huge mess. I had the room so I ended up using the front end loader like you did in the first run. However yours looks pretty damn perfect!!! The problem with rear angle blades on tractors is there is no down force, so they tend to bounce around.. great video again.. stay safe.

[@kennycurran6938]

I wonder how several passes with a potato plow would work? Great Video's Courtney and crew. Thank you for your time and effort!!

[@stickersb1236]

I used mine to trench for 6" drain pipe and my experience has been mixed. It does a great job at breaking up the soil in a straight-ish line to come back and dig by hand or pull material out with a rear blade or FEL. the two problems I have is 1, the mold board for my cat 1 middle buster (potato plow) just isn't tall enough to curl dirt all the way out of my trench and 2, if you have any play in your 3 point setup it will make the plow off track. I will probably only use it to bust up hard packed soil or tear off sod in the future but as a trencher its unreliable.

[@gordonstewart4378]

Another great video. Thanks. I was wondering if your space was limited could you not make a pass with a rototiller then follow along with the front end loader, scooping out the tailings? This would also have the benefit (after a while) of being drive over. I haven't tried it, but in theory it might be a solution.

[@frankjones5283]

Thanks for your video`s. I wouldn`t mind having a stump wrecker for a variety of jobs but I just bought a shovel that mounts on the bucket. I have used the bucket with a tooth bar for digging a trench for a drain tile which wasn`t too bad. We`ll see how this shovel works.. I`m sure it wont outperform that stumper. I don`t have a quick hitch on the front.

[@madcow5x5]

I had to trench out for an electrical run to my shed and the stump bucket was great. I had limited space to move around. I made the choice at the time of tractor purchase to forgo a backhoe and I regret it almost daily. If I wanted to buy one now it would be a year wait...

[@somethingabouttractors241]

Great video I wish my ground were that nice and soft!

[@07HDFatboy]

I like that you can use the root cutter to dig trees for holes!

[@shawnmack70]

Man that stump bucket would be great for prepping cobblestone edging. I just did 400’ with a backhoe but that stump bucket could have save a ton of time!

[@williamlaird2136]

I am not sure if the video was in real time or not but it seemed to me the stump wrecker was the quickest for the money. Did you actually time the finished ditch for each one? GREAT video. Answered many questions.

[@Willtrailer]

Hey Courtney, I find that a middle buster works best in these situations

[@justinlane1287]

Hi Courtney I think you need to lengthen your top link and angle your rear blade and it will cut a much nicer ditch you need to angle it so it will carry the dirt out of the ditch much like how you angle a snow blade great video for demonstration

[@johnpyle8027]

I like the stump bucket results! I've never seen one used like that! Maybe the most versatile for this comparison. How come no one lifts the tractor completely off the ground with the bucket and the leveling arms anymore?

[@rmcjr5206]

I love my backhoe (an old industrial model, not an attachment) but it takes a lot of practice to be really good with it. At least I suspect it does, because I'm still terrible at it.

[@Totalyrediclous998]

I like the stump bucket. Thanks for the info. If I wanted to use a backhoe I'd rent a small excavator. Just seems faster. No on/off machine to move down the ditch

[@strizzy239]

Buckets great for clean rock free dirt. Hit one single even relatively small one and can’t go any further. Even hard packed gravel say on a dirt road is basically impossible. A tooth bar will help a bit but they just aren’t designed for digging. Great for moving the material after its dug lol

[@gregkliethermes1123]

I was watching the video on 4 ways to dig. When ever I use the rear 3 point blade to cut a ditch you should angle the blade at as if you are grading with it. Adjust the leading edge closest to your tractor. It will work like a plow cutting a better ditch and will be easier to control.

[@MrDerek19871987derek]

Backhoe all day long I absolutely love mine one of the attachments on the back of the tractor the most

[@mlevesque3022]

As far as simple swale, the tiller works really good. Chew it up, use the bucket to clean it out. Keep going until you get to desired depth. I did a 8inch to 2 inch pitch with a tiller.

[@georgewhite5781]

you dont get all that clumping either

[@Liledgy100]

Take a 6”x6”x3’ angle iron, chain bind it to your front bucket and you’ve got a nice tool to tench in pipe, wire, etc. Pretty much free.

[@ciphercode2298]

I like the way you think

[@adamstone6123]

Bucket looks like the cleanest...nice video!

[@GoodWorksTractors]

Agreed!

[@kurtthompson3390]

I think that nice crisp backhoe hole just can't be beat.

[@dancrimmins107]

Came back to this video after buying a stump bucket. It would be great if there was some sort of "sled" type attachment you could bolt on to that stump bucket, like an "Edge Tamer" for regular buckets. Seems like you could put the loader in float mode and the bottom of the stump bucket would stay above grade. Then you could just set the depth of the ditch with the angle of the bucket. ?

[@clicknstack1398]

I've gotten pretty good results using a middle buster. Wish I could afford a backhoe for sure. :)

[@bonsukan]

I’m impressed with the stump bucket. What RPMs are you running the tractor for this type of work? Dave

[@josephsierra7295]

Hey Courtney. This was a very good comparison of implements being used on the same task. I can see each having their advantage (visibility, control, accuracy, footprint, speed, etc.) Kinda depends on your application/need and budget for sure. I am sure you know, being on a straight line and flat area (wouldn't do this on a highly sloped area), you could have moved the backhoe along without having to get off it by raising the stabilizers, rasing the bucket (you'd have to turn and reach at it) and pusingh off with the hoe arm. Not sure how feasible that is with the new hoe design, but I can do it well with my old hoe (seems to be a Mustie1 joke in there somewhere). Thanks for sharing!

[@GoodWorksTractors]

Haha, yeah I thought about showing that movement technique in the video...however, sometimes I just think about the safety sallies who will comment and decide not to showcase some things!

[@josephsierra7295]

@@GoodWorksTractors True dat...we'll say for ya though..LOL!

[@jvin248]

Another option is a three point dirt scoop / dump bucket. I'm using one for trenching, bought used. A low cost option if you don't have a loader bucket on your utility tractor.

[@MrDerek19871987derek]

I like just hearing the tractor a lot more than the strumming of the guitar music usually have

[@martinstrickland319]

Middle buster makes a good ditch/trench especially if you take the time to clean the spoil piles on the side.

[@NinjaKid250]

For a wide swale, 3 passes with the tiller side by side, scoop out the middle with FEL then smooth the sides in. Makes it very easy to mow in/through. I have 260 backhoe and its too much fun to do utility ditches any other way

[@NinjaKid250]

I should add, very impressed with the stump bucket in all the videos I’ve seen so far

[@WhisperingWildMarketFarm]

Same here! This is how I make my swales.

[@waynederby4684]

If you want a swale the bucket is you most efficient choice depending on soil type & area available. For a ditch the backhoe is the most efficient depending on need & propose of the ditch. It is taken the the difference between a swale & ditch are understood.

[@GoodWorksTractors]

Please explain in layman's terms...the top results on the internet that I was going to post don't give a clear explanation of the difference between a ditch and swale. Thanks!

[@waynederby4684]

@@GoodWorksTractors A swale is it is a shallow channel with gently sloping sides. A ditch is a long narrow channel dug in the earth. Other words without gentle sloping sides. Anything else please just ask & I'll try to be helpful.

[@anvilsvs]

I was amused to see that you're using a Dirt Dog blade in Kalamazoo. We have friends there, but I live about 20 miles from Dirt Dog who are based in Commerce GA. I have 8 of their attachments for skid steers and tractors. Good people, good equipment. As I have a MF 165 tractor with the same blade you're using, Case 580 backhoe and Bobcat T870 with stump bucket I can comment on what you're doing. You have very easy soil conditions. With North GA red clay you would not even scratch the surface with the blade. A 12" bucket on the 580 can dig about 2-4" at a pass when the clay is dry. The Bobcat is most effective, but the ditch will be narrow.

[@wolfpack4128]

That is going to be a tough spot to hunt. Either lots of screening or use it as a destination plot and put a smaller plot back in the woods a little ways so you don't spook the deer into being nocturnal. Thanks for the comparison.

[@hubertbauer4571]

My way to dig ditches is using a single-plow witch i can turn arround. Plow into the soil and straight forward. Easy, fast and cheap. Greetings from Bavaria (Germany)

[@blackriflemensorganization6139]

Great info here! Question: Is there a 3pt implement that can dig a trench about 2 feet deep? I'll be using a '49 8n to do the job. I'm laying 4 inch pipe to attach my rv to my septic tank. Thanks in advance for your insight! Happy New Year!

[@madman432000]

Since I have the BH guess I'll use that, but a triangular ditching bucket would be better with it. For a square trench BH gets the nod, for a ditch I like the loader bucket.

[@5thGenNativeTexan]

I love your channel, but was pretty disappointed on this one that you didn't include what is probably the most common, and generally cheapest (in terms of attachments), for making a ditch.... a middle buster/subsoiler on the three-point.

[@chickenhawkfarmstead8478]

Yeap u have a backhoe but that little plow is my go to fast and easy 12 inch 100 feet in about 20mins as long as there's no big rocks

[@brandtjustsayin]

I wish I could use my front end loader in that capacity on my little hobby/hunting ranch in Central Texas. But embedded rock is NOT a friend of a front end loader. Maybe using the backhoe followed up by bucket to create the slope would work. But soft, easily cut/manipulated, rich, soil is not prevalent where I'm at. It is VERY rocky on both my ranch and my 3/4 acre urban yard and home here in the San Antonio TX area. I do like the final finished product of the front end loader ditch though. Looks great!

[@brettblack7049]

@@coreysparks2311 yep. A nice toothed cutting edge help a lot in rocky soil. I just dug out 10 yards of 3-8" rocks that were an old pile off a field, they had been spread out and were embedded into the ground. I used my little kubota b2620 with a toothed cutting edge(it bolts on and I do not remove it) andnit worked like a charm. I would have had a hard time with the larger kubota L3800 I have as the bucket is smooth and it will just roll over rocks.

[@philmccole4309]

Stump bucket or loader bucket and then a pass with the back blade will get you a nice v shaped trench for drainage. Unless you live in Vermont, where the rocks complicate things a bit.

[@misterb1080]

As mentioned below. Angle your angle blade when digging a ditch so it cleans out the ditch as it digs. Still waiting on a 3 point ditch digging tool. You can do it Court

[@OldGuyGolf]

I use my tiller and then the front-end loader to pick up the loose dirt.

[@egbertjanemmens5432]

How aboit just an simple 1 blade plow. that makes a nice trench, is fast and you can use him also for seed bed preperation.

[@daveb5540]

Hummm the front loader is only useful for nice soil like in your demo, hard rocky soil would be very difficult. The stump bucket seems the most user friendly and and would work in more difficult soils. Your style of trench (steep sides vs. shallow sides would also be a key factor as well in determining what to use. Best advise... get them all so you can have the right tool for the job :) :).

[@BitCounter]

A shorter back blade might have had an advantage over the longer one.

[@davidknapp244]

using a sub soiler along the ditch line first really makes digging with the front bucket easier.

[@patrickcox6503]

Seeing the 2 series John Deere makes me think of a video you should do if you haven’t already. That is maybe show us the different tractor options when it comes to sizes. For example, the the 1 series vs the small frame 2 series. And the large frame 2 series vs the the 3 series. And finally the 4 series. On a side note, I notice you rarely have any 3 series JDs on your channel. Why is that? Could be good info for a potential buyer like myself. Thanks.

[@stephenoverstreet9898]

I’m I think you forgot about the cheapest solution of all (except for the bucket on the front of course, if your tractor came with a loader). A middle-buster. I am excavating land to increase the size of my pond. I am using a middle-buster to create ditches in the ground, and then after a few passes I use the front bucket to scoop up the dirt. $300 for the plow. Pretty cheap.

[@GoodWorksTractors]

Didn’t forget. As I mentioned, I used the four tools I had in hand.

[@michaelr9151]

Middle buster is my go to for swallow digging

[@davidwho8215]

The stump bucket seems like the easiest if you need a trench for something like power cables, as long as it gets down deep enough.

[@woodystube1000]

3 point subsoiler. Done!

[@justadbeer]

I have a stump bucket, (and hard rocky ground) and unless you're in super soft ground as in your vid it will be a tough go.

[@tacomafan7488]

im impressed with a stump bucket !

[@dustysnow2502]

I find rear blade works best/easiest for shallow ditches but I angle blade sharply to pull dirt from ditch to directly behind tractor.

[@CT_Yankee]

Soil conditions matter. Can't see many rocks where you're at. Try that test in my corner of CT and you'll find the backhoe is probably best, followed by the stump bucket. Backhoe is a PITA 'cuz ya gotta keep moving the tractor, but it can deal best with the nuggets one has to deal with. Personally - I'd go rent a trencher with a wide cutter if I had a lot to do. Or maybe a small Kubota excavator.

[@1yehny]

Midline buster then use a single plow to widen the line may do this quickly.

[@robertpayne2717]

I once used a troybilt rear tine tillar and a flat shovel to put a 220 volt electric underground cable in a long side a carport concrete slab... i tilled then shoveled out the the loose material then would rinse and repeat untill I got the proper depth...

[@tsafa]

That soil does not have any rocks in it. The results with the front bucket and rear blade would be a little bit different in rocky soil. The machine with the rear blade also has to be a lot bigger in order to get the same results. Anywhere I dig I'm going to have 8-inch rocks so the rear blade and the front bucket are going to ride over it, instead of dig into it. The stump bucket is the most economical and will get good results in rocky soil. You also have the benefit of being able to keep moving rather than being stationary. The annoying thing is when working in mud and the front tires want to follow previous tracks, it's hard to aim the point . The backhoe is the best option for deep hole in a small confined area. If you have to do a lot of moving then it becomes a pain continually repositioning. That's why the stump bucket is a better choice for small jobs and shallow holes. If you have to do a lot of deep digging you're going to wish you had an mini- excavator instead of a backhoe. Most people with tractors normally don't have to do a lot of digging so the stump bucket is the better choice. Especially true when you factor in that most of the time you want to have other things on the back of the tractor and it is a pain to remove the arms and install and remove the backhoe. Good video.

[@TomsDIYShop]

It may be due to a lack of experience on my part, but it seems the front end loader option would be ideal if your goal is to preserve the sod. I used my backhoe for a 200 foot trench to bury network lines between my shop and the house and the yard near the house is still showing the scars!

[@chomp7927]

Situation like that you're just using the wrong tool, for simply laying wire best bet would be to use a subsoiler and feed on the run, minimal damage and done in one pass as long as there are no giant obstructions (which would be an issue for any of these methods so not fair to count that against only one)

[@TomsDIYShop]

@@chomp7927 100% agree and I tried that route. The soil in an area where I was running the line was so hard, the subsoiler would not stay under ground. I tried modifying the angle, but that didn’t work. I didn’t have any additional weight I could add to it, but I think it would have just broken due to the hardness of the soil.

[@chomp7927]

@@TomsDIYShop well yea in a situation like that everything would have a hard time, although in my mind I think BH then would have been your next best choice so at least you had the tool for that

[@JS-we2gc]

Video looks to show an area very receptive to any tool. What would be the best tool for an area that is very rocky under the top layer of soil? Sometimes considerably sized rocks.

[@wingman8447]

I like the bucket too if you have the room. I like that if you’re careful you can preserve the turf to reapply later if you need to. But in reality I want them all. The backhoe is too expense for my needs. If I need one I rent a mini excavator. If I need a long deep trench I rent a trencher. Thank you.

[@GoodWorksTractors]

Agreed with it all!

[@silverbackag9790]

Something to be said for having it around when you need it. Rather than hooking up the trailer, going to town, loading up the equipment, chaining it down, driving back, trying to meet a deadline to return it. Or maybe you only have an hour or two worth of work at a time.

[@ErieRadio]

Fastest by far is a middle buster or a one bottom plow. With the plow… pull one direction and come at it again in the same furrow… leaving what might be described as a “dead furrow”. Makes a fast decent shallow ditch. Sides can be cleaned up with the front loader and with the front loader it can be fashioned into more of a swale if that’s what you want.

[@JDubbsadventure]

A single potato plow works awesome for small ditches

[@GoodWorksTractors]

For sure!

[@maxjones9139]

I would say a John Deere 35G would be perfect for a land owner. I didnt think it would be but its like a swiss army knife for my little farm.

[@alanjackson4397]

If you till the area you want your ditch then come back with the rear blade it will make a nice smooth swale

[@Digidoc316]

For simple drains near the surface, the stump bucket looked to work the easiest and fastest. But for burial cable or anything requiring depths below frost line, I'll take a backhoe with a narrow trenching bucket any day! HINT: to speed up a trenching job, stay in the backhoe seat, lift your bucket and outriggers, and use the backhoe to push you to the next position. When I first started out with mine, I wore myself out getting up & down to move the tractor!

[@RockyX13]

Great video! My wife and I just got a 3E series with the 370B. We are slowly learning, but have a question for you. Are these supposed to be really twitchy? Ours jerks when going side to side/left and right. It seems much faster and harder to control than the other functions/motions. Our dealer doesn't know very much about backhoes as they don't sell many. Any guidance or opinions would be much appreciated!

[@WhisperingWildMarketFarm]

My new off-brand back hoe is quite twitchy as well, mildly terrifying (took my thumbnail off when the control stick caught it when dropping the BH off the subframe). Curious to hear a major brand unit is similarly endowed, Id assumed it was a cheap control valve on mine. Nothing like the buttery smooth factory FEL with 800hrs on it.

[@brettblack7049]

Lower the engine rpm a bit. As the unit gets broken in the hydraulics will get smoother.

[@m.r.b.806]

I’m about to buy my first tractor and I’m slowly learning that the stump bucket is the Swiss Army knife

[@lefthandedarcher2126]

I wish I had a front end loader, I make my ditches with the combination of a three point tiller and box blade

[@freda1078]

Well, I put many a foot of pvc in the ground with just a bottom plow. Fast and clean.

[@freda1078]

Misspoke, it was a middle buster