#153 How To Install a French Drain

In this video we install French Drain aka Blind Drain, subsurface drain, rubble drain, filter drain, perimeter drain, trench drain, and many other names, We use the RK 24 Subcompact Tractor and Backhoe, 4" perforated pipe and clean river gravel.

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Just found this old video, Mike. It was recommended to me today for some reason. I probably watched it back then in 2018. But nice refresher.

[@williamhanshaw7714]

i will Half to say your drive way work and Drain pipe work is about the best work I've seeing in my book great job A+++++

[@davidb.beasley7359]

Mike, another useful video and well done. I was impressed with the little tractor's ability to excavate the top soil. Looking forward to the followup and the results after a heavy rainfall. Thanks.

[@jeffcarpenter1891]

A cold beer, Mikes videos and good music. A nice relaxing evening!!

[@loulehnhoff2637]

You did a lot helping me make up my mind RK24 it is.

[@ceadeses]

That tractor looks ideal for those kind of jobs ! Nice work.

[@WeatherNut27]

Great and Relaxing video! The music, the earth moving machine, Mike's edit job, good stuff. Looking forward to Step 2. I need to do this myself.

[@russellbowman8051]

Looks like it will do the job!!👊

[@NHHalKnowsHow]

I don't know how but you make moving dirt very interesting!

[@seanworkman431]

He's just got a knack for it, I agree

[@masonwoodward9758]

Nice video, impressed with how good that little tractor cut that dirt.

[@patrickmorgan3326]

Another interesting and informative video. The little tractor seems to be more than capable for the job so far. I also want to compliment you on your music selections .

[@seanworkman431]

I think you should do a sound track for us fans, Mike, the music is always great. That a valid point about the cloth, I never really thought about it that way. As always great video, keep em coming. Thank You

[@lifesanabyss2727]

Here in australia you can buy the perforated pipe with the filter sock already over the pipe. We then lay the pipe in the gravel over and under the soil over the top. Works brilliantly

[@OutdoorsWithTheMorgans]

We have those here as well, never tried it though

[@financialadvisor1000]

I really enjoy your videos. You're content is very good, your quality is above average, and your channel will continue to grow.

[@OutdoorsWithTheMorgans]

AliveAgain. Thank you!

[@macsair]

The RK made light work of that. Beats hanging off the end of a shovel like I have done in the past.

[@stevemartinez6757]

Nice job. I have the "green" version of that tractor (John Deere 1025R) and it's more than paid for itself while working on clearing my property (35 acres) here in North Florida. I imagine the process is probably similar for installing a culvert (gravel, culvert pipe then more gravel). In a few weeks I hope to be putting in my driveway.

[@paulwiedeman4501]

Hi Mike, great video, seems like that RK24 is perfectly matched for that job. One comment on the French drain, I have installed French drains by putting down stone, then pipe, then stone, then fabric, then covered by soil. The theory is that the fabric will still let water perc thru while not allowing any soil, roots or anything else penetrate the pipe. I've been doing that for about 10 years and haven't had any problems so far, seems to be working well.

[@ritterjon]

I found this vid very useful as I might be doing a similar project for a neighbor sometime this summer. I sure hope anyway. I love digging holes with my BX. Keep on tractoring!

[@OutdoorsWithTheMorgans]

Jon Ritter, Between your videos, now running this RK 24 subcompact my eyes have been opened! I really had no idea how much power these things have

[@rayeddy528]

Great video Mike ! Thank you ! I agree about the fabric. If I am bringing stone all the way to the top, no need for it. But if installing sod on top , I like the fabric only on top of the stone and pipe if that makes sense. Sometimes I have trouble saying what I mean ! Lol. Please be safe my friend and God bless you and your family !!!!!!!!! Eddy

[@sixosixo]

Great video, Mike. Perfect sized tractor for small jobs. That backhoe looks like the same one on my JD 1025.

[@olddawgdreaming5715]

Looking good Mike, keep it up. I'm enjoying the ride along.

[@GPOutdoors]

Great video again Mike. Cheers!

[@swillk1]

Love to see this kind of stuff. Very informative. Great content!

[@bullrun1]

I keep watching your videos and pretty soon I might actually know how to do something..lol -- thanks for great info and videos

[@ozzstars_cars]

It will be nice to have that problem solved and gives you some video content as well. Two birds with one stone ain't bad.

[@dirty_destinations_]

THX for the Vid Mike. That little RK 24 looks to have a good slug of power for it weight class. Love the content keep it up!

[@michaelfunaro9150]

Nice clean install...looks like you were able to make a real nice and well pitched ditch with the RK24. How do you like the ADS triple wall pipe? I have found it to be an improvement over corrugated pipe, but it's a nuisance in that it generally requires proprietary fittings and they cannot be cemented together? Single wall corrugated pipe is fundamentally flawed in so far as the pipe has extremely poor beam stiffness and cannot be laid to a regular pitch unless the bedding is perfect, and the corrugations also directly impede the hydraulic flow of the water encouraging sedimentation. I prefer SDR-35. 10' lengths are generally only $10-15 and it's good quality pipe which will not crush, even if the bedding is less than perfect. It is also made of PVC so that the fittings can be cemented. Whether or not fabric is ideal for use depends on a lot on your soil type. Obviously if you intend to top the trench with grass it seems almost everybody advocates for some fabric on top of the gravel. Most studies have demonstrated that even when the filter fabric appears clogged, the fabric still flows, and the material which is on the filter fabric is more permeable than the material from which it migrated--but silty soils can definitely plug up fabric. The best way to do it seems to be to protect the fabric with clean sand. No matter what though, it seems all drains fail, and it's just a matter of time. I live in CT and have a neighbor who had a 100' long french drain, 3' deep by 2' wide installed, and now 20 years later it seems to be performing more poorly than it did before. No fabric, no nothing, just left it wide open all around. I also like to put a cleanout on the uphill side--nothing fancy, just an elbow and a riser with an endcap. Nice videos as always!

[@SmallHoldingAtHillhigh]

Funny, just finished installing French drains in front and behind the house, ... And getting closer to mastering the front loader (still haven't figured out the float option), but I'm an expert with the backhoe now!

[@donmotz5528]

Lookin good Mike....waitin to see part 2..

[@philipcross5332]

Top job Mike! You know your stuff 👍

[@heathbauer3005]

Great video keep up the good work

[@regsparkes6507]

Nice job Mike,...and from what I've seen so far the Rural King line of tractors impresses me. I only wish they were available here where I live in Canada. A lot of that is from the Yanmar power in these RK tractors, it would seem. ( My opinion only )

[@leol1682]

Like the video Mike on the french drain .

[@cumminstbd05]

Looks good. Can't wait to see part 2. Thanks again for sharing!

[@bogillespie4774]

Another fine job well done

[@erikn5460]

Entertaining, thumbs up! Over here, we never connect the downspout to the drain pipe. You risk leading extra water into the drain, the opposite way of what you want. I always use filter textile in the trenches, it keeps them open for a longer time. By the way, did you forget that you have a dumptrailer? And a tractor to pull it?

[@spudgamer6049]

Just out of curiosity, will that backhoe reach high enough to load your dump trailer? Until I saw how short a distance you were hauling the dirt, I'd wondered if you could save yourself time and work dumping the dirt directly to the trailer to haul it off.

[@OutdoorsWithTheMorgans]

Yea I would load the dump trailer, I thought of that but by the time I would got another tractor and trailer down there, then back to the house with it when done would be more time than it would save

[@kevinhenry7273]

RK24 is impressive!

[@funwithguns89]

Are you able to pick the tractor up with the backhoe and move it forward/backward? Or will that damage components of the 3 point hitch and frame?

[@kerrybowden9097]

Another great video...

[@WeatherNut27]

How deep did you go? Are you worried about frost or freeze up in the pipes?

[@jamesyers1975]

Hey Mike, what does the RK24 use for trans cooler. Is it a fan like kubota uses

[@brosselot1]

I'm looking at that same model of tractor now but have been having a hard time pulling the trigger on it. Pricing in my area is about the same with Kioti and Yanmar

[@WPAOutdoors]

Nice work!

[@streetrodder2846]

EXCELLENT! Thanks...

[@niceuncamaro]

Hey @ 13:00 you say put your pipe down with your holes down but in the video I see the holes up? Just wondering which way? Thanks great video.

[@OutdoorsWithTheMorgans]

Niceun, no that was something on the pipe, I definitely had holes down

[@mikehornsby599]

Good stuff enjoyed that

[@techguy9023]

I have water coming down the mountain to an area near the workshop. It is on the surface. Why not install the pipe holes up?

[@davidcassity6593]

Does RK have a dealer/ repair place? Sometimes with equipment I've been a bull in a china shop. Tractors today have more electronics/ computers/ relays that makes do it yourself repairs less common

[@steveshanklin44]

Why did you not use your dump trailer? On the French drain?

[@rodlister3098]

We Aussies call it Agi pipe. Short for agricultural pipe.

[@markkopf7526]

Mike is that a drain pipe from the back of the house down spout to the left of the front down spout? you should tee that into the drain also

[@dougmoore7116]

Does the house have any water issues in the basement? Thumbs up

[@OutdoorsWithTheMorgans]

No Sir

[@AJmx2702001]

Fabric I dont use and i have installed miles of Black Plastic Field Drain tile and most of it is 5-6 foot deep and i have used it in traffic areas that deep and have not had issue with crushing with 80,000 lb trucks running over top of

[@matthewsims359]

That RK24 continues to impress me. Did you know that you were not alone, at 7:55 someone was on the porch of the brick house. It kinda looked like daughter Eva but im not sure. 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@KiotiCS]

Great start Mike keep it up ! Curt :-)

[@casycasy5199]

that tractor looks sweet how'd you like it.looks like it has lots of power .what range were you in when pushing the dirt

[@OutdoorsWithTheMorgans]

Had it in low range, I really like the auto throttle feature, really nice for loader work

[@WesternNyBigfoot]

Thought the holes face down???

[@jestersv6694]

Mike why not use the dump trailer so your only moving dirt once?

[@briankshaw8755]

Nothing like the right tractor for the job. .RK 24 . Nice work. Does the pipe snap together ?

[@OutdoorsWithTheMorgans]

Brian K Shaw, yes has bell ends

[@sh839c]

Nice video Mike. What is that creature on the porch that appears at 7:53 looking at you?.

[@nelsonledoux4257]

French toast!

[@circlepfarm9729]

Hi Mike, In the thumbnail photo it kinda looks like the holes are on top. Is that an optical illusion or a rock? Great video, learned something new today.

[@OutdoorsWithTheMorgans]

Its a little rock, holes are down!

[@calebsamuel2214]

Hey mr mike just want to say love your channel.but if you don’t have the money for all that thin what can you do ????? God bless

[@HomesteadJay]

French bread anyone??? Yes Yes? or should I say "oui oui"

[@michaelbradley8508]

At the 13:00 min mark you mention to put your pipe in with the holes 'down', but in the video it appears the holes are on the top. Michael

[@OutdoorsWithTheMorgans]

No they were down, several people said the same thing so in the next video I zoomed in and what they saw and probably you was a stone on the pipe

[@jphickory522]

Was that Wranglerstar peeking at you from the front porch at 7:53?

[@motokmac]

Mike, tou didnt really detail how you are tieing in the downspout other than teeing it into the crench drain. Typically, you dont want to tie a downspout into the actaul french drain. Either run it in non-perforated pipe on top of the perforated pipe to exit at the same location as the french drain, or tee it into the non-perforated line used to carry away the water frim the french drain line ( if you are using one to do that. A roof sheds a LOT of water and can overwhelm a french drain if its tied into the perforated part of the drain.

[@urbanothepopeofdeath]

sorry, newbie here with this stuff: why do the perforations go on the bottom? isn't the point of the pipe to let the water in the top and then drain to wherever you direct it? holes on the bottom will just let the water "drain" underneath, no?

[@LotechMoe]

urbanothepopeofdeath The water will take the path of least resistance. Some water will perk through the soil but higher volumes will run the wide open channel created by the pipe.

[@deanbarr5740]

Well said Stephen, but also gravity. If the pipe was installed with the holes on top, it would become plugged after a while with the weight of cover on the drain pipe. The holes has to go on the bottom to prevent this.

[@Theignorantoutdoorsman]

A 1/4 in a foot slope?

[@OutdoorsWithTheMorgans]

dave peterson 1/4" fall per horizontal foot

[@larrykluckoutdoors8227]

Did that pipe have a liner in it?

[@OutdoorsWithTheMorgans]

Larry Kluck, yes

[@Z-Bart]

'French roast coffee' ;)

[@Meraub]

That is a rather long and deep trench cut across the back of your house. Did you call the toll-free number and have all buried utilities located and marked? Sort of like cleaning a firearm, always check first to be sure it is unloaded.

[@OutdoorsWithTheMorgans]

Meraub, house sits over 100 yards off road, when working near road yea I one call. Here there is no use, and not much for utilities. Power comes in overhead, has well and septic not public and I know where both of those are.

[@gogo4356]

Holes upp or down?

[@OutdoorsWithTheMorgans]

gogo4356, down

[@breezyridgeranch]

Did anyone else see a person come out of the house at 7:50? Mike did you have company???

[@1017Bucky]

Did you call Diggers Hotline before you started? :-)

[@victorcastle1840]

1017Bucky are you a TROLL ? Or just a old busy body with nothing else to do ?

[@1017Bucky]

Victor - see the little "smiley face"? It's a joke. Or, at worst, a light-hearted comment. Poor little fella, did I offend you?

[@keithscott1498]

Statue of Liberty

[@kianamendola9715]

Did he really say 1/4 inch per foot of drop?

[@PatrickWagz]

I do believe that the *French* are also responsible for the bikini?!?!? (God bless the French) :-)

[@999theck]

If my eyes don’t deceive me, there’s something going wrong around here....😉 Newbie here - but it looks like holes are up at 11:33 in pipe in ground - maybe it’s debris located where holes are?

[@OutdoorsWithTheMorgans]

999theck, nope holes down

[@999theck]

Outdoors With The Morgans - ok thanks! (Damn, you’re a music guy - no props for the Joe Jackson reference #lyricfail haha)

[@OutdoorsWithTheMorgans]

Look at pipe at 11:15

[@fred-san]

Why 'french' ?

[@boominrick1987]

french toast?

[@wallyborni4411]

Just for your info French fries are not French, they came from Belgium, lol. Don’t ask me why they call them French fries because I don’t know haha

[@PhillipFreeman1]

holes in pipe should point down not up!!

[@OutdoorsWithTheMorgans]

Phillip Freeman, they are down

[@MegaNbaboy]

The french fries are technically of Belgium, not France!

[@garycrumrine9538]

Mike, there are websites out there that steal video content and republish under their own site. It is all about click through income. Most are originating overseas, and your drop off is probably caused by this as well. They are getting the views and the income from KZbin. Norm Abrams New Yankee workshop's video work is one site that comes to mind, as is Kapper outdoors. It is unfortunate that they steal your work and get paid $ for it. And the reason his site comes up before yours is his title is one character shorter than yours. At least in this case, he is re-shooting. The other two guys work is just pirated with no credit to the originator. KZbin Doesn't care.

[@robertappleby4734]

you should show your license plate on KZbin