Free 186 More Best Homemade Tools eBook:  
Get tool plans

User Tag List

Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 13

Thread: DIY Ride-on Irrigation Trencher

  1. #1
    Supporting Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Posts
    440
    Thanks
    233
    Thanked 200 Times in 105 Posts

    Gadgeteer's Tools

    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!

    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails DIY Ride-on Irrigation Trencher-ride-trencher.png  

    186 More Best Homemade Tools eBook
    Last edited by Gadgeteer; Feb 26, 2022 at 12:40 AM.

  2. The Following 15 Users Say Thank You to Gadgeteer For This Useful Post:

    asterix (Mar 1, 2022), baja (Mar 1, 2022), benkeller3 (Feb 28, 2022), clydeman (Feb 28, 2022), cmarlow (Feb 28, 2022), Corm (Mar 1, 2022), emu roo (Feb 28, 2022), Inflight (Feb 28, 2022), Jon (Feb 28, 2022), nova_robotics (Feb 28, 2022), quezz38 (Mar 10, 2022), rlm98253 (Feb 28, 2022), Sleykin (Mar 1, 2022), Tooler2 (Mar 6, 2022), Toolmaker51 (Mar 1, 2022)

  3. #2
    Content Editor
    Supporting Member
    DIYer's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Posts
    3,055
    Thanks
    791
    Thanked 1,880 Times in 1,677 Posts


    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:




    2,000+ Tool Plans

  4. The Following User Says Thank You to DIYer For This Useful Post:

    Gadgeteer (Mar 4, 2022)

  5. #3
    Supporting Member desbromilow's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    Australia
    Posts
    798
    Thanks
    526
    Thanked 362 Times in 207 Posts

    desbromilow's Tools
    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?

  6. #4
    Supporting Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Posts
    440
    Thanks
    233
    Thanked 200 Times in 105 Posts

    Gadgeteer's Tools
    Quote Originally Posted by desbromilow View Post
    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?
    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.

  7. #5
    Supporting Member baja's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2017
    Posts
    257
    Thanks
    7,792
    Thanked 92 Times in 65 Posts

    baja's Tools
    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.

  8. The Following User Says Thank You to baja For This Useful Post:

    Gadgeteer (Mar 4, 2022)

  9. #6
    Supporting Member Toolmaker51's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Location
    Midwest USA
    Posts
    5,334
    Thanks
    7,044
    Thanked 3,009 Times in 1,900 Posts

    Toolmaker51's Tools
    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.
    Sincerely,
    Toolmaker51
    ...we'll learn more by wandering than searching...

  10. The Following User Says Thank You to Toolmaker51 For This Useful Post:

    Gadgeteer (Mar 4, 2022)

  11. #7

    Join Date
    Jul 2019
    Posts
    236
    Thanks
    143
    Thanked 54 Times in 41 Posts
    I LOVE the ape hangers! You need a "straight pipe" on either side & a tall sissy bar behind a 'king/queen' seat! ��

  12. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Wildwilly For This Useful Post:

    drivermark (Mar 5, 2022), Gadgeteer (Mar 4, 2022)

  13. #8
    Jon
    Jon is online now Jon has agreed the Seller's Terms of Service
    Administrator
    Supporting Member
    Jon's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Colorado, USA
    Posts
    26,365
    Thanks
    8,085
    Thanked 40,130 Times in 11,738 Posts
    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:



    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!

  14. The Following User Says Thank You to Jon For This Useful Post:

    Gadgeteer (Mar 4, 2022)

  15. #9
    Supporting Member Toolmaker51's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Location
    Midwest USA
    Posts
    5,334
    Thanks
    7,044
    Thanked 3,009 Times in 1,900 Posts

    Toolmaker51's Tools
    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.
    Sincerely,
    Toolmaker51
    ...we'll learn more by wandering than searching...

  16. The Following User Says Thank You to Toolmaker51 For This Useful Post:

    Gadgeteer (Mar 4, 2022)

  17. #10
    Supporting Member Frank S's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2015
    Location
    Peacock TX
    Posts
    11,619
    Thanks
    2,176
    Thanked 9,111 Times in 4,361 Posts

    Frank S's Tools
    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
    Never try to tell me it can't be done
    When I have to paint I use KBS products

  18. The Following User Says Thank You to Frank S For This Useful Post:

    Gadgeteer (Mar 4, 2022)

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •