We can do 22” without a problem, pulling the ¾” conduit.
Conduit costs more all the way around.
Big thing…. We are planning for the 100 year company.
If someone is just starting or needing to cut costs… looking at double armour
and a chute. Pulling may still be OK depending on the length of the run.
The questions are all about the goal-
Long term
Easy to repair and replace
Value… if you want to be acquired in 20 years, conduit is better
Ground conditions
Housing type – city vs rural
From: Af [mailto:af-boun...@afmug.com] On Behalf Of Chuck McCown
Sent: Wednesday, March 22, 2017 11:30 PM
To: af@afmug.com
Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Vibratory Plow
Good to know. I didn’t know Ditch Witch had such a beast. How deep are you
putting the drops?
From: Joe
Sent: Wednesday, March 22, 2017 8:54 PM
To: af@afmug.com <mailto:af@afmug.com>
Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Vibratory Plow
We did extensive testing…
Our LM42 we bought was great with direct burial, but not good with a chute for
¾” pipe.
It was reliable, but in harder ground it was an issue – no setting for the
angle when going shallow.
We even custom built a chute… great concept, but not practical for our ground
conditions
Single tires with good rubber is OK, duals are better for harder ground.
We went with a zahn (mini skidsteer) that is tracked and articulated.
The angle of the plow can be fully adjusted to the conditions
With a serrated blade, we can easily go through roots… even a couple inches of
frozen ground
We use a “Bullet” style to pull the conduit with a carrot or kellum grip
(Chinese finger trap)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9JhOQYxbwM
video is for a silt fence, but it gives the idea of why this works very well
A team of 2 guys can easily do 5-8 houses in a short day (conduit).
Tracks, and articulation…. Is the secret. So is slow and constant speed
Rushing the install….. results in stretched/broken conduit.
We also bought the “mighty mole” attachment for compaction boring under cement
driveways.
This wasn’t cheap, but it is very effective / clean / fast
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fGpRuNXjnM
make sure to sleeve under driveways with good conduit before pushing through
fiber or a smaller conduit where needed
For some of the bigger acreages, we pull in with the RTX1250 and use a bullet
with 3/4 conduit or chute with 1.5”
The ground disturbance is more, but doing this… it impresses the farmers when
we are “rolling black coal”
We also protyped a conduit pressurized with water and a jet where we attach a
carrot. The water helps for sure, but at some point… the added work for the
water/equipment was just a little bit too much to be practical. Another one we
looked at was sending a stream of water down the plow itself, but then we need
the water source moving… and it used a lot of water to be effective. Think of
how a big tree mover sends the big knifes into the ground easier with
water…that was the model we compared it to. Very functional… just impractical
in practice.
From: Af [mailto:af-boun...@afmug.com] On Behalf Of Jason McKemie
Sent: Tuesday, March 21, 2017 2:55 PM
To: af@afmug.com <mailto:af@afmug.com>
Subject: [AFMUG] Vibratory Plow
I'm trying to decide what make/model of plow to get. The options, as I see
them, are the Vermeer LM42, Ditch Witch 410SX, or Case Maxi Sneaker. I'll be
using this for customer drops as well as some main-runs.
I like the mini excavator attachment for the LM42, although I don't know how
limiting this will be for the machine if I'm also using it for customer drops.
The drill attachment for the 410SX also seems like it could be useful.
Anyone have experience with these machines? Recommendations?
Also, does anyone know what model of Case Maxi Sneaker this is?
http://i.imgur.com/APCL4TK.jpg
Thanks.
-Jason
