clip 185 #1 Posted February 24, 2016 Anyone built a small single tooth ripper/subsoiler for their Horse? I've got maybe 100 feet of sprinkler piping to add to the yard (sandy soil) and would rather not dig by hand or rent a trencher. I was thinking the GT1600 would have enough traction to pull at least a single time through the ground, hopefully up to 12" or more deep in a few passes so I could easily bury the piping. I need to to build a sleeve hitch first, then go from there. I was thinking maybe get a replacement box blade tooth from TSC and build around that. I think the most successful design is going to have a pretty shallow angle so it pulls itself into the ground without needing any additional weight, similar to a traditional moldboard plow. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DennisThornton 4,771 #2 Posted February 24, 2016 I'm curious but there's no hope for me. None for you if you have big rocks! Oh, maybe a vibrator and some means to veer a bit this way and that around the rocks might work with small rocks. The telephone company did pull a few hundred feet a few inches below grade but I honestly don't know how. I can't stick a shovel in the ground without hitting a stone! Could be 4" and could be as big as VW! Upstate NY glacial deposits! Your mileage may vary... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tankman 3,520 #3 Posted February 24, 2016 Bare lawn, I have made a single pass with a moldboard plow and coulter blade. Bet it would be fine unless you find rocks 'n roots. Forget which Horse did the earth turning but it was only an 8 hp. Front weights were a must. Learned that fast when the Horse reared up and I lost steering. This Stallion was my earth mover! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pacer 3,176 #4 Posted February 24, 2016 Sounds like a fun "what if??" ---but, I dont think I'd sink a bunch of money into rigging it up! To my thinking the main hold up would be - as you indicated - traction! One wheel pulling loses traction pretty quickly. Then theres the other factor, your soil composition ... but hey, give it a go Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tankman 3,520 #5 Posted February 24, 2016 Never thought of it but perhaps pull a pick axe or mattock? Might work, repeated passes? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
can whlvr 993 #6 Posted February 24, 2016 what about a mold board and do a few passes 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WH nut 553 #7 Posted February 24, 2016 20 hours ago, clip said: Anyone built a small single tooth ripper/subsoiler for their Horse? I've got maybe 100 feet of sprinkler piping to add to the yard (sandy soil) and would rather not dig by hand or rent a trencher. I was thinking the GT1600 would have enough traction to pull at least a single time through the ground, hopefully up to 12" or more deep in a few passes so I could easily bury the piping. I need to to build a sleeve hitch first, then go from there. I was thinking maybe get a replacement box blade tooth from TSC and build around that. I think the most successful design is going to have a pretty shallow angle so it pulls itself into the ground without needing any additional weight, similar to a traditional moldboard plow. Why not get a 10in moldboard plow and roll the sod over Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 42,789 #8 Posted February 24, 2016 single bottom 8 or 10" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
clip 185 #9 Posted February 25, 2016 I could go moldboard, but if the WH can pull that I don't see much difference in pulling a small subsoiler. I don't have either, and the subsoiler would be easier to build and tear up less yard (depending on how many times I lose traction :)). Front weights are a good idea too. Im not expecting this thing to be able to dive in and cut a neat 12" deep trench right off, but if I can take it in two or three bites I think I'll be doing pretty good. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ericj 1,578 #10 Posted February 25, 2016 my brother built some thing like that several years ago and used it to get a couple of inches down to bury an electrical wire out to his shed or something like that just don't remember all of the details anymore, but the piont i want to make is it did work. i think he just made it to fit the brindly lift, problem he had was getting it to dig in without weight add to it. eric j Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
clip 185 #11 Posted February 25, 2016 Initially I imagined something around a 45 degree angle on the bottom, but all the factory-made ones I see have a very shallow angle, looks near 22 degrees. I imagine this would assist in pulling it down over a longer travel length. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cheesegrader 433 #12 Posted February 25, 2016 I have a ratchetrake rip and dig attachment for a FEL It has a single tooth that can be bolted on the underside that makes a nice trench about 4" deep. Useful for running irrigaiton or power lines. It does a pretty good job going thorugh small roots, but comes to a screeching halt if you hit rock. Better than a plow, which tends to struggle with roots. The 13" wide box keeps it from digging in too deep The rig on the front of a loader is VERY long, and hard to maneuver, but you don't have to worry about the front end lifting up! I like the design of the tooth. Something similar, hung off the rear end of a slot hitch seems like it would be easy to fab. Ratchetrake.com Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Don1977 604 #13 Posted February 28, 2016 Here is a couple pictures of mine. I just sawed of the foot and and changed it to get more angle. Got it welded back on but haven't tried it. Before it would only go in about 3 or 4 inches. This was built out of scrap steel that I had. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
