While standard heavy equipment, such as excavators and skid steers, are widely used for trenching, teams that excavate trenches frequently may prefer to use specialized trenching equipment.

Heavy Equipment Used for Trenching

Here are the most common types of equipment used in trenching, along with their advantages and disadvantages.

1. Excavators

Excavators are the most commonly used heavy equipment in trenching projects. Due to their versatility and power, they excel at digging deep and wide trenches quickly and effectively. They’re also useful for a wide range of tasks unrelated to trenching, making them a great investment for smaller operations. 

However, excavators aren’t as efficient at digging trenches as other machines. They don’t leave behind trench floors with a graded finish, and they require considerable effort to operate. 

To dig a trench with an excavator, an operator must dig into the earth, tilt the bucket to scoop up the topsoil, then extract the soil and deposit it on either side of the trench.

Like other heavy equipment, excavators also require regular maintenance to run smoothly. Common issues with excavators include hydraulic system leaks, track and undercarriage wear, and engine problems.

2. Trenchers

Trenchers are specialized machines designed specifically for trenching applications. They come in various sizes, from walk-behind models to ride-on units, making them suitable for a wide range of trenching tasks.

Most trenchers are designed with a digging chain that features teeth or cutting blades. This digging chain is responsible for cutting into the ground to create the trench. The entire apparatus is controlled by a hydraulic system, allowing the operator to control the depth, width and digging speed of the trencher with great detail.

Using a trencher over an excavator offers several advantages, making it the most efficient choice for most trenching applications. Trenchers are known for their precision in digging uniform, graded trenches with a consistent depth and width.

On the other hand, trenchers don’t have many applications outside of trenching. They typically cannot be fitted with attachments, and may not be a good investment if your team doesn’t dig trenches regularly.

Moreover, trenchers require specialized, regular maintenance to perform efficiently. One notable aspect is the regular maintenance of the trenching components, such as the digging chain and the associated teeth or cutting blades.

3. Hand Tools

Hand tools, such as shovels, picks and post-hole diggers play an important role in small-scale trenching tasks. In particular, hand tools are commonly used to dig narrow, shallow trenches in situations where larger equipment is impractical. They are essential for fine-tuning trench dimensions and details.

While hand tools have their place, they aren’t sufficient for large-scale trenching projects, such as digging utility lines. They are simply too inefficient, requiring a large amount of physical labor to create even basic trenches.

Specialized Trenching Attachments

If your team doesn’t dig trenches frequently, then investing in a high-quality trenching attachment might be a good solution. Trenching attachments can be fastened to your machine, such as a skid steer or excavator, providing it with augmented trenching abilities.

These attachments come in various configurations, including ones with rotating cutting chains (or wheels) that have better performance than using a trenching bucket. They offer precise features like the ability to set the depth and width of excavation, resulting in a more uniform trench.

While they aren’t as powerful as dedicated trenchers, they represent a good middle ground if you’re looking for a cost-effective trenching solution.