What to Look for in a Rental Trencher
What to Look for in a Rental Trencher
- Type. Rental trenchers come in various sizes and configurations. See The Many Sizes and Types of Rental Trenchers for more information on the different types of trenchers available to rent.
- Size. You should consider the amount of space available for using a rented trencher. Tight work areas may require you to rent a walk-behind trencher instead of a larger, ride-on trencher. Some small trenchers can fit through a 36-inch-wide gate.
- Digging depth and width. Before renting a trencher, you should know how deep and wide you must dig. You can commonly dig a trench from 12 to 48 inches deep and 3 to 16 inches wide using a rented walk-behind trencher. Most compact ride-on trenchers let you dig trenches about 48 inches deep and up to 12 inches wide, but some heavy-duty trenchers allow you to dig trenches as deep as 6 feet and as wide as 16 inches.
- Power source. Most of the walk-behind trencher rentals run on gasoline, whereas the larger, ride-on trenchers commonly use diesel.
- Hydrostatic- vs. mechanical-drive. Since rented hydrostatic-drive trenchers contain fewer moving parts than mechanical-drive trenchers do, they often have fewer breakdowns, which means less work downtime.
- Horsepower (hp). Since rented ride-on trenchers typically dig deeper than walk-behind trenchers, they require more horsepower. Horsepower for walk-behind trenchers ranges from 6 to 23 hp. Ride-on trenches often provide between 18 and 116 hp, depending upon the model.
- Backfill blade. Rental trenchers equipped with a backfill blade allow you to fill in the trench after placing the underground pipe or cable.
- Tracks. Although the majority of rental trenchers come with wheels, some models do use tracks to create a more, heavy-duty model.