Trenchers / Cable Plows Upcoming Auctions

About Trenchers & Cable Plows

With the ability to create a narrow excavation below the surface of the ground, trenchers and cable plows are the most effective way to dig into soil for drainage, landscaping, and utility installations. Both trenchers and cable plows feature tools that cut or dig into the soil while minimizing ground disturbance, and the shallow trench is ideal for installing cables, pipes, or wires. Trenchers are typically equipped with enough power to cut or dig through hard materials like rocks or tree roots, enabling landscapers to create drainage or more quickly clear plants and trees. Cable plows can reduce installation time by installing the cable or conduit as the trench is dug.

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Vermeer RTX250 Pedestrian Trencher

Trenchers

Trenchers are available in a variety of sizes, ranging from small walk-behind models for confined areas to tractor-mount attachments and self-powered machines designed to trench rough terrain for installing fiber, solar, sewer, and water lines. Portable trenchers are often used on small construction projects or by landscaping companies for installing edging or irrigation. The largest models are often equipped with tracks for floatation, including quad-track systems that can work in a wide range of weather and ground conditions. Compared to cable plows, trenchers are better equipped to dig deeper and handle a wider variety of soil types. Micro-trenchers are also available to minimize the restoration work after the cable or pipe has been installed.

The trencher’s blade typically features a heavy-duty chain with teeth equipped to dig ground. Similar to a chainsaw, the chain rotates around a bar, and the chain itself often features a combination of alligator, cup, and shark teeth. Alligator teeth rotate while in operation to work different parts of the soil, while cup teeth are best for removing loose soil from the trench. Shark teeth feature a hardened, sharp edge to break up tough, compacted soil. Manufacturers often include additional implements, such as a backfill blade or a rock saw blade to allow the trencher to fill multiple roles on the jobsite.

Cable Plows

A cable plow—either static or vibratory—plows, or cuts, the ground to make room for an underground pipe or cable. Manufacturers equip the cable plow with a pull or feed attachment to install cables, pipes, or wires as the plow moves along the ground surface, greatly reducing installation time. Cable plows can accommodate various sizes of pipes or cables and often include a reel or spool that unrolls the pipe or cable. Compared to a trencher, cable plows offer contractors a cleaner trench, often just a slit in the ground, providing a less invasive solution for installing cables, pipes, and wires.

Find The Right Trencher Or Cable Plow

You’ll find a big selection of new and used ride-on and walk-behind or stand-on trenchers and cable plows for sale on MachineryTrader.com. Barreto, Bron, Case, Cleveland Trencher, Ditch Witch, Tesmec, TSE, and Vermeer are among the largest manufacturers of these useful machines.