Any front blade recommendations for l4701?

[Joseph ellis]

I'm wondering if anyone has a recommendation for a front end blade for an l4701. I'd like it to swivel hydraulically.

I'm soon going to have to trench long distances on some narrow steep roads and burying the trench is near impossible with what I have now. I end up renting an excavator for the dig and bury. Having a front swiveling blade would save me the extra rental time with the excavator. Any recommendations?

While we're here, any recs on a PTO driven trencher? Are those even available for the l4701? Thanks.

 

[Elliott in GA]

Your rental options do not include a ride-on-trencher with back fill blade (you said you have rented an excavator in the past)?

Ride On Trencher 35HP-49HP | Sunbelt Rentals

For extra power and deeper digging depths than walk-behind trenchers, the 35 - 49 horsepower ride-on trencher cuts to depths of 48" and includes a backfill blade for backfilling trenches and clean-up.

www.sunbeltrentals.com

I rented a tracked trencher to cut a 180 foot trench in clay filled with rocks, and it was unstoppable and fast. Even with the hour plus round trip drive, I had it back in less than the 1/2 day time.

 

[Russell King]

You might want to look at rear blades with hydraulic offset so you don’t have to try and straddle the trench (hopefully). But even with a non-offset back blade you could fill in a few feet of the trench and then drive over the trench to straddle the trench.

 

[NCL4701]

Bradco/Paladin makes a PTO drive trencher sized for larger Cat 1 tractors such as the L4701. https://www.paladinattachments.com/products/trenchers-model-612

John Deere/Frontier does as well. https://www.deere.com/assets/pdfs/common/products/frontier/DT11_trencher.pdf

No experience with either and no clue what they cost. Have seen chain trenchers on the back of small tractors, but it has been many years. Definitely need HST to run one. Appears you’d need at least one rear remote as well.

I don’t think HP would be a limiting factor in performance of a chain trencher. I’ve run Ditch Witch trenchers with less HP than the L4701 which handled a 36” x 6” trench fine.

The hydraulic drive SSQA mount trenchers designed for skid steers, I wouldn’t try one of those. Unlikely you’ve got anywhere near enough hydraulic flow and the loader likely isn’t stout enough to hold onto it well when it hits roots, etc.

 

[Joseph ellis]

Your rental options do not include a ride-on-trencher with back fill blade (you said you have rented an excavator in the past)?

Ride On Trencher 35HP-49HP | Sunbelt Rentals

For extra power and deeper digging depths than walk-behind trenchers, the 35 - 49 horsepower ride-on trencher cuts to depths of 48" and includes a backfill blade for backfilling trenches and clean-up.

www.sunbeltrentals.com

I rented a tracked trencher to cut a 180 foot trench in clay filled with rocks, and it was unstoppable and fast. Even with the hour plus round trip drive, I had it back in less than the 1/2 day time.

Bradco/Paladin makes a PTO drive trencher sized for larger Cat 1 tractors such as the L4701. https://www.paladinattachments.com/products/trenchers-model-612

John Deere/Frontier does as well. https://www.deere.com/assets/pdfs/common/products/frontier/DT11_trencher.pdf

No experience with either and no clue what they cost. Have seen chain trenchers on the back of small tractors, but it has been many years. Definitely need HST to run one. Appears you’d need at least one rear remote as well.

I don’t think HP would be a limiting factor in performance of a chain trencher. I’ve run Ditch Witch trenchers with less HP than the L4701 which handled a 36” x 6” trench fine.

The hydraulic drive SSQA mount trenchers designed for skid steers, I wouldn’t try one of those. Unlikely you’ve got anywhere near enough hydraulic flow and the loader likely isn’t stout enough to hold onto it well when it hits roots, etc.

Thanks for the links! This is great. I don't have the flow to power much up-front beside a grappler. So the PTO would be the way for the trencher.

 

[Joseph ellis]

Your rental options do not include a ride-on-trencher with back fill blade (you said you have rented an excavator in the past)?

Ride On Trencher 35HP-49HP | Sunbelt Rentals

For extra power and deeper digging depths than walk-behind trenchers, the 35 - 49 horsepower ride-on trencher cuts to depths of 48" and includes a backfill blade for backfilling trenches and clean-up.

www.sunbeltrentals.com

I rented a tracked trencher to cut a 180 foot trench in clay filled with rocks, and it was unstoppable and fast. Even with the hour plus round trip drive, I had it back in less than the 1/2 day time.

Appreciate the link. I've rented both depending on the application. Latest project was a 24" trench so the excavator was the only way. My mistake was not making sure that the excavators blade could pivot so backfilling took forever because I had to use the bucket. Otherwise, for narrower trenches you can't beat the ride on trencher.