[TowerTalk] more on Slick way to bury conduit etc.

[Grant Saviers]

Here are some links and pictures

Condux pulling grip on ebay   
http://cgi.ebay.com/Condux-08642049-Mesh-Pulling-Grips-/320391828972?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4a98d755ec
would handle 1.5" conduit, browse "pulling grip" search for the size you 
want  (0.3" to 6.0"!).

a build it yourself ripper   
http://www.lincolnelectric.com/knowledge/articles/content/subsoil_ripper.asp

this company makes a ripper tooth and a hitch that mounts to a trailer 
receiver, so a suitable truck, atv, etc could do the pulling  
http://omni-mfg.com/OMNI-TRANSFORMER-3-Point-Ripper-Trencher-Plow-P706111.aspx

single blade rippers are optional for Bobcats, so the equipment rental 
outlets should have them as part of a Bobcat rental

several models of ripper points, also called subsoilers   
http://www.everythingattachments.com/subsoiler-mole-plow-3-point-hitch-s/75.htm
As I recall, my attachment was made by Land Pride, but I can't find it 
in the pdf catalog available on-line. It is solid 1" thick steel plate, 
weighs about 180# with hitch

Here are a couple of pictures, I'll take some more of the actual blade 
and grip in a few days.  One shows the midway ditch with the pipe going 
in the ground, another show the tractor and the soil behind with the 
pipe in the ground, the pipe laying next to it are for the next section 
to pull.

It seems that what pulls the ripper tooth is limited only by ham 
invention and creativity as ATV's, Gators, Bobcats, dozers, trucks, even 
a car with a trailer hitch could work if it has the traction, power, and 
strong enough hitch.

One additional thought on conduit - 1" conduit can be bent up enough in 
the midway ditches to glue sections already in the ground.  For bigger 
conduit either the joiner trench needs to be longer or some way to push 
the sections together needs to be devised.  Maybe a lever against a 
block on the end of the section just pulled, or a rope rolling hitch and 
come along to back it up a few inches, or ??

We did shear one of the 5/8" blade holding bolts when we got into some 
thick oak tree roots.  It was probably grade 1-2 and was replaced with 
grade 5 and didn't recur.  The good news is that if the ripper and 
vehicle call pull through the roots, rocks, or whatever, the path is 
clear for what is being pulled.

Grant  KZ1W