Gravelling field drains

[dannewhouse]

I have just bought a gravel trailer and have. A small trencher with plans to drain a field in summer, we won't be able to ddrag a box etc so wanting to trench, layy pipe in, then go and try fill with gravel, what's my chances of hitting a 6" hole?
Has hydraulic shift on trailer do was thinking if I start running wide can use spool to correct aim etc maybe put some pit belting as a guide?
Anyone ever. Done something similar?
Obviously be better with de coiler agravel box setting gravel height, (I thought find a gear that's about right?)

 

[Exfarmer]

Having plenty of time draining in my misspent* youth we would cut a drain with a digger place the pipe then shovel stone on top.
if you are placing pipe in trench after the drainer, i would suggest that you carry a spade and drop a turf oon top of the pipe every 3 metres or so to be sure it sits on the bottom.
get the stone in quick before the walls start to crimble.
i think you will find a mark to drive to fairly quick as you do the fill.

* I suspect know the powers that be, would prefer to see the bog that we made into good farmland, after the Victorian drains failed

 

[dannewhouse]

Mines outcropped land trying to grow arable crops on!!!
I know what you mean get pipe in and held down, laid a lot of water pipe similar way and that bugger always wants to sit at half depth!

 

[Spencer]

Done lots like this.. made a “chute” that clamped onto the end of the discharge belt of the gravel trailer. So the gravel would hit it and be directed straight down. Could easily hit a 4” trench like this with very little spillage.

 

[dannewhouse]

You wouldn't happen to have a picture, I can more or less imagine what your meaning

 

[Spencer]

Not to hand but can try and find it and take one. It’s basically a plywood board at a right angle to the gravel discharge belt so gravel hits it and it drops down. Needs to be about 6” from end of belt to allow room for it to drop. Dead simple, fastened on with a couple of welding clamps, as gravel trailer was on hire..

 

[dannewhouse]

You don't need an under board aswell to form shoot?

Was it Deere to hire a gravel trailer? I was going to but just bought one for handy money

 

[Spencer]

£50 day from local chap, know him well.

Made a back board in the end as ours cuts a 4” trench, but think you’ll manage without in a 6” trench. Although just fasten a couple of 6x4 lengths vertically either side of belt to put a back board on.. simples

 

[dannewhouse]

Well I haven't decided width yet, might go down to a 4" did you use 3". Pipe?
The stone is the expensive bit but they reckon that's the capacity

 

[Spencer]

Yeah 75mm pipe.. That’s why we made it, saved TONNEs of stone with it in place.

 

[wuddy]

I have just bought a gravel trailer and have. A small trencher with plans to drain a field in summer, we won't be able to ddrag a box etc so wanting to trench, layy pipe in, then go and try fill with gravel, what's my chances of hitting a 6" hole?
Has hydraulic shift on trailer do was thinking if I start running wide can use spool to correct aim etc maybe put some pit belting as a guide?
Anyone ever. Done something similar?
Obviously be better with de coiler agravel box setting gravel height, (I thought find a gear that's about right?)

Fit something to the end of the conveyor so gravel gets directed straight down and once you find a mark to drive on it’s pretty easy we lay 3” pipe in a 4” trench and

 

[Spencer]

There you go @dannewhouse.
Patent pending

 

[dannewhouse]

Does the gravel go down between the 2 boards.
What size gravel?
I have been offered some 40mm clean and 75mm clean crushed limestone
Bigger is a lot cleaner and seems to go further but does seem a little big for this job.

 

[Spencer]

Yes it does.. I was using pea gravel so flowed very easily. 75mm sounds likes rockery stone ?

 

[wuddy]

Does the gravel go down between the 2 boards.
What size gravel?
I have been offered some 40mm clean and 75mm clean crushed limestone
Bigger is a lot cleaner and seems to go further but does seem a little big for this job.

We tried 75mm when we first started doing our own! It’s to big and it’s a pain to get out the gravel cart! 40mm is what we use and works well! Will get you a pic of our set up tomorrow

 

[Ffermer Bach]

I have been told, if you use limestone over the years the acid rainwater dissolves the lime, so better to use something that does not get dissolved.

 

[Exfarmer]

I have been told, if you use limestone over the years the acid rainwater dissolves the lime, so better to use something that does not get dissolved.

This will very much depend on your soil type. On limey ground there should be no issue

 

[dannewhouse]

Clay ground but relatively good on pH. Mag high

 

[Ffermer Bach]

This will very much depend on your soil type. On limey ground there should be no issue

West Wales, it is a problem as the ground is naturally very acid (with 64" of rain in a average year, but over 2' thisFeb!)

 

[tancoman]

Sandstone is best for drainage, not limestone