Editor’s pick
Vermeer
Vermeer RTX1250
- Power
- 121 hp
- Undercarriage
- Rubber tracks
- Attachments
- Trencher, vibratory plow, rockwheel, backfill blade
Earthmoving
Trenchers: chain, wheel and micro trenchers explained
Trenchers cut narrow, consistent trenches for cables, pipes and drainage faster than any excavator. Learn the main types, sizes and when a trencher beats a digger.
Photo: Les Meloures at lb.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 lu · license
Model guides
Popular trenchers reviewed
Editor’s pick
Vermeer
Vermeer T655III
- Power
- 261 hp
- Undercarriage
- Steel tracks
- Attachments
- Digging chain or rockwheel
Trenchers compared
3 models · click a column to sort
| Vermeer RTX1250 | Vermeer | — | 90 kW / 121 hp |
| Vermeer RTX750 | Vermeer | — | 55 kW / 74 hp |
| Vermeer T655III | Vermeer | — | 195 kW / 261 hp |
A trencher digs a narrow trench in one continuous pass. Instead of a bucket, it uses a digging chain with teeth (like a giant chainsaw) or a rock wheel with carbide teeth. Spoil is carried out by an auger and placed beside the trench.
Types of trenchers
- Walk-behind trenchers for irrigation and small cable trenches.
- Ride-on (compact) trenchers with rubber tracks or tyres, often combined with a backfill blade, vibratory plow or HDD tools.
- Track trenchers for deep and wide trenches in pipelines and drainage.
- Rock wheel and micro trenchers cut narrow slots in asphalt and rock for fibre-optic cable installation.
Why use a trencher?
On long runs, a trencher is much faster than an excavator, produces a neat, consistent trench of exactly the required width (minimising backfill), and causes less surface disruption.
Vibratory plows
Plows pull cable or flexible pipe directly into the ground without an open trench, ideal for telecom and irrigation.
Frequently asked questions
How deep can a trencher dig?
Compact ride-on trenchers typically dig 0.9–1.8 m (3–6 ft); large track trenchers can exceed 2.5 m (8 ft).
Earthmoving