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Ground conditions greatly affect productivity and the ability to efficiently move through the soil. “There’s a big difference between doing a job in rock vs. one with good fill dirt,” says Phelps. “If you’re trenching in silty loam at 12 to 18 in. deep, I would recommend a smaller machine. It will be easier to handle, it will fit into tighter spaces and it will be less expensive to own and operate. On the other hand, if you’re doing electrical lines 36 in. deep in tough conditions such as rock, clay or gumbo, you will need to consider something else.”

A larger, higher horsepower machine gives you the ability to handle those difficult conditions more easily, because more horsepower means more torque to your digging chain, notes Jon Kuyers, utility product segment manager, Vermeer. This, in turn, gives you the ability to dig through difficult soil conditions such as caliche, sand, cobble and even rock.

“Generally, when you have more horsepower, you also have more weight,” Kuyers adds. “All the components are larger and they’re able to withstand more abuse and more difficult situations. The extra weight of the tractor also keeps the trencher boom in the ground and prevents it from bouncing around.”

You may find that you have to oversize the trencher in certain ground conditions. “Cobble and sand are very challenging applications,” says Adkins. “You may need to dig deeper or wider than planned to accommodate carryover, which could necessitate the need for a larger machine.”

Do you need tracks?

Surface conditions also factor into the selection process. More manufacturers are offering units with rubber tracks. The benefits are two-fold: extra flotation to stay afloat in muddy conditions, and extra traction to pull through tough conditions.