48" Skid Steer Trencher (16–30 GPM, Case Drain)

Will This Fit Your Machine?

You need 16 to 30 GPM of auxiliary hydraulic flow, plus a case drain line. GPM means gallons per minute — how much hydraulic fluid your machine can push. That flow number is what matters, not a label. Ignore anyone who tells you "standard flow" or "high flow" instead of a real number — here is why those words are useless, further down.

Check your machine against these three

• Bobcat T740 — makes 23 GPM standard. Fits.
• Kubota SVL75-3 — standard flow. Fits.
• CAT 259D3 — standard flow. Fits.
• Bobcat T770 on high flow — makes 36.6 GPM. That is too much. See the warning below.

Too much flow will break this — almost nobody tells you that

Most sellers warn you if your machine is too weak. Almost none warn you if it is too strong. Pushing 36 GPM into a motor built for 30 GPM overheats it and wears it out early — and you will likely be told it was your fault ("operator error"), not the mismatch.

If your machine runs on high flow, switch it to standard-flow mode for this attachment, or buy the high-flow version instead.

Why "high flow" is a meaningless label

We checked 15 machines across the major brands. "High flow" means anywhere from 26.9 to 45 GPM depending on which brand printed the brochure — six different companies, six different ways of counting it. One brand even sells an "enhanced high flow" option that pushes less flow than their regular high flow.

So we skip the label and give you the actual number instead.

Case drain — the part that voids warranties if you skip it

Yes, this attachment needs a case drain. A case drain is an extra hydraulic line that carries leftover oil back to the machine's tank. Whether you need one depends on the type of motor inside the attachment, not what kind of attachment it is: piston motors need a case drain, gear motors usually do not. This trencher uses a piston motor. Run it without a case drain line and oil pressure builds up inside the motor and destroys the seals.

If your machine does not have a case drain port, tell us before you order.

Spotting A Case Drain Port Yourself

Count the hydraulic lines at the front of your loader arm. Two lines (supply and return) means no case drain. A third line usually means it has one — case drain lines typically run through a smaller coupler, around 3/8 in across, sitting next to the two larger supply and return couplers.

A shortcut worth knowing: most factory high-flow packages include a case drain port; most standard-flow-only machines do not. If your machine is high flow, look for that third small coupler before assuming you need to add one. If it is standard flow only, plan on having a case drain kit installed — or tell us and we will point you to one.

Which teeth for your ground?

• Sand and loam (soft, loose soil) — standard cup teeth. Digs fastest.
• Clay — shark teeth. Cup teeth get packed with clay and stop cutting.
• Rock and frozen ground — carbide teeth. Anything softer wears out two sets in a single day.

Using the wrong teeth in rock is the most expensive mistake people make with a trencher, and almost nobody asks about it before they buy. Tell us your soil type and we will pick the right teeth for you.

Checking Trench Width Against Your Pipe

This page lists digging depth — how far down the chain reaches. Trench width — how wide the cut is — is a separate number that depends on the chain you run. Before you order, measure the outside diameter of the pipe or conduit you are laying, and confirm the chain width against it with us. A trench that is too narrow means going back over it by hand.

Specifications

Total cost, before you check out

Shipping is free, built into the price above. This is under 1,500 lb, so liftgate delivery is available if you do not have a loading dock.

Tell us your make, model, and soil type. We will tell you which one to buy — or tell you not to buy it.

No posted hours on any of these — send it whenever it's convenient for you.

Email — support@rightfitattachments.com. Send your make and model; we answer in less than 24 hours.

Chat — the “Will it fit?” assistant in the corner of the screen. Instant, any time of day.

Call — Riley, our phone agent, at (843) 969-4184. Answers around the clock.