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“Instead of buying severaldedicated pieces ofequipment, contractors canspend thousands less bypurchasing attachmentsfor their loaders andexcavators.”— Justin Odegaard, attachment productrepresentative for Bobcat Co.“Since most contractors work on soft surfaces whenperforming utility installation, tracks are a definiteplus,” he says. “Because tracks distribute the machine’sweight over a greater area, they reduce ground pressure,thus minimizing ground disturbance. So for contractorsinstalling service lines on established lawns,this means less worries about performing repair workafter the job’s done.”A mini track loader or compacttrack loader also allows landscapersto work in ground conditionsthat might prove difficultfor wheeled loaders. Track loaders’improved traction and flotationenable contractors to workmore effectively in wet andmuddy ground conditions.Bobcat manufactures two minitrack loader models, six compacttrack loader models and 11 excavatormodels, all of which havetrack undercarriages.All of these machines can bepaired with a number of differenttypes and styles of useful attachments— including several thatcan be used for utility installation.Of the multitude of attachmentsavailable on the markettoday (Bobcat alone makes morethan 80), Odegaard says thetrencher, vibratory plow, boringunit, auger, combination bucket,digger, backhoe, angle broom,pallet forks and hydraulic breakerare among the most popularwith utility contractors.Trencher AttachmentsThe trencher attachment is likely the most recognizableutility installation attachment. For years, utilitycontractors have turned to the trencher attachmentbecause of its strength, ease of use and versatility.Another reason the trencher is commonly seen onutility installation jobs is because it’s usually readilyavailable for rent at most dealerships or rental stores,and it’s relatively inexpensive when compared to otherattachments. Odegaard says there are also several advantagesto using a trencher attachment.“While the trencher works well in all soil conditions,it also has the power and strength to digthrough extremely rocky soil,” Odegaard says.“Contractors can equip their trencher attachmentwith several different teeth and chain configurationsin order to correctly match it to the soil conditions inwhich they’ll be digging.Bobcat’s trencher attachment has dig depths from 2to 5 ft and allows utility installation specialists totrench close to buildings, fences and other objects withthe removal of its auger. However, contractors shouldbe careful where they choose to use their trencherattachment. Because it cuts through the ground anddisplaces a strip of soil, it’s typically better used innon-established areas where there isn’t any sod or seedand where ground disturbance isn’t a worry.While a trencher attachment works well in all soil conditions, it also has thepower and strength to dig through extremely rocky soil.August 2007 | Utility Contractor 29