Tunnel under sidewalks

[Team Fountain]

How do you generally tunnel under sidewalks. I've used bullets, driven pipes by hand, trenched by hand, and they all suck. I have to go under one this weekend and I'm thinking about pushing my trencher attachment under the walk from both sides.
Chime in and tell me how you do it.

 

[Tigerotor77W]

Would an auger work? Lay it nearly parallel to the surface (of the dirt) and just start boring? I dunno. Most times trenching under a sidewalk has been done here, the contractor, well, plain rips out the sidewalk, then repours it. lol

 

[Team Fountain]

Would an auger work? Lay it nearly parallel to the surface (of the dirt) and just start boring? I dunno. Most times trenching under a sidewalk has been done here, the contractor, well, plain rips out the sidewalk, then repours it. lol

I gave the auger some thought also. My concern with that was the bit doesn't fit tight on the shaft. It has a good bit of movement side to side. Ripping out is always an option, but you usually hear "but I just had that damn walkway put in." I guess you really can't go wrong with a bullet, it's just a pain because you have to rent a large compressor.

 

[Tigerotor77W]

I gave the auger some thought also. My concern with that was the bit doesn't fit tight on the shaft. It has a good bit of movement side to side. Ripping out is always an option, but you usually hear "but I just had that damn walkway put in." I guess you really can't go wrong with a bullet, it's just a pain because you have to rent a large compressor.

Let us know how it goes.

 

[RS Coyote]

Let us know how it goes.

I heard to use a garden hose w/ a piece of pipe on the end and water pressure. I have not tried it myself yet.

 

[RS Coyote]

I heard to use a garden hose w/ a piece of pipe on the end and water pressure. I have not tried it myself yet.

Come to think of it a 2500-3000psi pressure washer with a long wand may work better. But I would plan on getting dirty as hell. Maybe make a custom wand about 8-10' long with a bend in the middle. Dig a hole on each side of the side walk and start washing the dirt out to poke a hole through to the other side under the side walk.

 

[wingspar]

Come to think of it a 2500-3000psi pressure washer with a long wand may work better. But I would plan on getting dirty as hell. Maybe make a custom wand about 8-10' long with a bend in the middle. Dig a hole on each side of the side walk and start washing the dirt out to poke a hole through to the other side under the side walk.

Would one of these things work for going under sidewalks? They make them for big skidsteers too.
http://www.mightymole.com/mini_skid_steer.htm

 

[500K_773]

Would one of these things work for going under sidewalks? They make them for big skidsteers too.
http://www.mightymole.com/mini_skid_steer.htm

I just saw this on Bobcat's website: http://www.bobcat.com/news/arc/news_arc_boring.html Allows installation of up to a 2" pipe.

 

[SDP]

I heard to use a garden hose w/ a piece of pipe on the end and water pressure. I have not tried it myself yet.

This works fairly well if you dont have to bore to big of a hole or the soil is not too rocky.