How to Trench With a Bulldozer

Mark the area of the trench you want to dig. Turn on the bulldozer. Direct the bulldozer's direction with the joystick to your left.

Position the bulldozer at the start of the trench and position the blade downward with the joystick to your right. Cut into the ground and move the bulldozer steadily forward.

Slow the bulldozer with the decelerator pedal next to the brake. Pull the blade up slightly as you near the end of the trench. Turn the bulldozer around and repeat.

Dig the trench little by little back and forth, slowly creating a slight ramp at each end for the bulldozer. If the trench is wider than the width of the bulldozer, move the bulldozer to the other side of the trench. Alternate sides, then after three to four times on each side, move the bulldozer to the center of the trench and pick up any excess dirt.

Stop digging when the trench reaches the desired depth. Choose a side and dig into the ramp to create a vertical wall. Dig into the trench, pull up the blade to catch the dirt then reverse the bulldozer. Drop the excess dirt in a pile to the side of the trench.

Dig the other side of the ramp with smaller hand tools, reaching the depts of the trench with a ladder. You may also leave the ramp so you can reach the bottom of the trench with the bulldozer in the future or other motorized tools.