Hydraulic post driver

houser52 · Jul 18, 2019

My 120 acre farm is in need of a major fence overhaul and I'm thinking of investing in a 3 point hydraulic post driver for my M7060. I already use a post hole auger and it works great but the holes still need to be filled and tamped. That takes a lot of time and to be honest tamping takes it's toll on my 66 year old body.

I've looked at drivers in the price range of a Shaver HD10 or the comparable driver from Kencove. I also considered the Protec P200 but it's above what I want to spend. I contacted a local fence company to see what they would charge just to drive wooden posts and they wanted $37.50 per post just to drive them if I supplied the posts. I'm NOT doing that!

At this point I'm sure what to do. The reasons being is that I'll be 67 this year and I'm not sure if a $4000-$5000 post driver is a smart investment for someone my age. I work alone and even though I'm still very active I'm not sure if those drivers can be operated by just one person.

I'd like to see what you guys think.

Birdhunter1 · Jul 18, 2019

At $37.50 a post I would almost consider driving to do the job myself if you have at least 100 posts to put in.

If I was buying a new one I would go with the 10" model on any of them just to get the extra thumping force, but the Kencove PD80 Kencove PD8 Post Driver Tractor-Mounted is a very good price and from what I can tell is about the same machine as my old and ancient Shaver HD8. Just remember that is has to have 1 remote with a detent to feed it and HAS TO return directly back to the sump of your tractor to work.

houser52 · Jul 18, 2019

Thanks for the reply.

I took the $37.50 per post as that they didn't want to mess with it or I was some yahoo with more money than sense.

Birdhunter1 · Jul 18, 2019

It's up there for pricing, but if they have a 2-3 man crew it isn't a horrible bid price if you are paying your guys well, the contractor is insured, equipment is kept up well. I could see this price more for commercial bid work than a residential or farm job.

Avenger · Jul 18, 2019

Does anyone around you rent this type of equipment? Maybe consider renting a skid steer mounted one? I donno. I have only driven t-posts with the FEL or augured out holes like you were sayin for the wood posts (RR ties). Just thinking 'out loud'

houser52 · Jul 18, 2019

Avenger said:
Does anyone around you rent this type of equipment? Maybe consider renting a skid steer mounted one? I donno. I have only driven t-posts with the FEL or augured out holes like you were sayin for the wood posts (RR ties). Just thinking 'out loud'

That was my first thought too. I've searched the web for places near me that rents but nothing pops up. I wouldn't mind renting one at all

radios1 · Jul 18, 2019

this looks like a good one, Postmaster 9 with Tilt | Post Driver | Danuser you can rent it out for extra income, too!..

jacew · Jul 20, 2019

If I had to put in my ~300 fence posts again I would lay them out and rent a large excavator for a day or 2

EddieWalker · Jul 20, 2019

I've gone back and forth on buying a driver for my posts or drilling the holes and pouring concrete in the hole, and for the amount of time I have available to work on this, and I've decided to drill the holes and do as much as I can, as I have the time available to work on it. 3 point post hold auger with a 12 inch auger will get the job done, it's just time consuming, but very low on what each hole will cost.