Front-End Loader Rent skid steer auger for FEL on compact, worth it?

[Slacker]

Rent skid steer auger for FEL on compact, anyone done it?

Need to do 200 fence post holes. I have a PTO type PHD, but I'd love to use a skid steer
Sun belt rental type unit. My FEL will accept skid steer attachments. I have two sets of remotes and a local shop to make the hoses and couplers. Hydraulic flow is 8.1GPM. Some of the skid steer augers i see for sale want 6-15 GPM flow with a 24"bit max.

If this has been discussed to death please give me the cliff notes. I also have a hydraulic PTO pump that I run my backhoe from, that might give me some more flow. I think it's around 11-12GPM.

 

[kennyd]

If they have a low-flow unit to rent, then you may be OK, but I bet they only have the high-flow ones...Worth a call if you can get somebody on the phone that knows what they are talking about.

Using your PTO pump will still require a large tank, filter, and a valve. probably would cost to much to put it together for a one time use.

Why don't you want to use the one you have?

 

[Slacker]

If they have a low-flow unit to rent, then you may be OK, but I bet they only have the high-flow ones...Worth a call if you can get somebody on the phone that knows what they are talking about.

Using your PTO pump will still require a large tank, filter, and a valve. probably would cost to much to put it together for a one time use.

Why don't you want to use the one you have?

200 holes in clay! At absolute best I could do 5 or 6 per hour. I'm looking to make
it a week job rather than a two week job.

 

[jenkinsph]

I think it would cheaper and easier to rent the skidsteer and planetary auger as a package. Should be able to knock them out quickly with this setup.



Steve

 

[buckeyefarmer]

I rented one with 18" auger to make holes for my barn. Talk about fun, holes in no time flat.

 

[radman1]

I have both a Bobcat 15C and 30C auger units. I have used the 15C on my CUTs. It will do the job but turns slowly at 7-8 gpm. If you have wet clay, it may not do the best but you will be able to handle a 6-12" auger. With a CUT, it is difficult to see the tip or rest of the auger as it is drilling. Because of the arc a FEL, with a CUT you will have to move forward/back as the hole drilled to keep the hole straight. A skid steer with vertical lift really works nice and can punch a lot of holes relatively fast. If you had the holes marked, you could probably drill them all in 4 hours. Most skid steers will have 3000 psi vs 2500 psi of most CUTs. More power to turn the bit. I bought the 30C auger to turn my 24" and 36" bits. I can turn a 36" bit 4' deep with the 30C unit. I could not turn either size well with the 15C unit.

Bobcat also has a 10C unit designed for lower flow. However, the lower flow units will have less torque to turn the bit. My CUTs could still stop my 9" and 12" augers using the 15C unit without much difficultly. I have my doubts about turning a 9-12" bit in clay soil with a 10C auger. I did turn my JD CUT pressure up to 2800 psi from 2500 psi.

I have a hydraulic tamper. In a good day, with 1 helper, I could drill and set all 200 posts in one day if the area is open and fairly straight. Consider renting a skid steer with vertical lift to drill the holes.

 

[Raw Dodge]

Id attach a few weights to frame of the PTO model you have,and use it.You have so much more power available to it.The front mounted model works great on skid steers,even small skid steers have 15 GPM,mine has 22 and its not even hi flow.You dont have enough GPM to do the job quickly.

 

[mojoinco]

I would love to see your results. I have a similar thought (for some day). I stopped at our local Bobcat dealer and talked to them about the smaller flow phd. They have to swap it off of the smaller plate (for the smaller Bobcats) and asked that I call ahead for availability (that was when the building industry was going well). I think price was $75/day then. I had wondered about visibility of the center mounted phd, versus a side mount on a bucket (and plus of access by having the tractor off to one side).

Glad to see folks comments and experiences.

 

[skidsteer.ca]

If they have a low-flow unit to rent, then you may be OK, but I bet they only have the high-flow ones...Worth a call if you can get somebody on the phone that knows what they are talking about.
QUOTE]

The majority of the skidsteer augers are not "hi flow" in the skidsteer definition or the word. They are standard flow. But still are designed for 11 to 20 gpm. Hi flow to a tractor I guess, but not how to ask the rental place about their skidsteer augers.
I don't run full rpm (16.9 gpm) when drilling but probably still pump @ 12 gpm into my Bobcat 15c. With 8 gpm you are going to run 2/3 the desired rpm in my estimation. A mini skid auger could be a option.

We have ones available in the 5 to 10 gpm range rated for a 12" bit
Premier Augers - H005PD Drive Unit
and ones in the 8 to 14 gpm rate up to 24"
Premier Augers - H010PD Drive Unit

I know we are going to see more hydraulic augers on tractors in the future. The price is higher (but not that much) and the ability to reverse the bit is well worth it.

Talk to your rental place and see if they have one in your flow range.

Of course going with the skidsteer and the larger auger maybe well worth the cost for a large one time job. I figure on 15 to 20 holes per hour when drilling with my standard flow model 15c on a 15 to 17gpm skidsteer. Visibility, mobility and hi torque pay dividends in performance.