Post Holes with a backhoe?

[Jim Donahue]

This may be one of the lamest questions to date! Has anyone
put in 4x4 PT posts for a fence with a small backhoe. I have
a BX25 and before I rent a posthole digger, just thought I would
throw it out there and see what happens. I have about 7 post
to put up.

[Egon]

Never done it but pretty soon I'm gonna dig in a few posts with a backhoe.

[20 20]

yep done it quite a bit. Sometimes I just don't feel like hooking the PHD, so I just use the mini ex. I've even tossed the idea around about getting rid of the PHD?????? just hate to let go of equipment.

[dave1949]

I have. With the rocks we have here, an augur would be a waste of money and machinery.
Dave.

[sunnyside360]

Have done it several times -- usually when digging just one or two holes for a project. If digging a lot of holes, I use a PHD.

[LBrown59]

Originally Posted by Jim Donahue

This may be one of the lamest questions to date! Has anyone
put in 4x4 PT posts for a fence with a small backhoe. I have
a BX25 and before I rent a posthole digger, just thought I would
throw it out there and see what happens. I have about 7 post
to put up.

I built a small rear deck & dug all 4 post holes with my BX23 BH.
The thought of a PHD never occured to me /I had a BH !

[MikeInEburg]

While you can certainly dig the hole with backhoe, you'll get a much tighter fit with Post hole digger. I've done both and, all things equal, I'd do PHD every time.
Mike

[rtdiggr]

You will obviously end up with a large hole with a BH, just use a sono tube and fill around the tube with dirt. If you don't you will be using alot more cement.

Shane

[fishpick]

BH for holes - posts or pole barn construction - it is what I have used.
I use my bigger tractor for sinking new posts now by pushing them in after rains with the FEL.

But I really can't see the benefit of a PHD when you spent the cash on the BH.

The tube trick someone else posted works great too if you are using concrete.

[bpattie]

I think it may be a viable solution using BH when you have a lot of rocks. but as previously mentioned you will get better results using PHD. Primary benefit is that all the ground except what you are auguring out is compacted. Using eh PHD you will have pretty good size hole that will need compaction. I am afraid settling that will occur will not be best for your fence. also if using cement for any of the holes you will have a challenge.