Attaching field fence to back of t post

[S854]

We’re in the process of installing field fence around the perimeter of our 20 acres.

The previous owner kept horses so there’s currently a smooth wire fence.

All was going well until I hit a 100 yard stretch where (and this is an assumption) the neighbor had installed his fence prior to our property being fenced… the t posts face his property. It’s a rental property which has been vacant for almost a year now and I don’t have a way of contacting him to get permission to get onto his land to place our field fence on that side.

so… any “easy” way to attach our fence to the “back” of the t post? I’ve tried using clips (Fence Fork)… they don’t work…

My ideas are down to using bailing wire and lineman pliers… just not sure how securely I will be able to install the fence that way…

Any other ideas?

 

[plowhog]

Any other ideas?

Have you tried a clip bender? That's what I use for wire fencing and T posts.

If your clip won't attach from your side, just reach through and bend from the other side.

 

[beowulf]

If I understand your issue correctly, you are concerned because the 'stubs' of the already installed T-posts face away from your property and you wanted to attach your field fence to the stub-side - presumably so it won't slide up or down. You don't really have a problem as I see it as the 'ties' you can use to attach to the opposite side of the T-posts will go around the stubs on the back side and if tightened will work just fine to hold the field wire. You will not have all the stubs potentially holding up the horizontal field fence wires but you will have as many as you want to tie to the posts.

Adding this update to clarify: I use the chain link ties instead of the T-post clips - always have - and for me they work well. But if you use the clips then there are issues with hooking up on the opposite side of the T-posts.

 

[bcp]

Put in your own posts facing the right way.

Bruce

 

[TractorGuy]

Do you have defined corner markers to pull a string? Are you sure you are installing fence on your side or on the property line?

I see no reason the standard tpost clips won't hold it.

 

[Midniteoyl]

Put in your own posts facing the right way.

Bruce

This is what I would do. Mitigates problems with the owner or new owners down the road.

 

[Fuddy1952]

Yes^^^^^.100 yard stretch, 300ft= 30 posts one every 10ft. Get 7 footers. Know the property line, pull a string or better yet a transit. Post facing right way, between existing posts.

 

[PILOON]

Interesting discussion.
In many jurisdictions fences are to be one foot inside your property if you own it, that to allow U access for maintenance all while not trespassing.
Directly on the line = shared ownership and expenses.

Now since owner is absentee I'd simply do whatever you need to do and assume it is yours.
Worst scenario is that it sits on the line and he'd owe U 1/2, and worst is it was never done right and it is actually his fence.

What do your deeds say?
In this area all sales require a survey that clarifies all those details.
It is called a 'certificate of localization' and covers all those details such as out buildings, wells, septics etc.

 

[Doughknob]

Here in Ohio, it is written in state code that when building fence, one is allowed on the other side (neighbor's propery) to build the fence. No need to ask. Oh, sure, still might be the courteous thing to do if you can....

 

[ericm979]

The Tpost clips I have used only work on the one side of the fence. They're a V shape where they go over the rib of the non fence side of the post. You'd have to re-bend each one to get it to hold the fence on that side. That would be very tedious.

Pull and redo the posts, or just put the fencing up on the other side. If you pull them get a t post puller, that makes it easy.

 

[3Ts]

Pull and redo the posts, or just put the fencing up on the other side. If you pull them get a t post puller, that makes it easy.

I can see where this could turn ugly very quickly. Since it's only 100 yards, I'd put in my own T posts facing the correct way and be done with it. Sure, you'd have a double fence, but it also avoids several "issues" down the road.

 

[shooterdon]

I am thankful I live where such issues are not issues.

In any case, what are the chances of a land owner who hardly ever visits his property will care? He will want to keep you on his side anyway so you can keep an eye on his property.

Do what is easiest. Worst case you redo the fence if he complains and you find out he is a jerk.

 

[bigtiller]

I think it would be best to put your fence beside the neighbors. Two fences are better than one, especially when the absent owner doesn't know the whole story of the new fence.

 

[dflur]

Property line maintenance, including fence installation and maintenance, allows for travel across the property line in most states. Odds are the other property owner could not care less as long as the fence is functional and durable. Go to the Tax Assessor's office site for the county. It will give you a starting place as to how to locate the current owner.

 

[jacric2005]

I agree with others about putting in your own fence the right way and not using the existing T posts. When the owner or next renter sees that you have used them, you may be faced with doing your own fence anyway if they want to remove the existing fence that you have hung your fencing on. You can still look at the county property tax records and see if there is an address for the owner. Country people are usually very flexible but like anyone don't like surprises. Just an opinion from a horse person, I like the fencing on the side of the T-post facing the horse pasture (they can be very pushy on a fence, so electric strand is a good thing). Also, there are plastic protectors for the tops of the T posts, as a horse can impale itself on a T-post. No barb wire for horse pasture.

 

[S854]

I am thankful I live where such issues are not issues.

In any case, what are the chances of a land owner who hardly ever visits his property will care? He will want to keep you on his side anyway so you can keep an eye on his property.

Do what is easiest. Worst case you redo the fence if he complains and you find out he is a jerk.

This is what we decided to do... the original owner of our property replaced the barb wire along this 100 yard section with smooth wire... again, this is an assumption, however, all the other fencing around the neighbors property is barbed and the smooth wire there now is part of a continuous run along our property line...

If the neighbor does complain, or if there is an issue in the future with new owners we'll replace the t posts on our side and redo the field fence.

We weren't able to use any prefab clips due to issues raised earlier in this thread (V shaped clip installed "backwards" requiring tedious reforming of the clip)... we used 6" sections of the "waste" portion of the field fence and bent it to fit... a little more work to cut the pieces out but, what can I say, I'm frugal...

Living in Montana has it's perks... one of which is: We've yet to encounter any issues with our neighbors (or the local government) where they tell us, "Hey, you can't do that here!" Of course, we've contacted our neighbors before making any "permanent" changes to our property and we try to be considerate neighbors.

Thanks for all the replies here... many items which were brought up, well, I really hadn't thought them through...

 

[puzlrock]

We’re in the process of installing field fence around the perimeter of our 20 acres.

The previous owner kept horses so there’s currently a smooth wire fence.

All was going well until I hit a 100 yard stretch where (and this is an assumption) the neighbor had installed his fence prior to our property being fenced… the t posts face his property. It’s a rental property which has been vacant for almost a year now and I don’t have a way of contacting him to get permission to get onto his land to place our field fence on that side.

so… any “easy” way to attach our fence to the “back” of the t post? I’ve tried using clips (Fence Fork)… they don’t work…

My ideas are down to using bailing wire and lineman pliers… just not sure how securely I will be able to install the fence that way…

Any other ideas?

In Montana you are allowed to maintain the fence without any permission. I would just do what you have to do and call it good.

 

[RancherGuy]

This is what we decided to do... the original owner of our property replaced the barb wire along this 100 yard section with smooth wire... again, this is an assumption, however, all the other fencing around the neighbors property is barbed and the smooth wire there now is part of a continuous run along our property line...

If the neighbor does complain, or if there is an issue in the future with new owners we'll replace the t posts on our side and redo the field fence.

We weren't able to use any prefab clips due to issues raised earlier in this thread (V shaped clip installed "backwards" requiring tedious reforming of the clip)... we used 6" sections of the "waste" portion of the field fence and bent it to fit... a little more work to cut the pieces out but, what can I say, I'm frugal...

Living in Montana has it's perks... one of which is: We've yet to encounter any issues with our neighbors (or the local government) where they tell us, "Hey, you can't do that here!" Of course, we've contacted our neighbors before making any "permanent" changes to our property and we try to be considerate neighbors.

Thanks for all the replies here... many items which were brought up, well, I really hadn't thought them through...

Good to know you are moving forward. I would have done the same thing - get it done as efficiently as possible when it seems like a matter of common sense.

BTW, if you have more fencing to do, you can space out those t-posts to 15 feet or even 20. I like to use 15 with mine. The logic is that with field fence, grazing animals never stick their heads through to eat on the other side, thus there is never physical pressure against the fence to make it lean. But add a barbed wire (4 point is best) an inch or so above the field fence to keep animals from pushing the field fence down as they reach over the fence. I have witnessed this with horses on two separate properties. I also run barbed on the ground to keep noses from trying to squirm underneath, especially in feral hog and deer territory.

 

[zzvyb6]

I'm not picky about how it's fastened. I take some thick steel wire, cut off sections mybe 6" long, fold them over and around the fence and post. Then stick both ends in my battery drill and give it a whirl. Nice and tight. Maybe 3 loops top to bottom.

 

[oosik]

I've used the "normal" barbed wire ties, heavy gage smooth wire and even used some Copperweld. It's the nubs on the flat side the keep the barbed wire from sliding up/down. Regardless of which side of the T-post the barbed wire is on - as long as ties are tight - the barbed wire will remain tight and up in place.