3 pt. auger/post hole digger

[Oaktree]

I'm planning to put up a small pole barn come spring, looking for recommendations for a 3 pt. auger/post-hole digger. Other than this project, probably not something I'd use a lot so I'm looking for a lower-grade unit but still one that'll do the job. I've seen a couple sub $1k ones, including TSC (in stock at their semi-local store), but reviews are VERY mixed on them. Despite this being northern New England, soil where I want to put it doesn't seem very rocky (mostly silt/sand), maybe 25' from some trees so there may be roots.

No one around here seems to rent them, so that's out.

 

[RjCorazza]

In my area there are a lot of 3 point augers for sale used, and I would think that is what you are looking for.
I had a TSC style pto auger that worked well in putting in my first split rail fence 25 years ago, then it just sat until I sold it for a song to my neighbor. I have since acquired a hydraulic ssqa auger that it redid my fence with. It's a great implement, but expensive for the limited use I will get out of it.
What diameter holes will you be drilling for the pole barn? I had mine built last fall, and the builder drilled 24" holes. I'm certain my 32 pto HP machine would drill 12" holes, but I have no idea what it takes to drill 24" holes (if that's what pole barns require).

 

[BlueKnife]

I'm planning to put up a small pole barn come spring, looking for recommendations for a 3 pt. auger/post-hole digger. Other than this project, probably not something I'd use a lot so I'm looking for a lower-grade unit but still one that'll do the job. I've seen a couple sub $1k ones, including TSC (in stock at their semi-local store), but reviews are VERY mixed on them. Despite this being northern New England, soil where I want to put it doesn't seem very rocky (mostly silt/sand), maybe 25' from some trees so there may be roots.

No one around here seems to rent them, so that's out.

Rent a skid steer with an auger instead, or, if your tractor has a loader and remotes, just rent the auger. They are far superior.

 

[oldnslo]

Will a 3 point post hole auger allow you to drill deep enough to get below frost table? Northern New England I suspect that would be minimum of 4 ft possibly more.

 

[5030]

Gee, I have one I don't use anymore that is hanging in my barn I'd sell for a couple hundred bucks and it has an auger extension to drill below 4 feet. More like 5.5 feet depth. It's in good shape, gearbox is tight and don't leak either. Fits Cat 1 or Cat 2 3 point.

 

[Oaktree]

Gee, I have one I don't use anymore that is hanging in my barn I'd sell for a couple hundred bucks and it has an auger extension to drill below 4 feet. More like 5.5 feet depth. It's in good shape, gearbox is tight and don't leak either. Fits Cat 1 or Cat 2 3 point.

If you didn't live 1000 mi away I might have taken you up on that.

Rent a skid steer with an auger instead, or, if your tractor has a loader and remotes, just rent the auger. They are far superior.

I suppose that could be an option assuming anyone around here has one for rent. But then I'd need to actually be ready to do everything in one day, not my usual haphazard way...

 

[BlueKnife]

I suppose that could be an option assuming anyone around here has one for rent. But then I'd need to actually be ready to do everything in one day, not my usual haphazard way...

True..... Drilling enough holes for a "small pole barn" in fairly rock free soil takes less than an hour with a hydraulic auger.

 

[Carl_NH]

Not sure where you are in Coos Cty but Caron Equipment has PHD on the Toro Dingo or on a skid steer - I'd opt for the skid steer setup for rough ground. Pricing | Caron Rental Center

I did 60 plus holes 32-36" deep for fencing 2 years ago with a compact Bobcat MT100 stand on tracked unit 8" auger. Had to use BH to extricate some 1-2' rocks, but other than that was a great machine - you need down pressure in rough ground. Our ground is glacial till and ledge primarily.

At the same time used the machine with18" auger to dig holes for 40 trees - the larger auger cleared 4-6" rocks due to more space between the auger vanes.

I would think you need 12" as a minimum for the pole barn and 4' deep.

 

[jfsawatzky]

If you are able to wait, keep an eye on online auctions. I found an hydraulic 3pt with 12 and 24 in augers ( I think) that I bought for about 1000 cdn plus premium and tax but it was 5 hours from me… managed to work that trip into some other items i bought or wanted to do at the same time and area. Pto driven ones are more common and should be less expensive.

 

[M59]

I'm planning to put up a small pole barn come spring, looking for recommendations for a 3 pt. auger/post-hole digger. Other than this project, probably not something I'd use a lot

You don't indicate the number of footing, their dia and depth. This is important in choosing an auger and how it is to powered.

Regardless of the above, I suggest you rent a skid steer and the appropriate sized auger and extension suitable for the concrete footings onto which you place the barn posts.

I too went the "cheap" route and rented a one man gas powered auger mounted on wheels with two handles to apply down pressure. Worked great for first 12-18 inches until I hit fist sized rocks when drilling 12 inch dia holes for fence line in CT river bottom. After 3 hours, a lot of swearing and sweating, and a dozen holes of the 150 needed, I rented a skid steer and did remaining holes in less than 4 hours. Skid steer puts down a huge amount of pressure and the holes are straight and true even when I hit 8-10 inch dia rocks and some arm dia roots.

soil where I want to put it doesn't seem very rocky (mostly silt/sand), maybe 25' from some trees so there may be roots.

Rocks always seem to be where you want to put that hole. Your 3000 pound tractor and 24 PTO horsepower is pretty limited both in weight and power for boring holes that are probably going to be 12 inch min dia and a min of 36 inch deep.