Posthole Digger 3ph or loader mounted auger?

[returning to my roots]

Anyone have any experience with augers ? Looking to buy an auger for post holes and tree planting. Would love some comparisons on both the 3 ph and front loader models . Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks .

 

[Fallon]

3pt is $500-800.

Hydraulic is about $2k.

Other than price, a hydraulic unit is supperior in almost every way. Your PTO cant reverse, so if you get the auger stuck, you need a big pipe wrench to wind it back out. The 3pt setup has no downpressure beyond the PHD or whatever weights you strap to it. You can get a hydraulic downpressure kit for many 3p units, but they only add a few hundred lbs of weight. You can mount the hydraulic unit to a SSQA plate or the side of your bucket & get a LOT more downpressure there. Not to mention the possible visibility increases by not having to turn around (hood blocks some visibility there though if not offset.

I have a 3pt unit & rebuilt it to be quick hitch compatible (only works with a hydraulic toplink) and end up with some downpressure at the start of the hole. I want a hydraulic unit, but its not worth it for the 1,000ish feet of fencing I have left (roughly that much done over the past 2 years).

Technically the whole unit is called a post hole digger PHD & the auger is only the drill bit looking part. Augers run $100-200 for lighter 6-12" ones & are often bought seperately. 3pt units connect via a 2" round hole. Some hydraulic ones (not all) use a square or star hole, which are stronger, more expensive & less common.

 

[CurlyDave]

I have a hydraulic one that I like.

I got the motor, 12" and 18" auger heads for $750 on eBay. I was just casually looking when this popped up and the price was too good to be true.

It was originally used with a walk-behind Bobcat unit, and had a miniature SSQA mount. I bought a standard sized SSQA plate and welded the mini one on the front of it as an adaptor.

I had to be careful ordering the SSQA plate. For most of them, the shipping is as much as the plate. I finally found one with free shipping. I would have preferred 1/4" thickness, but the only one with free shipping was 3/16". I have never had a problem with the plate being too flimsy, so I think it is OK.

 

[dragoneggs]

Following along here... wanting a post hole digger for my BX. Fallon has me wondering if a 3pt will do the job in my soil... lots of golf ball to soft ball sized rocks.

 

[boggen]

others have covered the basics pretty good already.

about only thing i might add would be. a backhoe or mini ex (mini excavator) PHD (post hole digger) the articulation of being able to place bottom of auger where you want it. and then drive the auger down at different angles.

example setting on a hill. to up next to building / around a tree you can reach over and run the PHD. of course more cost to it all.

==============
on the opposite side of things = a 1 man or 2 man post hole digger. basically a little weed eater gas engine on it.

 

[Fallon]

Following along here... wanting a post hole digger for my BX. Fallon has me wondering if a 3pt will do the job in my soil... lots of golf ball to soft ball sized rocks.

I don't have rocks, just clay so I can't say for sure. I wouldn't imagine golf ball sized rocks would be a problem. Softball is probably iffy but doable. Bigger than that you will have issues. If a rock is on the edge of a hole, the auger flights will catch on it & corkscrew into the ground (see no reverse on the PTO). Also the teeth will get beatup & might not be able to pull the rocks up as it digs.

 

[Boris1]

I have a hydraulic one that I like. I got the motor, 12" and 18" auger heads for $750 on eBay. I was just casually looking when this popped up and the price was too good to be true. It was originally used with a walk-behind Bobcat unit, and had a miniature SSQA mount. I bought a standard sized SSQA plate and welded the mini one on the front of it as an adaptor. I had to be careful ordering the SSQA plate. For most of them, the shipping is as much as the plate. I finally found one with free shipping. I would have preferred 1/4" thickness, but the only one with free shipping was 3/16". I have never had a problem with the plate being too flimsy, so I think it is OK.

Sounds good, do you have a pic of it to share possibly? Might want to try and duplicate if possible

Thanks,
Matt