digging post holes on sloping terrain

[deepsnow]

Being a cheap fool I used treated landscaping timbers instead of real treated 4x4s for ~60 fence posts. After 9 years they are snapping at grade level. Half the new posts holes will be dug on terrain with a pitch >10%. Can a 3pt post-hole digger be SAFELY used under these conditions? Any ideas of what would be considered a fair daily rental rate?

 

[markct]

well for the most part you can use a 3pt posthole digger anywheres you can take the tractor, it pivots so the auger is always vertical, i have drilled a few holes on some steep hills with my fathers ford NAA and 3pt posthole digger. just make sure you lock the parking brakes good so the tractor wont move and you should be fine

 

[DKinWA]

I'd just point the tractor down hill and drill away. Just pick a day when the ground is dry and take your time and don't get in a big hurry. I'd also have someone else around to give you a hand so you can stay on the tractor. Almost without fail, I get some wood or ?? caught on the cutting teeth of the auger and have to knock it off (after shutting it off) with a shovel to make it work right. Around here, I'd figure about $250 a day plus delivery for a compact tractor with auger.

Another option is an auger on a small excavator. I know Cat makes the auger for their mini excavators and it looks to be very handy. No matter what angle the machine sits, gravity plumbs the auger and you just have to stick it in the ground. If I was doing a lot of posts on a hill, I think I'd give it a try. I usually rent their 304.5 and it runs $285/day.

 

[kensfarm]

Some of the postholes I've dug along the roadside have been at pretty steep angles.. the PHD auger has a tendancy to slip/slide around when at a steep angle. I sometimes will start the post hole w/ a shovel first.. this gives the auger a place to sit in and helps prevent the slip/slide effect.

 

[GerardC]

Good idea. Drifting could be a problem. Plus, you could pre-measure hole locations, dig the "centering" hole, and just keep moving right along.

 

[deepsnow]

Thanks for the replies. The snow is melting fast. I guess it's time to price out some real fence posts.