Need to reset vinyl posts

[Rail Dawg]

I screwed up and didn't learn about leveling my vinyl post fence until about 3/4's of the way through it (The top string method works great!).

That being said is there a not-too-expensive 3-point attachment I could use to help pull these posts without damage? I need to dig around them, get underneath and either add or remove dirt then reset them.

What ideas do you have for this besides the good ol' manual shovel method?

There about 25 posts sunk 2 feet deep.

Thanks!

 

[RJD2516]

Did you already pour in the cement? If so, that is a tough one. I am guessing that you are probably talking about a 3 rail or 4 rail fence. 5x5 posts, right? So, just cutting them off at the top, like with chain link posts, won't work. The fence will not look straight. Also, you can't yank on them with the tractor. They will split, crack, or just break.

If I was in this situation, I would probably find the two highest ones. Use those as a reference. Then, dig around all of the other ones. If you have a boom for your tractor, or even just using the FEL, you can lift them straight up. Put a little gravel in the hole until the post is the right height. Then set them back down. A little more concrete, and a good packing down. The nice thing about vinyl fences is that the rails give it most of it's strength.

Now, if you haven't put the concrete in then it is easy. Slide a rail through the middle hole, and using a buddy, rock it back and forth, and up at the same time until it sits at the right height. Then go to the next one.

Good luck. And be careful. My posts cost like $23.00 each. I would not want to damage one.

 

[Rail Dawg]

Did you already pour in the cement? If so, that is a tough one. I am guessing that you are probably talking about a 3 rail or 4 rail fence. 5x5 posts, right? So, just cutting them off at the top, like with chain link posts, won't work. The fence will not look straight. Also, you can't yank on them with the tractor. They will split, crack, or just break.

If I was in this situation, I would probably find the two highest ones. Use those as a reference. Then, dig around all of the other ones. If you have a boom for your tractor, or even just using the FEL, you can lift them straight up. Put a little gravel in the hole until the post is the right height. Then set them back down. A little more concrete, and a good packing down. The nice thing about vinyl fences is that the rails give it most of it's strength.

Now, if you haven't put the concrete in then it is easy. Slide a rail through the middle hole, and using a buddy, rock it back and forth, and up at the same time until it sits at the right height. Then go to the next one.

Good luck. And be careful. My posts cost like $23.00 each. I would not want to damage one.

I like your idea... yes they are already concreted in. But pulling them up rather than trying to lower them seems like it would be the way to go!

Any other advice out there? Already I see that this may not be as bad as it seems...

 

[blueriver]

I have a 3 rail vinyl fence and had to remove some ... they are concreted in and to my amazement a strap wraped around them 3 or 4 times and hooked to the fel they pulled right out.

I would try this and pull them up to the correct height ... if you go to far use a rubber mallet to tap them back down... as for getting something under them, just pour mixed concrete down the inside of the post after its to the right height ... a little wetter than usual and it will seep under the post.