Best way to remove old fence posts?

[Mozart]

Any tips for efficient, safe removal of old fence posts? We own a tractor and a mini skid steer. DH thinks best way would be to put clamp around the post, attach one end of a chain under the clamp and the other end to the bucket of the tractor then lift up the bucket.

For some reason that does not sound particularly safe to me but I can't think of another way.

Is there maybe some sort of clamp like attachment that you can get for tractor that could just clamp onto the fence post?

[greysandbays]

I saw it done by just wrapping a chain with a hook on both ends around the post a couple times, hooking that end back on itself, then hooking the other end so it fit around one of the prongie thingies on the front end loader, then lifing the loader.

[NoDQhere]

We pull posts with a slip chain around the post then hooked to the bucket of the tractor. They usually come out pretty easily.

[Bluey]

We half hitch a chain to the post and pull it, chain slips loose and we go to the next.
Old posts are good as stays for other fences, if pretty enough can even make nice privacy type fencing on yards.

[Mozart]

Well sounds like Mr. Mozart was on the right track at least with chain and tractor bucket approach. Not bad for a city boy accountant! :lol:

[tangledweb]

I do the same thing, but with a fabric 4x4 recovery strap. It has a big enough loop at each end that I don't even need to tie a knot, just pull the loops down over the post, drape the middle over the front end loader and raise.

[Daydream Believer]

We pull posts with a slip chain around the post then hooked to the bucket of the tractor. They usually come out pretty easily.

We do it the same way. Very easy.

[Romany]

Yes - whip the chain around the tractor bucket, whip one end around the post a couple of times so the chain "locks" on itself, then hook it back on to its other end somewhere, and gently lift the bucket.

A MOST satisfying tractor preoccupation. ;)

[Tom King]

If you own a front-end loader without a 3/8" high strength grab hook welded to the top center of the bucket, get one welded on hook up. It will grab a 3/8" or 5/16" chain.

[SLW]

Well sounds like Mr. Mozart was on the right track at least with chain and tractor bucket approach. Not bad for a city boy accountant! :lol:

It is so much to take down a line of fence, by yourself, in 30 minutes w/ a tractor and front end loader. Mr. Accountant will be driving around the county just LOOKING for fences to rip down. I know of what I speak, I'm 28 years married to a city boy accountant. :D

[SmartAlex]

Bucket and chain. You will get pretty slick at the wrap so it will self tighten after a couple of posts.

[Mozart]

Thank you everyone for the helpful suggestions. I have directed Mr. Mozart to this thread and he is rubbing his hands together in gleefull (is that a word??) anticipation.

Apparently this is the key to a happy horsey/non-horsey marriage. Buy a tractor and encourage them to find cool things to do with it lol.

[S1969]

We pull posts with a slip chain around the post then hooked to the bucket of the tractor. They usually come out pretty easily.

We took out t-posts this way just last weekend and it worked pretty well. My dad operated the tractor and I would place and remove the chain. Went pretty fast.

We're having new fencing installed right now and they removed our old post & rail fencing with a special clamp-like attachment to their skidsteer -- they'd just drive up, clamp on and pull them out. Pretty nifty gadget but probably necessary if you're in the fencing business. But the slip chain should do the trick for us amateurs.

[Bluey]

We built a post and cacti puller, but we have thousands of cacti to pull, just for posts, that would be overkill:

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a298/Robintoo/Horses2-20-07478.jpg?t=1254334451

You can clamp to any size post or tree and pull it right off, if a really big one, you can wiggle it back and forth and eventually it will come up.
A friend built a lighter one and his kept breaking, until he reinforced it:

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a298/Robintoo/Horses2-20-07830.jpg?t=1254334683

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a298/Robintoo/Horses2-20-07834.jpg?t=1254334935

I think that, for small, ocassional fencing jobs, a chain is definitely the cheapest and just as good, just takes two or if one person alone, a little bit longer.

[Frank B]

...I have directed Mr. Mozart to this thread and he is rubbing his hands together in gleefull (is that a word??) anticipation.

Uh-oh! Do I sense another "dumb things DH did" thread coming up?

[Mozart]

Uh-oh! Do I sense another "dumb things DH did" thread coming up?

Gee I sure hope not! :eek:
I need DH to stay in one healthy piece for a few more years yet :winkgrin:

[foggybok]

It is so much to take down a line of fence, by yourself, in 30 minutes w/ a tractor and front end loader. Mr. Accountant will be driving around the county just LOOKING for fences to rip down. I know of what I speak, I'm 28 years married to a city boy accountant. :D

Mr Foggybok, ex-city boy takes great delight in taking down our fences with the tractor and chains too! now if only they were replaced with such efficiency! :D

[foggybok]

Apparently this is the key to a happy horsey/non-horsey marriage. Buy a tractor and encourage them to find cool things to do with it lol.

ha ha, worked for me!

But he's gone a little crazy lately trying to fix his pond.............