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Fencing Equipment for Ranches

The right fencing equipment turns a long, hard job into a manageable one. What you need depends on the fence type, your soil and how many miles you plan to build or repair.

What equipment do you need to build a fence?

The basic kit includes a way to set posts, wire or panel handling gear, stretchers, tools and safety equipment. Larger jobs add a tractor with an auger or post driver, a wire spinner and a utility vehicle.

Start by writing down fence type, length, terrain and soil. A short boundary line on level ground needs far less than miles of rocky pasture.

A cattle ranch with miles of boundary has very different needs from an orchard row that needs a deer fence or a five-acre horse paddock. Describe your job to a dealer or fence contractor and ask what they would use.

How do you set posts: auger, driver or by hand?

Augers drill holes for set posts, and they work best in soil that is not full of rock. Post drivers push posts directly into the ground and are common for steel and wooden posts. Hand tools still work for short runs.

Check your tractor's operator's manual before you attach any implement, and use the hitch and PTO or hydraulic settings it specifies. Never go beyond the tractor's rated capacity.

If you rent or borrow a driver or auger, ask for the operator's manual and read the hitch, hydraulic and PTO instructions before you start. Equipment that is new to you deserves a slow first hour.

What wire and stretching tools do you need?

For barbed or woven wire, you need a stretcher or come-along, crimping tools and fencing pliers. Wire can whip back when it breaks, so wear eye protection and gloves. Keep a good grip and stand out of the line of tension.

Wire spinners and unrollers carry a roll on a tractor or utility vehicle and let one person string long stretches.

• Fencing pliers.
• Wire stretcher.
• Crimping tools or splice sleeves.
• Eye protection and heavy gloves.

What about electric fence equipment?

Electric fences need an energizer, grounding system, insulators and a tester. Buy an energizer rated for your fence length and the animals you contain. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for grounding, and keep the system away from power lines and unprotected connections.

Test voltage along the line. Vegetation touching the wire drains power, so keep the line clear. Check your state or local rules, and consult your electric utility if the fence will run near power lines.

How do you choose gear for rough or rocky ground?

Rocky soil can break auger bits and bend posts. In those spots, a post driver or hand-dug holes may work better. A skid steer or tractor with a dedicated attachment can speed up work, but ask the dealer what the machine and attachment are designed for.

Wet, sandy and hard clay soils all behave differently. Talk to your local NRCS or extension office for advice on posts and fence layout for your terrain.

If you hire a contractor, ask what equipment they use and how they handle buried utility lines. Compare how they plan to brace corners and ends, since those take the load of the entire fence.

What safety steps matter when fencing?

Call 811 before you dig or drive posts. Buried lines can be anywhere. Wear eye and ear protection, gloves and sturdy boots. Watch for overhead power lines when raising posts or running equipment.

Auger shafts can wrap clothing, and drivers can drop. Keep bystanders away. Follow the tractor and attachment manuals, and do not remove safety shields.

Brace assemblies and corner posts need extra attention, since a failed corner pulls the whole line. Follow the fence manufacturer's instructions for bracing, and never tension wire past the limits the maker gives.

How do you maintain fencing tools and equipment?

Clean and oil tools after use, especially wire tools and stretchers. Replace worn grips and bent jaws. Sharpen auger bits or replace them when they go dull, and grease the auger drive per the manual.

Store wire and tools dry, and put energizers indoors. A short yearly check of your fence line, gates and equipment catches small repairs before they become big ones.

Keep a small repair kit on the truck with spare staples, clips, splice sleeves and insulators, so a break found on the way to the pasture gets fixed right then.

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