Skid Steer Attachment Rentals for Post Driving and Fence Work

A long run of fence is really a long run of posts, and each one is either a hole to dig or a post to pound, with brush to clear ahead of it and bundles of posts and rolls of wire to drag along behind. Done by hand it is days of work. A skid steer does all of it, but only because of what you bolt to the front of it: the right skid steer attachments for fence work turn clearing, setting and hauling into one machine's job. Here is which attachment handles which step, when to drive a post versus drill for it, and how to rent the set without paying for tools the job does not need.

Why a skid steer for fencing

A skid steer turns fence building from a hand job into a machine job because the attachments cover every step, from clearing the line to setting the last post. It travels the fence line on tracks or wheels, carries material as it goes, and swaps attachments in a minute or two on a universal quick-attach plate, so the same machine does three or four jobs in a day.

For a short backyard fence that is overkill. For a few hundred feet of pasture fence, a property perimeter or a fence contractor's week, it saves days and a lot of backs. Read more about what a skid steer is, and about skid steer attachments and when to use them for the full attachment picture that this post narrows to fencing.

Post driver: pound posts without digging

A post driver, also called a post pounder, hammers posts straight into the ground, and for T-posts, wood posts and pipe in soil that will take them, it is the fastest way to set a fence line there is. No hole, no concrete, no backfill, and no waiting for anything to cure.

A hydraulic post driver mounts on the skid steer and drives the post with repeated blows while the operator holds it plumb. In soft to moderately firm soil it sets wood, steel and pipe posts quickly and tight, because the soil compacts around a driven post instead of being loosened by a hole and backfilled. That is why a driven line post often stands straighter longer than a dug one. Its limits are the ground and the post: very hard or rocky soil will not take a driven post, and any post that has to be set in concrete has to be dug instead. Route the post sizes a given driver handles to the attachment's spec.

Auger: drill the hole when you have to

An auger attachment drills the post hole, and it is the tool for posts that set in concrete, for ground too hard or rocky to drive into, and for the corner, end, gate and brace posts that carry the fence's tension and need a real footing. The simple division on most fence jobs is driver for the line, auger for the anchors.

Auger drives come in sizes to match the machine, and bits come in diameters to match the post, with rock bits available for harder ground. In most soil an auger bores a clean, plumb hole in well under a minute, which is the difference between setting a dozen corners in a morning and setting them over two days with a hand digger. Match the bit diameter and the depth to the post and the fence plan, and route those numbers to the listing. Read more about augers and other digging attachments for how the bits are sized.

Grapple: clear the fence line

Before a post goes in, the line has to be clear, and a grapple attachment tears out brush, saplings, downed limbs and old fence far faster than a crew with chainsaws and loppers. It grabs, pulls, lifts and piles, then drags the debris off the line in the same motion.

On a replacement job the grapple earns its keep twice, because it pulls the old posts and wire as well as the overgrowth. A root grapple works for brush and small stumps; a brush grapple handles lighter material and piles. Either one turns the slowest part of a fence job into a morning, and it leaves a clean line that makes every post after it easier to set straight. Pile the debris well off the line so the material staging and the machine's travel path stay clear for the rest of the job.

Forks and bucket: move the material

Pallet forks carry the posts, wire, rails and concrete along the run, and a bucket hauls spoil and gravel, so the crew is not dragging bundles across a pasture by hand. On a long fence, moving the material is half the labor, and it is the half people forget to plan for.

Forks take a bundle of posts, a roll of wire or a pallet of concrete mix straight from the truck to the stretch where it is needed. The bucket carries the spoil out of augered holes and brings gravel in for drainage under posts or for footings. Neither is glamorous, and both save hours.

Rent the right set

Figure out which steps your fence actually needs, then rent the attachments for those steps and confirm they fit the machine. A line fence in soft soil may need only a driver and forks. A fence with concrete-set corners and gates adds the auger. A replacement job through overgrowth adds the grapple. Not every job needs every tool, and each attachment adds to the rental.

Two compatibility checks matter. First, the attachment's hydraulic requirement has to match the skid steer, since some drivers and augers run on standard flow while others need high flow. Second, the machine's rated operating capacity has to handle the heavier attachments with a post or a bundle on them. Ask the owner what comes with the rental and whether the quick-attach matches. Read more about how to read an equipment spec sheet before you rent.

It also helps to sequence the rental around the attachments. Clear the line with the grapple first, then stage the posts and wire along the run with the forks, set the corners, ends and gates with the auger while the concrete has time to cure, and finish by driving the line posts between them. Ordered that way, each attachment goes on once, the machine makes one trip down the line per step, and the fence is plumb and tight when the last post goes in. A multi-day rental usually covers the whole sequence on a long run and costs far less than buying even one of these attachments outright.

What about insurance and damage protection?

Before operating rented equipment, contact your insurance provider to ask whether your policy covers liability for heavy equipment operation on your property or job site.

Eligible rentals booked through Big Rentals also include Basic Rental Protection at checkout. This added protection can help limit your financial responsibility for certain damage or theft events during the rental period.

For full details on how Basic Rental Protection works, including deductibles, exclusions and renter responsibilities, review our FAQ and platform terms.

The Short Version

• A skid steer does the whole fence job because the attachments cover clearing, setting and hauling
• Post driver: pounds T-posts, wood and pipe straight into soft to firm soil, fast and tight, with no hole or concrete
• Auger: drills the holes for corners, ends, gates and braces, for concrete-set posts, and for ground too hard to drive
• Grapple: clears brush, saplings and old fence off the line and pulls old posts on a replacement
• Forks and bucket: carry posts, wire and concrete along the run and haul spoil and gravel
• Rent only the attachments your fence needs, and confirm hydraulic flow, capacity and quick-attach match the machine

Browse equipment rentals near you.