How to Dig Fence Post Holes with a Skid Steer Auger in Pleasant View, Utah

Putting in a new fence is one of the most satisfying upgrades you can make to a property in Northern Utah — and one of the most dreaded, if you plan on digging every post hole by hand. Between rocky benchland soil, hard-packed clay, and summer ground that bakes like concrete, hand augers and clamshell diggers turn a weekend project into a week of sore shoulders. There's a better way: a skid steer with an auger attachment can drill a clean, plumb post hole in under a minute.

Why a Skid Steer Auger Beats Hand Digging

A powered auger on a Bobcat S185 skid steer gives you three things hand tools can't: speed, consistency, and torque. Hydraulic power chews through compacted clay and gravelly soil that stops a manual post-hole digger cold. Every hole comes out the same diameter and depth, which makes setting posts straight far easier. And because the machine does the work, you can realistically set dozens of posts in a single day instead of a handful.

Choosing the Right Auger Size

K4 Leasing rents skid-steer auger attachments in three bit sizes, and matching the bit to the job matters. A good rule of thumb: your hole should be about three times the width of the post.

6" auger — T-posts, chain-link line posts, and smaller round posts.
12" auger — the workhorse for standard 4x4 wooden fence posts; leaves room for concrete around the post.
24" auger — heavy gate posts, corner posts, deck footings, and pergola or pavilion piers.

For depth, plan on getting below the frost line — in Box Elder and Weber County, roughly 30–36 inches is a common target for fence posts, and burying about one-third of the post's total length is a solid guideline for stability.

How to Dig Post Holes with a Skid Steer Auger

Call 811 first. Have Blue Stakes locate buried utilities a few days before you dig — it's free and it's the law.
Lay out your fence line. Stretch a string line and mark each post location with paint or a stake, typically every 6–8 feet.
Position and plumb. Center the auger bit over the mark and make sure it hangs vertical before you start drilling.
Drill in stages. Bore down a foot or so, lift to clear the spoil, and repeat until you hit depth. This keeps the bit from binding in heavy clay.
Set your posts the same day. Open holes collapse, fill with water, and become a hazard — dig, set, and brace as you go.

What It Costs to Rent

The Bobcat S185 runs $200 for 8 hours or $250 for 24 hours, and multi-day rentals drop to $200 per day. There's a refundable $100 hold, plus an optional $50 damage waiver if you'd like extra peace of mind. Pair it with the auger attachment and you have a complete post-hole rig for a fraction of what a fencing contractor charges for the digging alone.

Need to get the machine to your property? Our equipment trailer (10,000 lb GVWR with an 18 ft deck and 2 ft dovetail) handles the S185, and we have a 2 5/16" hitch adapter if your truck needs one.

Serving Pleasant View and All of Northern Utah

K4 Leasing is a family-run rental business at 8635 S Highway 89 in Willard, an easy drive from Pleasant View, North Ogden, Farr West, Harrisville, Plain City, Brigham City, Perry, and the rest of Box Elder and Weber County. We operate by appointment, so your equipment is ready when you arrive.

Book online at rentwithk4.com or call/text 385-326-5825.