Heavy-Duty Post Driver Mounts On Forklift

Heavy-Duty Post Driver Mounts On Forklift FENCING Tools 29-3-35 When it comes to driving posts, Arthur Argo doesn't mess around. His post-driving hammer alone weighs in at 1,000 lbs. with an impact force of 114,000 lbs. Though the unit can also be mounted on tractors (60 hp and above), his favorite carrier is a rough-terrain forklift. "My rough-terrain forklift is maneuverable. It turns short and has a differential lock and a shuttle transmission, which most older tractors don't have," says Argo. "When you finish driving posts, you can put the forklift back in place." The post driver worked so well on his own ranch that Argo builds them for sale. Prices range from $7,000 to $10,000, depending on extras. Although they're expensive, Argo says they're built to last. "Some of our post drivers have now been in use for up to 10 years, driving up to 60 miles of fence a year with no rebuild work needed," says Argo. "We can mount them on a 3-pt hitch, front or back." He usually has a few rough terrain forklifts on hand as well. He says he can pick them up for $10,000 to $20,000 depending on condition. He prefers the 4-WD models when he can get them. Argo's latest design includes a pivot point mount option, which allows the post driver to be swiveled to either side as needed. This makes it easier to approach an existing fence. The operator can drive down an existing fence line, stop and back in at a slight angle to drive a post in the old line. "The pivot also makes it easier to drive a post in rocky soils," suggests Argo. "If the post glances off a rock or shifts slightly to one side or another, the operator can pivot the driver to follow the post and continue driving it straight down." The pivot also makes it easier to set posts at an angle. The pivot allows the drive to swing out a full 40? to either side of center, plus allows a 4-way tilt to right, left, back or ahead. At the same time, a hydraulics side shift allows 10 in. of sideways positioning. The hammer itself is fabricated from a 10-in. H-beam and rides on Teflon blocks. With no springs or cables, maintenance is kept to a minimum, says Argo. The entire unit weighs in at about 1,800 lbs. and can handle posts up to 10 ft. high. Special hammers are available for posts up to 14 ft. high. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Arthur Argo, Argo Line Sales, P.O. Box 849, Plains, Mont. 59859 (ph 406 250-8389; email: dmitch@argoline.com; website: www. argoline.com).

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