OT: Pole barn - erecting poles

Dukester · Jun 12, 2013

I have 14 'green" poles 14-18' in length. I would like to use some of these poles to construct a small tractor shed (single low-slope roof - lean-to type). I'm sort of in the boonies and without hiring a crew, on my own to do this. My biggest challenge I see first is getting the posts in the ground. Can this be done by one person and moderately safe at the same time? I read on another tractor forum of a guy that just walked a 16' pole into a 4' hole!? I'm not feeble but no Arnold either. While I'm at it, I need a good way to get the poles from point A to point B on my property without dragging and tearing up most of our yard. I can envision a A-frame trailer with 2 bicycle wheels to hold the rear end while my 8N lifts the front, but not sure of a design... Thanks for ideas. Dukester

pikewi · Jun 12, 2013

Dukester, you shouldn't have any problem walking the poles into the holes. I have done it many times and at 6' and 150 lbs. I am no arnold either.
I think if you drag the poles with one end raised you will do minimal damage to your yard. JMHO
Pike

Geo-TH,In · Jun 12, 2013

I've walked telephone poles before. Nice to have help. Keep things away, in case it gets away from you.

If I have another pole barn built, I will hire it done. Getting too old. I will have 4 ft hole, per building code. May make holes over 4 ft and put concrete in hole and let set up. This may put an end to pole barns settling. Many people say poles rot off at ground level. I think I would also back fill with white rock. Just something to think about.
George

Kirk West · Jun 12, 2013

Reminds me of setting a 24" light pole on the farm. Dug the hole by hand and made a little down trench into it. My plan was to lay the pole in the back of the 42 International (with most of it up over the cab), and have my wife back up the truck while I guided it in with ropes and levers. She got it almost into the hole and almost straight up and she pushed in the clutch. Pole came down on top to the binder. Almost caused a divorce but pretty funny 30 years later

Bob Harvey · Jun 12, 2013

A method I have used with success for fence posts is fill the bottom of the hole with 8" - 12" of drain rock, brace the post plumb then fill hole to within 3" of the top with fine crushed rock and tamp every 12" or so. Then top off the last 3" with concrete sloped away from the post. You should treat your poles where they go into the ground. Works well and lasts for years. I did one at my mothers place 25 yrs ago and the posts are still sound (pressure treated wood). HTH

Anonymous-0 · Jun 12, 2013

i have moved many poles by using the 3 pt. raise one end block it up..straddle the pole..chain end to front..use 3 pt. to raise rear end..carefully drive to bldg. site..hth

Welding man · Jun 12, 2013

Ever heard of a Pike pole? 2 or 3 guys used to set telephone and electrical poles 30 feet tall with them before the utility trucks came along.I guess I'm the only one old enough to remember that.

kris Jensen · Jun 12, 2013

As an ex telephone co. employee, I have set many poles. rule was 5 ft' for a 25 ft pole, 6ft. for a thirty five ft. pole. What is your frost line?
I dislike setting in a bit of concrete, like near the top, That will guarantee it will rot off at the ground line. If you want to set in concrete get a sonotube a bit bigger than your pole (slip it over pole before planting) and extend it about six inches above the ground line and fill with concrete. A 14 ft pole can be walked into the hole fairly easily.
they can also be dragged very easy by lifting one end about four inches off the ground.
happy building A friend built a shelter for an A-C wf using 4x4 x12 ft. I would use 6x6

smallercrawler · Jun 12, 2013

Have used gin poles, are they similar to pike poles??

Dukester · Jun 12, 2013

5" avg depth frost and 8-10" extreme according to NGS. I live in northern Mississippi.

Dukester · Jun 12, 2013

Thanks, i take it you mean the tractor has the pole under its belly when you say straddle it? This seems too easy ?!

Dukester · Jun 12, 2013

I did a "test" today with one pole to see how far i could get it
up...(that doesnt sound right ), by walking it up. Got about
halfway up the pole but got too heavy and had to heave aside.
Didnt help that pole was wet and I didnt have a hole to work
against..not sure at this point.

Welding man · Jun 12, 2013

This is a Pike pole. Still available with handles up to 20ft. long in ash or aluminum.

ScoutB · Jun 12, 2013

I set 16' poles by myself with no problem. I rolled them around using a regular 2-wheel dolly. Lay the dolly on its back next to the pole, parallel to the pole and about halfway down its length. Lift one end of the pole and swing the pole over the dolly. If the balance is even close you can roll it around the yard with one hand.

teddy52food · Jun 12, 2013

Put a wide board in the hole so the butt can slide without catching the dirt.

Ken N Tx · Jun 13, 2013

(quoted from post at 16:46:07 06/12/13) Dukester, you shouldn't have any problem walking the poles into the holes. I have done it many times and at 6' and 150 lbs. I am no arnold either.
I think if you drag the poles with one end raised you will do minimal damage to your yard. JMHO
Pike

No problem...

souNdguy · Jun 13, 2013

i put up lights around my riding areena. they were 20' 4x4 I dug the holes oversized, and then dug a sloping channel.. and slid the poles tot he channel.. then walked them up.

to transport them i use a hand dolley set a pole on the dolley. ratchet strap or bunji in good, then set the other end on my drawbar and strapped n good and went.

like a telephone pole trailer. ie.. strap on rear wheels.. and pole is the frame.

Danny in CO · Jun 13, 2013

I set several tall & heavy poles for my pole barn using my 8N. I got a 12"2x8 and cut a v notch in the end. I then used a 50" rope and hooked it at one end under the rear end of the tractor and the other end about 3/4 up the pole with one end of the pole by the hole and the other end set up on blocks as high as I could lift it. I put the 2x8 in the middle of the rope slanted towards the pole. I then drove the tractor forwards pulling the pole up. It helps to have someone keep the 2x8 straight in line with the rope. It also helps if the hole has a slanted side to keep the pole lined up.

JMOR · Jun 13, 2013

Just added a little pipe to my SMTA 3 point:

Dukester · Jun 13, 2013

Ken - how tall are those poles (and how deep are the holes they are sitting in)?
Dukester

souNdguy · Jun 13, 2013

now that's a gin pole!

Nice SMTA

Reminds me of how I set my topper on my rops on my 5000 and 4600. didn't have a loader that would lift that high / enough reach clearance, so i chained my 3pt boom pole into my loader bucket and then used that to lift the topper.

JMOR · Jun 13, 2013

Necessity: mother of invention!

souNdguy · Jun 13, 2013

add in a slight redneck mentality. and some chain and you have a story to tell..

Ed S. · Jun 13, 2013

Points off for not using duck tape, tho! :lol:

es

JK-NY · Jun 13, 2013

I set all the 6x6 16foot treated poles for my pole barn by "walking" them up alone- others have given you good ideas how to move them to your site - get them pretty close to your hole, I cleaned a little track from the base of the pole to the hole with a shovel and start walking them up , when partway up make it go into the hole and it will be easier to get it all the way. I set up stakes/batter boards and had a string to set them to once each side was placed in the hole.

OT: Pole barn - erecting poles

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