Advice on digging 5ft post hole

[mudmauler]

What's the best way to dig a 5ft post hole? I'm going to be putting in a cantilever gate and need two holes at that depth. I don't own a post hole digger but researching them I have come to the realization that unless i make the hole very wide I'll never get these things to open enough to get to that depth. Most the diggers I've seen are even shorter than the hole I need. After many phone calls to rental places from Home Depot to Hertz the only thing that they guarantee will get that deep is a skid steer with auger and extension. After deposits and rental fees it would come out to around $450 for the day with around $200 being deposits. I didn't even ask about delivery after hearing that. Any ideas on how to go about this? Really don't want to spend that much cash to dig two holes.

[Joe H]

You can dig that by hand. It sucks but can be done for just two holes. You could hire it out also

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[Chew]

Jose and Hose-B

I would not want to tackle that right now in this heat and humidity.

[Big pig]

No expert, but I say wider hole with more concrete.
Don't the augers have extensions?

Good luck

[Charles]

Buy them pre-dug at any home center

[Laner7]

Use an auger. And then use a shovel to get the rest if you have too. Our place is pretty much all caliche and I've dug a 4 ft x 4ft hole in it by hand, but took probably 4 hours.

[Chew]

Buy them pre-dug at any home center

I just visualized telling my younger brother this and him saying...."Really? No crap. That's a good idea".

[sqiggy]

Are post hole diggers even 5ft long??

[cashcropper]

I once had a PHD in post hole digging. corner posts and gate posts are post hole digger deep. You just have to dig a wider hole.

[Artos]

Jose and Hose-B

I would not want to tackle that right now in this heat and humidity.

Yup...the locals down here call it manuel labor. This or an auger & tractor!!

[ltljohn]

Surely SOMEONE around Corpus has a tractor with a post hole digger attachment. May have to rent extension to get 5 feet. I think mine only goes about 4 feet.

[coop]

If you can find a rental place that has a "Little Beaver" post hole digger you should be able to get it done.
I've dug several that deep with one. The auger will drill 3' and with a 2' extension it will get your 5'. If you don't have rock that is. If you have good soil it shouldn't take more than 10 minutes per hole.

JC

[Charles]

I just visualized telling my younger brother this and him saying...."Really? No crap. That's a good idea".

I won't share how learned of "pre-dug" post holes but it involved an older brother

[Corn Sack]

It can be done. I used to have to set telephone poles by hand quite often. It sucks but it is doable

[boy wonder]

If renting an auger is not an option, just use some PVC pipe to make extensions for your post hole diggers. The only depth limitation will be your stamina.