Setting a Utility Pole with a Tractor

Today we are installing a used utility pole. We are planning are using it for a dusk till dawn light. We will be using a tractor with a front end loader to install it. We also use the tractor with a pole hole digger to auger out the hole for the utility pole to be set in. We try our best to make this job as safe as possible with the equipment we have.
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Country View Acres
P.O. Box 469
Robinson, IL 62454
We live in southeastern Illinois on a 41 acres homestead. We just finished building our log cabin overlooking our pond. We are trying to grow our own food and raise livestock. Follow us on our journey living the rural life and developing our property and becoming more self sufficient.
#utilitypole
#lightpole
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[@pupdog7374]

My local electric utility just installed a new utility pole in the rear part of my property. I watched the installation from the beginning (digging the hole) to the end (transporting the pole to the hole and then standing it up and putting it in the hole). They did not do what you said regarding grabbing the pole at the top of with a bucket truck lift. What they did do was use the same piece of equipment to did the hole and raise the pole and drop it in the hole. After digging the hole, the auger bit retracted the auger so that it was stored parallel to the arm. Then they extended the arm and moved it over the middle of the pole. Then they retracted a cable that was on the extended arm and tied it to the center of the pole. Then they raised the pole about five feet off the ground and a second worker moved the pole so that one end of the pole was over the hole. They slowly lowered 1-2 feet so that one end of the pole could then be angled into the hole. Once it stated going into the hole, the equipment operator stated raising the pole and it slid right in the hole. The cable remained attached until the pole was level.

[@batpherlangkharkrang7976]

Hi...... Evan, thank you for sharing your video homestead 👋 bye 👋 bye 👋 bye 👋 🎥👍👍👍

[@TomClifford-pe8lo]

Great to see people doing real work for themselves and the satisfaction that it brings.Well done and thank you for a great video.

[@hal4utube]

You remind me of me. Not that I have ever tried to plant a utility pole but most of my life I have worked alone so I had to use my head and dream up ways to do a two or three man job by myself. God has given me a good mind and I see He did the same for you. Putting the 2 by 6 in the back of the hole was a major idea to keep the pole from getting stuck in the back wall of the hole. Good job.

[@patrickbear7261]

I'm glad you slept on it and gave it some thought, AWESOME JOB. 🇺🇸👍🇺🇸👍

[@csnanny1882]

Is there anything you can’t do ? I was so glad when you stopped and said you were going to think about this. Also glad you realized you were alone and how dangerous that was. You have put so much work into that place , it looks ten times better than it did when you bought it. You and Rebecca work so good together.The Lord will reward you and bless you for your hard work. I am always looking for more videos to see what you will tackle next. You are a good man Evan, and Rebecca is a good lady and helper.I pray for many blessings for you.

[@michaelmactavish1728]

kubota tractor has more lifting reach height wich is nice

[@Tonetwisters]

Amen to ALL that! God bless 'em!

[@HiddenHeightsFarm]

Great job man... Way to be creative and even more important safe.. Thanks for sharing.

[@AlanDevereaux-f7y]

I just put in 2 poles and have 2 more. Thanks for video. Tractor helped.

[@AfterTheRains]

I was happy to see the self preservation kick in. Good job done well.

[@robertoler3795]

done many a pole like this nice job...if you do it again...put some sand then crushed stone at the bottom and mix stones in with the dirt also at the top widen the hole a bit ours have been up some as long as 60 years :) my grandfather put them in be safe and healthy

[@cwit8846]

Thank you sir. I'm a yr in noob to this self sufficient life and yes all this heavy equipment working solo is extremely dangerous

[@Brookside975]

i LOVE YOUR TENACITY AND THAT YOU THINK OUTSIDE OF THE BOX TO SOLVE PROBLEMS!

[@patwanner1781]

You guys are the hardest working people on KZbin. Your place looks better and better every time I see it.thanks for sharing🐓🐓🐓

[@edsecorr7812]

Great job keep up the great work love your videos thank you

[@jasonmcbride2111]

A country boy will survive 💪💪 stay safe & god bless ..

[@kcphillips1000]

Always best to put plenty of thought into a complicated job before you start . Cuts down the risk of accidents and mistakes especially when working on your own .A good job well done !

[@duramaxpete5200]

Worked for an electric utility for 47 years pole setting depth is calculated at 10% of pole length plus 2 feet.

[@triciahill216]

Why isn’t it necessary to put concrete in the hole around the pole like a lot of people do when setting smaller posts?

[@duramaxpete5200]

@@triciahill216 The reason not to put concrete around the poles is that the chemicals in the concrete will rot the wood faster than in natural ground, plus the work to dig out the concrete when the pole rots.

[@triciahill216]

@@duramaxpete5200 Thank you.

[@rayjayks]

Hopefully you got all the metal picked up before the mower finds it. Enjoyed your video. Glad you thought it though!

[@michellecook2739]

Exactly what I was thinking...picking up the metal.

[@cleopatra4473]

Hooray....I'm so happy it went into the hole. Great job.

[@juliedelvecchio856]

Great job!!!

[@idafayegibson1872]

LOVE Y'ALLS Country life!

[@lindasmith6654]

wow....good job, liked that you took safety over just getting it done.

[@ventrac]

This was a unique project to watch. Good for you to pause and rethink how to do it safely. Finished project looks great!

[@cedarmeadowsfarmsc9311]

Whew, I held my breath a time or two....good job as usual :)

[@olddawgdreaming5715]

Thanks for sharing with us Evan. Too bad you couldn’t save the bolts, they become usable for so many things around there. Fred.

[@MrBigblueford]

Those old bolts are useful for drawbar pins if its not a major load you are pulling - light weight stuff only.

[@fredduncan1610]

Great job, the trench really seemed to help.

[@arlynsmith9196]

Very nice job and nice improvisation. You are living the dream!

[@141poolplayer]

You did one hell of a job on that with what you had to work with. This is one of my favorite channels. You have such a nice piece of property. I would love to live out in the country. God bless you and your family.

[@joshuaoutten2817]

10% of pole length plus 2ft is what we use at the power company... Realistically if the pole is 25ft then you only need It 4 1/2 feet deep... But very nice video and well done. I love the creativity!

[@boathead22000]

I was thinking about putting the 2x6 in the hole and instantly there it was...lol. I think you did it perfect.......good job Evan

[@canuckyank82]

Super solution. This is getting exciting!

[@colinomeara1608]

Thank You ! I really enjoyed that. Cheers

[@workhardlivefree3818]

We used to clean up old oak walking beams from old pumpjacks that were saturated in crude oil by dragging them down a gravel road and then through a grassy field to polish them... They looked like new when we were done with them

[@pierrelabbe3173]

Love Canada Merci wow 😮 Montréal 😊

[@daviddeering1101]

Growing up I put poles like that for signs, the secret as I was taught was to use the 2x6 in the hole, then walk the pole in the hole with the end of the pole sliding into hole, the 2x6 is the leverage point.

[@arvilpollard7026]

We put one in without any equipment that was as big at the bottom as yours and 18 ft long for a power service pole for a mobile home. Took 4 men to stand it up... Heavy job for sure. We started lifting at small end and just walked it up... We were very happy to finally get it in the hole... Lol

[@cathiwim]

Straight as an arrow! Good job!

[@janfrench4691]

Good job Evan.

[@josephbrown-ut9ty]

JudithB Our electric coop replaces poles on a 20 yr schedule guessing. I had them leave the old pole and they brought the next one they changed out too. The plan is to use sections to replace old ties on my fence line and plant sections to make a platform for 275 gal water tanks on the north end of my barn. The east and west side will have gutters to feed the tanks. The tanks will feed a drip system in my gardens! Lots of uses for those old poles and saves the electric co from hauling them away. Have you thought about putting a roll bar on your tractor??? Great video as usual!

[@ingear8433]

After 2 attempts with a strap, i used your method and got it right the first time. This really works with little effort, Ok the hole and trench part is work.

[@Steven-gv1ke]

I would have done it exactly the way he did it except instead of being under it, I would have used a strap and pulled it up into the hole so if something goes wrong, it doesn't fall on me or the tractor.

[@joannak4640]

I always enjoy everything you do to upgrade your homestead. Looking awesome as usual ❤️ Thank you for sharing

[@ithacacomments4811]

Some farmers tar the end of the pole before setting it to prevent rot....used motor oil works too.

[@robertoler3795]

that is a good hint, the motor oil works great

[@grizzchris64]

Nice job setting that pole. Safety first. Really enjoy your videos.

[@bigDH123]

Two thumbs up Evan, it worked out perfect.

[@peggysizemore4207]

yep that was fine maneuvering!

[@jaynomeroma6829]

Clever man !! well done Evan, very ingenious of you, thinking of the way to get the job done safely.

[@rrohret21]

My father once flipped his AC D-17 over backwards when the loader was up high on a hill. It bent the exhaust pipe but after uprighting it, it was ran just fine. He said that lack of seatbelts saved his life.

[@Pembroke1]

Helpful tip - I know in some parts of Canada, 10% of a 30-foot pole goes in the ground with 2 feet below frost = 5 feet. However, you are right about 6 feet deep. In a perfect world, the last foot is for crushed rock or limestone about 8 to 12" for drainage and to help with stabilization over time. You did a fanatic job, pat yourself on your back

[@ithacacomments4811]

Good job!

[@memoriesonabudget]

Great project. Perfect tips for my up coming project, thanks. Have a wonderful, and Blessed day.

[@mrbilky]

I admire your forethought for safety and nice to see taking a breath and thinking it through well done!

[@yeelinli1]

Great job, enjoyed your skills on the tractor weaving in an out of the trees,Stay Safe

[@maryallen6334]

I am so pleased you saw the danger and took safety measures. Lots of farmers don't.

[@geoffh1173]

A great example of your ' problem-solving skills', excellent job well done. I thought when you drove down your driveway with the pole, it was going to be a classic comedy moment, but NO, just great driving! Thank you for sharing, I look forward to your videos.

[@jim7273]

Good job and glad you figured out a way to do it safely. good idea on the 2x6!

[@ronwolford3782]

Good thinking and good job. Stay safe!

[@millerurbanhomesteading8632]

good job.... nice light pole....

[@johnsdsl]

Very nice attitude displayed. May suggest a puff or two of air in the front tires.

[@tjorlandi1892]

10%+2ft is the standard minimum depth set by RUS for electric utility poles. More depth is better, especially for shorter poles like this and in cold climates that have deep frost. The most important part in keeping the pole plumb is compacting the backfill. Dry concrete mix topped with the 2-ft of the soil that came out of the hole works well. Always a little sketchy setting poles with a front loader like this!

[@maggiesue4825]

I used to run with a rescue squad in a farm-filled county, and a lot of our accident calls were tractor calls. Glad you changed your approach - KEEP SAFE!! Your place is really coming along - looks great!

[@Steven-gv1ke]

You could have also put a short tow strap, chain or heavy duty rope around the pole and hook it back onto the arms of the tractor behind the bucket so that there is no possibility of it slipping off the tractor bucket. It's basically a choker line. We use them on pipes in the oilfield when it's moved by a crane.

[@RCAFpolarexpress]

Good day Sir, you were great on taking the time to analyse the danger of that situation. Yes re thinking is taking the time do analyse to eliminate potential incoming danger !!! Keep up the good works Sir !!! Cheers ( new subs !!! )

[@Tomhohenadel]

Great job Evan. With your limited equipment, you did an excellent job.

[@jeffsmith7840]

10% plus two for hole depth. ⚡️⚡️

[@havenpines]

I have 6 poles to set, the trench and the backstop were brilliant! Thanks for sharing

[@wileycoyotesr8623]

Smart install. Anxious to see the light mounting. I was waiting for you to pre-drill the mounting bracket before raising the pole but figured you know best. Good video. Thanks.

[@big-ticket]

Future reference, you can wrap a chain around the center of the pole and hook it to your loader bucket. That's how we set all of my building posts and they were over 20 feet.

[@garybonz]

For future reference, put a pretty good taper on the bottom end of the pole so it goes into the hole WAY easier.

[@laurietinto5211]

That was well thought out 😊😊😊

[@lindajc123]

Back in the "olden days", people did not have access or could not afford every tool at their disposal in order to do a job. Ingenuity took over, and self-help tools were invented on the spot. We used to call it jerry rigging. Good job in taking what tools you had and figuring out how to do it safely. Smart Man!

[@jamesharless5357]

Nice job!

[@robinhoff4598]

Great job

[@gkbullfrog]

Hi used to be a lineman for AT&T and we would set a 25 foot pole 5 feet in the ground

[@CountryViewAcres]

Good to hear. I should be good. Thanks.

[@christopher9226]

Scaffolding dig hole deep and a tractor. Ree bar fence post chicken wire 5 bags dry cement for anchor

[@markmccoy1304]

Excellent job Buddy. You know what I learned from this video? The Tractor! Look what you can accomplish with this old 2 wheel drive Tractor. A little time, a good head on your shoulders and you can conquer a great deal. Was this a gas or diesel engine? So I must ask this question for your viewers. Do we need enclosed cab Tractor's with heat and air, twin pedals to go forward and back? Stereos and air ride seats? Yes they are super nice and very comfortable. I guess if money is no issue then there's no reason not to have it. Now for all day farmers, cutting and bailing, I think they deserve it. Thanks for sharing. Mark.

[@dannygoin6552]

Job well done

[@Living-The-Dream]

Great job !! that worked out really well 👍🤠🍻

[@danielchapa2112]

Good Job but there is always more than one way to do something, reminds me how we used to apply a little Boy Scout know how and rope craft to put in our Totem Poles at Camp. 😊

[@silkedavid8876]

I admire your perseverance. This should have bee a 2 person job, really. Hope you are getting a 2nd person in to help fix the light fitting!

[@ithacacomments4811]

Safety first! My dad ran over himself with his own tractor once.

[@janetkaylor1131]

Do you have a tree or something to use a come along

[@sharonanspach2734]

great thinking! great job!!

[@stevemartinez6757]

I've done the same thing and had the same problems/concerns. The answer was a second person and a second tractor or pickup truck with a strap tied up high on the pole pulling at the same time you are lifting from the opposite direction. Glad you were able to get it done safely.

[@Israel-Fekadu]

Good job

[@abdullahalmahmud8018]

10% of the pole height+2 ft is the minimum set depth for Fortis Alberta but it will depend on your soil condition and pole class too.

[@mackellyman5642]

That took some "HAIR" to attempt by yourself... The ESR for the private property pole is a 25' pole with 5' in the ground and backfill compacted to specification. Also, ESR spec calls for a 6' -3/4 PVC pipe permanently attached to the bottom of the pole with a glued cap at the bottom and a removable cap at the top for a tape measure to be dropped in to verify your depth. Excellent content.

[@erichemard7066]

I worked in high line for years. A good rule of thumb to remember (based on the soil you have) is the rule of 5…take the length of your pole and divide by 5 and that’s your hole depth. A 20’ pole a 4’ hole, a 25’ pole a 5’ hole, 30’ pole a 6’ pole…

[@stanleyjohnston5876]

great job!

[@js8039]

During the first attempt, I could literally see the pucker factor engaging.

[@DEADB33F]

Longer tine extensions with a brace across at the tips would have made it easier as would have given you considerably more lift height. Do you recon you could get away with less depth if you backfilled with a few ft of concrete at the bottom?

[@kingkong7617]

That was a excellent idea of digging a trench and putting a 2x6 in the hole so the pole would slide in and that made it a lot safer. I think it would have been easier on you if you had mounted the light, one that will come on when it is dark and go off when it is day time, on the pole before you set it in place and hooked the wire to the light and run the wire down the pole to where ever you are going to put the plug in box. Then you could connect the wire carrying the power to that box and light.

[@djscrizzle]

Back in the day before powered equipment, a crew of four to six groundmen would raise poles with nothing more than a spoon & spade, a butt board and 4 pike poles, plus a x shaped fixture called a dead man. Essentially, the pole was set in the Deadman toward the top end, then the buttboard was slid down the rear of the hole. The Deadman was brought closer, as three or four men with their pikes pushed up. At the critical angle, the pole would drop into the hole with a loud thunk sound. A groundman with a level sighting scope would walk 20 to 40 feet away and sight in the pole as other groundmen leveled the pole and filled the dirt back in, tamping every 6 inch lift with their digging bars. Once set, the lineman would do their thing as the job requires, with the assistance of their groundmen.

[@chriswootten3449]

Good job 👍 good thinking safety first we all need to slow down a bit think ahead before do any projects

[@dougdickey7381]

Those three point augurs have to be the most aggravating tractor attachment...I have one, and it's done alot of work, but it causes alot of aggravation too.

[@trappercaraway6507]

Good video but the next one you put up dig hole 3 ft deeper place a few big rocks then gravel in that 3ft section so water will drain away from the bottom of the pole better. Also seal both of the ends with cheap roll on bed liner will extend the life of the pole. Also if you can or know someone who can weld you can make a pole cradle to go end of your forks to make it easier to lift and raise and set the next one it is two bars that bolt clamps on the forks the bars have free rolling pipe the hole length of bars and ur forks keep it from going to far side to side but other than that you did everything perfectly proud of you sir

[@larrykluckoutdoors8227]

Nice job, that is how I do it.

[@stuarthartstein1647]

WOW Evan, is all I can say about that almost impossible wood utility pole setting job! I take my hat off to you for proving the old cliche " If at first you don't succeed, try, try again! Absolutely a brilliant idea to dig a bevelled trench as your pole guide with a farm tractor!!!! One more man on the ground would certainly have helped out greatly, but you managed it yourself, in the safest way possible with the limited equipment you had! I guess 3 or 4 bags of concrete at the base might have helped the pole from settling and leaning in time but now that it is in, you can always just touch the sides a bit to straighten out any leaning over time. I have installed metal lightpoles before, but I cheat? I used a bucket truck or a "post truck" with a rigging tool on the top end. Either way Evan, you got the job done and done well. I would love to see the luminaire and photo control installed now when you can? Another great idea to install a utility outlet on the pole when needed to power tools and such. Use either a plastic outdoor or aluminum single gang box with a GFCI for grounding safety! You are most likely going to run outdoor UF 3 conductor cable? It would be a good idea to use either outdoor gray PVC conduit, if not aluminum or galvanized metal conduit from about 6 to 10 inches underground and up to the light fixture.after feeding the convenience outlet box. This is so no animals can chew through the plastic insulation and create a short circuit? Best of luck and stay safe to you and the family!

[@jbraeslamb]

You need three guys with ropes Evan to keep it centred just like they used to raise the big top circus poles.

[@janelledowney]

I had to laugh at you maneuvering the pole between the trees. You reminded me of a dog going through a doorway with a stick!

[@selador11]

In my early 40s, (I'm 62 now.), for my homestead, I hand dug a hole 2 feet by teen feet. Then set a 35 foot pole in that hole. For my main power pole. On my own. By hand. No equipment available. Just had to dig out the side of the top of the hole a bit, guide the end of the pole into that, and pick up the end of the pole and keep walking underneath it. Yeah, there was a point there where I thought it was going to crush me! But I got-er-done!

[@selador11]

Ok, I posted this before I saw that you also cut some of the side of the post hole out, so the pole would catch on the other side. Great minds! When you have to get something done by yourself, you just do what you have to! (Wish I had had a tractor! LOL)

[@stephenalexander6721]

Hole depth should be ten percent of the pole length plus two feet, but bever less than five feet. Your five foot hole is fine.

[@crslyrn]

Glad to see you were able to get the post set. Might've been a little safer if you'd talked a couple of buddies into giving you a hand when setting the post. Just saying. Like you said, the post could've tipped over & got you. Stay safe.