Last updated Mar 27, 2026
Whether you’re a DIY’er looking to complete one simple backyard project or a contractor tackling customer jobs, choosing the correct drill type and auger for a project significantly increases the ease and efficiency of your drilling job. Let’s explore which choices are the best for your project.
Mechanical or Hydraulic?
Depending on the project, you might find that a mechanical earth drill performs better than a hydraulic earth drill. However, the best option comes down to a few different factors including borehole diameter, soil type and maneuverability needs.
Our Mechanical Earth Drills are ideal for drilling relatively small holes, ranging from 1.5 to 12-inch diameters, in sandy or loamy soil profiles. You might use this drill for landscaping, erecting signs or installing fence posts. DIY’ers often find the Mechanical Earth Drill to be the superior option for home improvement projects. With additional kits, these drills extend past simple post hole drilling. Little Beaver Mechanical Earth Drills offer the option to pair with a horizontal boring kit to bore up to 50 feet under driveways, sidewalks and parking lots.
Our Hydraulic Earth Drills have twice the torque of our mechanical models, which makes them better for tasks demanding larger holes up to 16 inches. This could include projects like building a pole barn or monitoring groundwater. These high-powered machines are optimal for use in frozen soil, clay and rocky sediments.
Both earth drill options feature compact, lightweight designs that give them a small footprint and allow them to reach areas where larger models and skid steers can’t go.
Hydraulic Earth Drills can take mobility one step further. Our Towable Earth Drill conveniently attaches to a trailer hitch for hauling to and from the jobsite while the UN-Towable can fit in the back of most SUVs and pickup trucks. They’re also able to drill right next to buildings and other structures. For the toughest jobs, we offer the Big Beaver. Rental centers often choose to stock both mechanical and hydraulic earth drills to appeal to a wider audience of users, including DIY’ers and contractors.
Selecting an Auger
Auger selection can be just as important as drill selection. Roughly 80% of projects will use a standard auger with standard points and blades, which work best in loamy, sandy soil profiles. Typically, these augers range in size between 1.5 to 16 inches, reaching depths of up to 36 inches. Some manufacturers offer additional points and blades that help to expand the use of the standard auger. For example, a carbide blade is best for the toughest types of ground, such as asphalt, dense clay and frozen dirt.
When there’s harsh, rocky terrain underfoot, you need an equally rugged auger. Heavy-duty augers are designed with features like larger flighting and tougher cutting blades. Little Beaver also has heavy-duty points and blades to slice through harder ground, like gravel.
To choose the best auger for your project, it’s important to understand the terrain you will be drilling in. It’s also important to recognize if you’re going to be using the same drill for more than one project. While a post hole might be drilled in an area with loamy soil, a sign might be installed in harsher soil conditions, which will require different auger types and, possibly, different auger diameters.
Making the Best of Your Project
Little Beaver offers an expansive library of informational resources to help you make your project a success. In the FAQ section of our website, you can find detailed answers to questions that may arise as you drill deeper into a project. We’re also happy to have you contact us directly by email or phone.
Last updated Mar 30, 2026
Fences keep children and pets inside your yard while keeping intruders or unwanted critters out. They can also be useful for privacy and noise reduction. Once you’ve decided that you want to build a fence, the biggest question is: do you hire a contractor or do the work yourself?
Do it Yourself, with the Right Equipment
If you choose to install a fence yourself, make sure you have more than enough time to work on it. There’s bound to be unexpected obstacles, so project completion will likely take longer than anticipated. You’ll also need to familiarize yourself with any local zoning ordinances that regulate fencing.
If you go your own way, see if you can find a neighbor, friend or relative who has completed a similar job so you can lean on them for advice and maybe a helping hand. For any DIY fencing project, it is imperative that you call 811 to have underground utilities marked. This will minimize your liability and help keep you safe from dangerous digging accidents.
Fencing is hard work, but it’s easier when you have the right equipment. Little Beaver earth drills are versatile, and you may want to consider buying one if you anticipate more projects, such as running wires under your sidewalk for lighting, running pipe under your driveway for irrigation, planting a garden or installing drain tile. But if you only foresee needing an earth drill for this single task, there are rental centers nationwide that offer our equipment.
Mechanical earth drills are the most popular choice among fencing contractors, as they offer swift speed and light weight. This model is ideal for sandy or loamy soils with few obstructions.
Hydraulic earth drills are best for areas with exceptionally rocky sediment or hard clay. Little Beaver Towable Earth Drills can be a convenient option for pulling the equipment right up to your work area, while our UN-Towable Earth Drills can be stowed in the back of a pick-up truck or SUV. Both are hydraulic.
Mechanical and Hydraulic Earth Drills speed up the fencing process as they can drill a hole in less than one minute with minimal effort. Our models also make drilling safer for one person. Little Beaver’s steel torque tube protects the operator from dangerous kickback by transferring that kickback from the auger to the power source.
Hire a Contractor
Naturally, contractors know where to find the highest quality materials, so you’re more likely to get a top-notch product in that regard. Their many years of experience equip them to handle difficult scenarios with ease. Is the area you seek to fence flat or hilly with a steep terrace? This may be difficult to navigate on your own.
Ask yourself if this fence is a temporary fix or a structure that you hope will last for many years to come. An error made during a DIY installation might compromise the integrity of the rest of the fence. Given their level of experience, a contractor is more likely to get it right the first time. If the fence will be especially large or one that requires going deep underground, you might be better off hiring a professional. Read online reviews and seek recommendations from friends to ensure you hire someone who is safe and reliable.
Fencing Finale
There are many factors to consider when deciding between DIY and hiring a contractor for your fencing project: your time, budget and handyman abilities. If you do the work yourself, Little Beaver Earth Drills will help you achieve your project goals effectively. We also have a vast library of informative blogs on our website to help guide you through the process and answer any questions you might have. If you have questions, contact us directly by phone or email.
Last updated Mar 27, 2026
Maximize potential while minimizing expenses
Providing quality services while maintaining a healthy bottom line will forever be high on a contractor’s priority list. Renting drilling equipment is one way to maximize productivity and potential while minimizing expenses. For specialty projects and testing the waters on new services, equipment rental can be a cost-efficient option if you’re looking to provide more without over-investing.
There are endless opportunities that rental centers can help a fencing crew tackle. For example, rental centers offer a range of machines and attachments for safe one-person operation. Availability will vary from center to center, but you can often find our Mechanical and Hydraulic earth drills as well as the Kwik-Trench in a variety of sizes — perfectly scalable for construction and landscape projects.
Drilling Through Soft Soil
Looking for a post-hole auger that is lightweight, high-speed and digs quickly and cleanly? See what your local rental center has for mechanical earth augers. Little Beaver Mechanical Earth Drills power through sand, silt and loam, creating clean 6- to 8-inch diameter holes for applications such as fencing, deck building, landscaping and more. Digging a post hole takes less than a minute, meaning a crew can accomplish a lot with just a two-day rental. Need to bore under something? With Little Beaver’s optional horizontal boring attachments, you can easily rent the equipment to bore under sidewalks and driveways to install landscape lighting, water systems and much more.
Tackling Tough Soil
For tougher soils — like clay, rock or frozen ground — a Little Beaver Hydraulic Earth Drill may be the best choice. These machines offer more power than mechanical drills, and our models still allow one-person drilling. With their extra torque, hydraulic earth drills can handle augers up to 16 inches in diameter and can drill depths of up to 30 feet with the right auger. Little Beaver Hydraulic Earth Drills also include a reversible feature that makes them ideal for quick removal from the ground.
With even more power and potential, UN-Towable and Towable Earth Drills have a balanced torque-free design to enhance operator safety when drilling through uneven terrain. These earth augers are ideal for fencing, landscaping, decks, sign installation and recreational applications.
Effortless Trenching
Mini trencher machines at your local rental center are a great solution for digging trenches. Little Beaver’s Kwik-Trench can dig a 12-inch-deep trench at speeds of up to 30 feet per minute. They make installing lawn sprinklers, electric dog fencing, low voltage wiring, plumbing and drainage lines and wire cable the work of an afternoon. Silt fencing, landscape edging, root pruning and bed preparation also become faster and less backbreaking.
Can Renting Work for Me?
When it comes to one-time projects — those special requests that pop up in conjunction with a current project but aren’t something you’re looking to offer regularly — renting lets crews get the job done without a costly, long-term commitment. Depending on the length of the rental, the team can even knock out several small projects with the same machine, optimizing efficiency. Planning will help ensure you get the most out of the rental.
Repeatedly renting the same equipment can also be cost-efficient, to a point. It’s a great way for small businesses looking to expand their services to test out different machines and attachments before committing. For equipment you don’t plan on using every day, renting rather than buying saves money since the rental center takes on the initial cost of the machine and any maintenance needs. However, it’s important to keep in mind there’s a limit to the cost benefits of renting if your crew is frequently using a specific machine.
When used wisely, renting can be a valuable tool for contractors looking to provide more while spending less. The fastest way to assess rental potential is by taking a trip to your local rental center or talking to the manufacturers who supply their equipment. We’re happy to answer your questions. Contact our team today.
Last updated Mar 27, 2026
Using an Earth Drill to Safely Speed up Your Do-it-Yourself Projects
If you’re working on do-it-yourself (DIY) projects that require digging holes, earth drills exist to make your life easier. Instead of manually digging a hole, earth drills use a rotating spiral auger or pipe with blades attached at the lower end to cut through the soil easily and efficiently.
Whether you’ve rented before or you’re looking into tackling your first project with an earth drill, there are a few factors to consider that can help make the job easier and improve safety during your project.
Why Use an Earth Drill?
Earth drills can be a great solution for DIY projects because of their ability to dig a hole in a matter of minutes without wearing down your body. If you’ve got deep digging projects for backyard fences, decks or even installing a mailbox post, an earth drill will be a valuable asset. Since all drills from Little Beaver are designed for safe one-man operation, you can truly do it all yourself — no reluctant family members needed!
Mechanical Earth Drill 101
A mechanical earth drill is one of the most common models offered from rental centers because of its tried-and-true performance and user-friendly design. Mechanical earth drills from Little Beaver can take on everything from soft soils to dense, rockier applications and drill small to medium diameter holes. The high auger speeds on mechanical drills make for fast project completion while the lightweight design maximizes mobility. If you’re working on a deck, fence or landscaping project such as planting trees, the mechanical earth drill is a perfect choice!
Hydraulic Earth Drill 101
Hydraulic earth drills are a good choice for clay, rock or frozen ground. The durable body and high torque of these drills make them perfect for powerful drilling of larger diameter holes. An added benefit of renting a hydraulic drill from Little Beaver is the reversible drive for easily removing the drill from holes. Although a hydraulic drill can be used for fence building and landscaping just like a mechanical drill, it is also strong enough to handle work with post holes for pole barns, anchoring projects for mobile homes or industrial fencing.
Towable and UN-Towable Earth Drills
Some rental centers might offer more variety in their hydraulic drill selection with the addition of our Towable and UN-Towable models. These units are perfect for those who need the power of a hydraulic earth drill without the operating weight and transportation challenges that can be associated with traditional hydraulic drills.
The Towable earth drill can be transported behind any vehicle with a standard hitch using a removable “no-tools” towing hitch, which also saves valuable truck or trailer space. The UN-Towable drill has a removable power pack that reduces the overall weight of the drill by 50 percent. This drill can still be transported on the back of a vehicle, but the wheels hover above the ground during transportation for faster travel speeds and reduced wear and tear on the drill.
Both the Towable and the UN-Towable drill are designed so their frame bears the brunt of the operating weight, not the operator. The “teeter-totter” design allows the weight of the auger to be offset by the engine, lessening the impact on the worker during operation.
Customize Your Drill
With a variety of earth drills available, you can also easily customize the drill you rent based on soil type, hole size and auger speed requirements to make sure you have the best tool to tackle the job ahead. Little Beaver offers several different auger widths to fit a variety of drilling applications and to make your job easier than ever. This can be a good tip to keep in mind as you’re working with your local rental center to determine what you need for your project.
Is it Worth the Risk?
Over the years, earth drills have gained a reputation for being both powerful and dangerous. Stories of operators being thrown from the drill are enough to make some DIYers question if it’s worth the risk. Little Beaver has been focused on safety from the start and took extra steps to design a system with features to protect the operator, like torque tubes to absorb shock on both mechanical and hydraulic earth drills. These torque tubes work by distributing heavy vibrations and force to the engine carriage instead of the handles so one person can safely and comfortably operate the drill. An additional bonus is that the torque tube reduces effort and fatigue while drilling so you can easily complete a project while hardly breaking a sweat.
Be sure to ask your rental center about proper operation. Earth drills are meant to make your DIY project as easy as possible so you can stay safe and be confident as you drill.
Last updated Mar 27, 2026
Which Should You Choose?
With all the earth drills on the market that are capable of installing a fence, how do you sort through the options to find the best drill for your specific needs? Little Beaver offers multiple options that appeal to fencers looking for the labor-saving benefits of safe, one-man drilling. While any drill may do the trick, different drills have different strengths depending on the job, and a drill that consistently gives you great performance can help you land more jobs and increase your profitability. Here’s a breakdown of our most popular options for fencing and the jobs they’re best suited for:
Mechanical Earth Drill
If the majority of your jobs require speedy, one-man drilling, look to our mechanical earth drill series.
Little Beaver mechanical earth drills combine a compact, lightweight design with unbeatable speed and precision. These transmission-equipped units feature high-speed auger rotations and excel in situations requiring numerous posts in very little time. And with optional 13:1 or 20:1 gear ratios, they can take on everything from soft soils to dense, rockier applications.
If you’re looking for more ways to expand your business, Little Beaver mechanical earth drills are compatible with horizontal boring kits, enabling expansion into landscape lighting installation and running sprinkler lines or cable under driveways and sidewalks.
A centrifugal clutch and torque tube truly enables safe, efficient one-man drilling, eliminating dangerous operator kickback and preventing jarring stops when an obstacle is encountered. Additionally, the innovative torque tube redirects torque kickback to the engine carriage instead of the drill’s handles. Other brands of drills reduce performance to accommodate one-man hole digging. But not Little Beaver. We feature all of the power without the inherent risks of other drills.
Hydraulic Earth Drill
Despite all the advantages of mechanical earth drills, a season full of drilling a large auger through hard packed clay and soft rock formations may leave mechanical drill owners envying their hydraulic-equipped competitors.
Hydraulic earth drills are your go-to drill for the most challenging soils because of their rugged bodies and powerful torque. Their high torque and precise operation at low speeds allows operators to drill clean, accurate holes, even in the most difficult applications. Hydraulic drills are ideal for drilling wide holes because they have the torque to drive large-diameter augers — some as wide as 16 inches — making them perfect for installing large fence posts, gate posts and any large-scale decorative fencing. Additionally, our hydraulic earth drills have a reverse position so you can safely back-out the auger if it becomes lodged under a rock or tree root.
While hydraulic drills don’t have a clutch to worry about, the operator could be at even greater risk of injury due to the large amounts of torque from these drills. This is where our torque tube is more important than ever as it allows a single operator to safely handle high levels of torque that would be an unthinkable risk with any other design.
Towable
Do the advantages of our hydraulic earth drills sound appealing for your fencing crew, but you need easier maneuverability and transportation while still maintaining high torque? If so, look no further than our Towable Hydraulic Earth Drill.
Our Towable drill consists of a T-shaped steel frame with highway-rated tires in the center, an 11-horsepower Honda engine located on one end and the auger and controls on the other. The frame balances the weight of the drill over the wheels, making it easy for one person to move, pivot into place and manage when drilling. The wide tires also prevent damage to delicate turf or landscapes.
The design reduces operating weight by roughly 50% compared to traditional hydraulic drills, and it requires less than 20 pounds of force to pivot into digging position. The frame also eliminates torque for safe one-person drilling. The rig can be conveniently towed using a removable “no tools” towing hitch, saving valuable truck or trailer space and making it an economical tool for fencing contractors of any size.
UN-Towable
If the maneuverability of the Towable is just what your fencing operation needs but you require more transportation options and a lighter package, our UN-Towable Hydraulic Earth Drill is the workhorse you’re looking for.
Like the Towable, our UN-Towable operates with a balanced design that makes maneuvering and operation a breeze, but it comes in a smaller package with greater transportability and still achieves drilling specs similar to that of the Towable.
Unlike the Towable, which must be towed behind a truck or loaded onto a trailer, the UN-Towable can be easily moved to the jobsite in the back of a pickup truck or SUV. Alternatively, an optional slide-in receiver hitch offers an additional transportation method. The user-friendly E-Z load bracket is designed to fit in any two-inch receiver, commonly found on most pickup trucks and SUVs. Simply secure the unit in the hitch, crank up the machine until it stops, and insert the pin to lock it in place. This allows fencing crews to carry more and do more without worrying about transportation logistics or expanding their fleet.
Additionally, smaller fencing crews or those needing more flexible transportation will benefit from the UN-Towable’s removable power pack. By detaching the power pack, the overall weight of the drill is reduced by 50%, allowing the machine to be easily transported in two parts.
Fencing can be tough work; don’t make it harder with an ill-suited drill. Consider your crew’s size, typical jobs and future needs to pick a drill that will help you excel at jobs today and give you a greater return on your investment down the road.
Last updated Mar 27, 2026
Reduce the Risk of Strains and Injuries
Lifting and handling 100 pounds can be a difficult task, even for the youngest and fittest individuals. Sprains, strains and tears are the leading injuries among all jobs, reports the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Drilling can be done with less risk of strains and injuries when the equipment used has been designed to lessen the toll on workers’ bodies.
Two great examples of machines designed with these benefits in mind are the Towable and UN-Towable Hydraulic Earth Drills, which share some key, user-focused features:
- The “teeter-totter” design allows the weight of the auger to be offset by the engine. This reduces the operating weight from as much as 100 pounds to as little as 40-50 pounds.
- The semi-pneumatic tires allow for easy push and pull, all while leaving minimal damage on turf, grass and other surfaces.
- Each drill only requires about 20 pounds of force to pivot it into position.
- An infinitely variable 20-degree auger tilt makes it possible to safely drill vertically in uneven terrain. The UN-Towable drill features a standard stationary handle and the Towable drill features a three-position handle that rotates 180-degrees allowing an operator to drill near buildings, walls and other structures.
- The rare forward-and-reverse auger feature allows the operator to ease the drill out of the ground as opposed to tugging heavily on the equipment, greatly minimizing the physical effort required to get the job done.
Equipment that allows operators to work smarter, not harder is a win for contractors and do-it-yourselfers alike. Drills that reduce operating weight and kickback while being easily maneuverable will allow operators to achieve the highest efficiency during projects and, most importantly, do so without injury.
“The Towable and UN-Towable units are perfect for individuals who need the power of a hydraulic earth drill without the operating weight and transportation challenges that can be associated with traditional units,” said Mike Hale, Little Beaver sales manager.
