Post hole borers for skid steer loaders sound like a straightforward search, but half the buyers typing it own the wrong drive system for the job. Skid steers run hydraulic flow through a quick-attach plate; the post hole borers in most NZ catalogues, including this one, are PTO-driven and bolt to a tractor's 3-point linkage. Sort that distinction first and the rest of the buying decision gets a lot simpler.
- Searching post hole borer for skid steer? Skid steers run hydraulic drive, not PTO - confirm your machine's spec before buying.
- Sierra PTO Post Hole Borer - Heavy Duty covers 18-100HP tractors at NZ$1,395 - the safe pick if you also run a compact tractor.
- An 18-inch auger at NZ$725 handles strainer posts; smaller diameters suit standard fence line work.
- The hydraulic downforce borer at NZ$2,595 earns its price in clay and compacted farm tracks where gravity-fed units stall.
- A skid steer to euro hitch adaptor swaps loader implements across machines but does not add PTO drive.
Why this matters
A lot of lifestyle block owners and fencing crews run a skid steer and a compact tractor side by side. Buying a post hole borer sight unseen because it showed up under "skid steer attachments" wastes money and delays the job. Get the drive type and mounting system right in 2026 and the borer earns its keep on every fence line, strainer post and tree-planting job you throw at it for years.
Who this is for
This guide is for anyone running a skid steer loader on a NZ farm, lifestyle block or fencing contract who also has, or is considering, a compact tractor for PTO-driven implements. If you're swapping loader attachments between machines, a skid steer to euro hitch adaptor solves the mounting mismatch for buckets, forks and grapples - but it won't spin a PTO shaft. Post hole borers with a gearbox and driveline need a tractor's power take-off, not hydraulic flow, so match the tool to the machine before you order.
What to look for in a post hole borer for skid steer and tractor combos
Drive type: PTO vs hydraulic
Check whether the borer runs off a tractor's PTO shaft through a gearbox, or off hydraulic flow through a motor. Every Sierra post hole borer in this range is PTO and 3-point linkage mounted, built for tractors from 18HP up to 100HP. If your only machine is a skid steer with no PTO output, a gearbox-driven borer simply won't turn.
Mounting system: 3-point linkage vs quick-attach
A borer built for Category 1 or Category 2 linkage pins won't bolt to a skid steer's quick-attach plate without a proper mounting conversion. Don't force a 3-point implement onto loader arms with a bracket you welded up on the weekend - the torque loads on a post hole borer are high enough to bend a poorly engineered mount.
Auger diameter for the job
Standard fence posts usually need a 9-inch auger at around NZ$550. Strainer posts, assemblies and larger tree-planting holes call for an 18-inch auger at NZ$725. Match the auger to the actual post diameter you're setting, not the biggest one available - oversized augers drag more and wear the gearbox faster.
Gearbox and frame rating
A heavy-duty gearbox rated for tractors up to 100HP tolerates hard clay and rocky ground far better than a light-frame unit built for 18-40HP compacts. If you're drilling through shingle or root-bound ground on a lifestyle block, buy the heavier frame even if your tractor sits at the lower end of the HP range.
Downforce control
Gravity-fed borers rely on tractor lift arm weight to push the auger into the ground. In compacted clay or dry summer ground, that's often not enough. A hydraulic downforce model adds a cylinder that forces the auger down under pressure, which matters if you're drilling fence lines on hard NZ farm tracks rather than soft paddock.
Top picks for post hole borer buyers running a tractor and skid steer
Sierra PTO Post Hole Borer - Heavy Duty (No Auger) - the safe pick. Rated for tractors from 18HP to 100HP with a heavy-duty 3-point linkage frame at NZ$1,395, this is the borer to buy if you want one machine to handle fencing contract work and lifestyle block jobs without upgrading later. Buy if your tractor sits anywhere in that HP band.
Sierra PTO Post Hole Borer - Compact Tractor (No Auger) - the budget-matched pick for smaller machines. Built for 18-40HP compact and sub-compact tractors at NZ$1,350, it's a near-identical price to the heavy-duty version but sized for lighter frames. Buy if your tractor tops out under 40HP and you don't expect to upgrade.
Sierra PTO Post Hole Borer - Hydraulic Downforce (No Auger) - the wildcard for hard ground. At NZ$2,595 it costs almost double the gravity-fed models, but the hydraulic cylinder pushes the auger through compacted clay and dry summer ground that stalls a standard unit. Consider it if your farm tracks or paddocks are consistently hard-packed; skip it if you're mostly drilling soft pasture.
18-inch auger attachment - the accessory most buyers underspec. At NZ$725, it's the difference between one pass on a strainer post hole and three passes with a 9-inch auger. Buy alongside your borer body if you're setting assemblies or corner posts regularly.
What to avoid
- Skip any borer marketed as "skid steer compatible" that's actually a relabelled 3-point PTO unit. Read the mounting spec, not the marketing headline - if it lists a gearbox and linkage pins, it needs a tractor.
- Skip an undersized auger on strainer posts. A 9-inch auger on an 18-inch assembly hole means multiple passes and a chewed-up edge on the hole - buy the 18-inch auger at NZ$725 if you're setting anything larger than a standard batten.
- Avoid mounting a heavy-duty borer on a sub-40HP tractor. The heavier frame adds weight the lift arms and hydraulics on a light compact tractor weren't built to carry all day.
Verdict comparison
| Model | Mounting | HP range | Price (2026) | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sierra Heavy Duty PTO Borer | 3-point linkage | 18-100HP | NZ$1,395 | Buy |
| Sierra Compact Tractor PTO Borer | 3-point linkage | 18-40HP | NZ$1,350 | Buy |
| Sierra Hydraulic Downforce Borer | 3-point linkage | 18-100HP | NZ$2,595 | Consider |
| 18-inch auger | Bolt-on to borer | N/A | NZ$725 | Buy |
| Skid steer to euro hitch adaptor | Quick-attach | N/A | See product page | Buy (for loader implements, not PTO borers) |
If you run a compact tractor alongside your skid steer, the borer sizing question gets easier - check the dedicated guide on post hole borers for compact tractors on lifestyle blocks for HP-matched picks.
FAQ
What's the best post hole borer for a skid steer loader?
Skid steers don't run a PTO shaft, so a true PTO post hole borer won't work without a hydraulic-driven auger unit instead. If you also run a compact or standard tractor, the Sierra PTO Post Hole Borer - Heavy Duty at NZ$1,395 covers 18-100HP machines and is the more versatile buy in 2026.
Can you run a PTO post hole borer on a skid steer?
No - a PTO post hole borer needs a tractor's power take-off and 3-point linkage to operate. Skid steers use hydraulic flow through a quick-attach plate, so a PTO borer physically won't turn on one without a completely different drive setup.
What size auger do I need for fence post holes?
A 9-inch auger at around NZ$550 handles standard fence posts, while an 18-inch auger at NZ$725 suits strainer posts and assemblies. Match the auger diameter to the actual post size rather than buying the largest option available.
How much does a PTO post hole borer cost in NZ?
PTO post hole borers in NZ run from roughly NZ$1,350 for a compact tractor model up to NZ$2,595 for a hydraulic downforce version, as of 2026 pricing. Augers are sold separately and add NZ$550 to NZ$725 depending on diameter.
Is a hydraulic downforce post hole borer worth it?
It's worth the extra cost if you're regularly drilling compacted clay, dry summer ground or farm tracks where a gravity-fed borer stalls. At NZ$2,595 it costs roughly NZ$1,200 more than a standard heavy-duty model, so skip it if your ground is mostly soft pasture.
What HP tractor do I need for a heavy-duty post hole borer?
The Sierra Heavy Duty PTO Post Hole Borer is rated for tractors from 18HP to 100HP, though it's best matched to 35HP and above for hard ground. Compact tractors under 40HP are better served by the lighter compact-tractor version at NZ$1,350.
How do I fit a 3-point linkage attachment to a skid steer?
You can't fit a true 3-point PTO implement to a skid steer's quick-attach plate without changing the entire drive mechanism - a mounting bracket alone won't add PTO power. A skid steer to euro hitch adaptor solves mounting for hydraulic loader attachments like forks and grapples, but not gearbox-driven borers.
What auger diameter is best for strainer posts?
An 18-inch auger at NZ$725 is the standard choice for strainer posts and assembly holes in NZ fencing work. Going smaller means multiple passes and a rougher hole edge, which slows down a fencing job considerably.
One last thing
The price gap between the compact tractor borer (NZ$1,350) and the heavy-duty version (NZ$1,395) is only NZ$45 - if there's any chance you'll upgrade tractors or lend the borer out for contract work, the heavy-duty frame at 18-100HP is the better bet in 2026, even on a smaller machine today.