Fence contractors pouring post footings need a concrete mixer attachment that mounts to the tractor's three-point linkage, hooks onto a skid steer, or runs off the PTO shaft, batching concrete on site instead of hauling premix bags to every hole. Unlike a shed slab that needs one big pour, a fence line needs dozens of small, consistent batches spread over hundreds of metres, so batch size and mobility matter more than raw mixing capacity.
- Sierra SCM350 PTO Concrete Mixer batches 350L per load — the right-sized concrete mixer attachment for fence footings on a typical lifestyle block fence line.
- Hand-mixing in a wheelbarrow works under roughly 15-20 post holes; beyond that a PTO or hydraulic mixer saves more labour than it costs.
- Sierra SCM800 PTO Concrete Mixer suits fencing contractors running longer lines but needs a 75+ HP tractor to turn it.
- Skid steer mixer buckets from 160L to 360L suit crews with a loader on site but no tractor PTO to run.
Why concrete mixer attachments matter for fence footing jobs
A fence line doesn't need one large concrete pour, it needs the same small batch repeated at every post hole, sometimes forty or fifty times down a paddock boundary. Mixing each one by hand in a wheelbarrow is manageable for a short run, but the ratio drifts hole to hole and the crew slows down as the day goes on.
A Sierra SCM350 PTO Concrete Mixer solves the consistency problem by batching the same mix every time off the tractor's own PTO, so post 40 gets the same strength footing as post 1. That consistency is what a concrete mixer attachment for fence footings is actually for — not speed on a single pour, but repeatable batches across a long run in 2026.
The other constraint specific to fencing work is access. Fence lines run through paddocks, along boundaries and up hillsides where a truck-mixed load can't reach, so the mixer needs to travel with the tractor from hole to hole rather than sit stationary on a slab.
How to choose a concrete mixer attachment for fence post footings
Work out how much concrete each footing actually needs
Before buying anything, size the job. A typical strainer post footing takes a fraction of a cubic metre, and a line of intermediate posts adds up fast once you multiply by the total post count.
- Count total post holes on the job, not just strainers and corners
- Estimate volume per hole based on hole diameter and depth
- Add 10-15% for spillage and hole irregularity in rocky or clay ground
- Total the volume across the whole fence line before comparing mixer sizes
- Check whether the job is a one-off or the first of several fence lines this year
Decide when hand-mixing stops making sense
A wheelbarrow and a hoe handle a handful of footings without any extra gear. Past roughly 15-20 holes in a day, the labour cost of hand-mixing starts to outweigh what a mixer attachment costs to run.
- Time how long one hand-mixed batch takes from bag to bucket
- Multiply that by the remaining hole count on the job
- Factor in crew fatigue on the last third of a long fence line
- Compare that labour time against renting or buying a PTO mixer
- Weigh up whether this is a one-off job or a recurring part of the business
Match mixer capacity to your fence run
Once hand-mixing is off the table, capacity is the next decision. A 350L drum suits a lifestyle block boundary fence with a modest post count; an 800L drum suits a contractor running multiple long lines in a week.
- Match drum capacity to typical batch size per hole, not total job volume
- Oversized mixers waste time half-filling the drum for small footings
- Undersized mixers mean more batches and more stop-start per hole
- Check the drum empties fully so no mix sets hard in the corners
- Confirm the mixer tows or tows-and-tips close enough to reach each hole
Check your tractor's PTO speed and horsepower before buying
A mixer only turns properly if the tractor supplying the PTO matches what the mixer needs. This is the step that gets skipped most often and causes the most frustration on site.
- Confirm PTO speed (usually 540 rpm) matches the mixer's rated input
- Check minimum horsepower against the mixer's spec, not just what's on hand
- The Sierra SCM800 PTO Concrete Mixer needs a 75+ HP tractor to run properly
- Smaller drums like the Sierra SCM350 suit compact and mid-size tractors
- Check linkage category (Cat 1/Cat 2) matches your three-point hitch
Pick between PTO, hydraulic and skid steer bucket formats
Not every operation runs a tractor with a spare PTO. Skid steer operators already running a loader on site often get more use out of a mixer bucket than a towed drum mixer.
- PTO mixers suit tractor-based crews with a spare rear linkage and PTO
- Hydraulic mixers suit tractors with matching hydraulic flow and no free PTO
- Skid steer mixer buckets suit crews with a loader already on site
- Bucket mixers double as a transport bucket between pours
- Towed drum mixers can follow the tractor down the fence line hole to hole
Sequence your pour along the fence line
Running a mixer down a fence line works best with a plan, not a start-and-stop approach hole by hole.
- Dig and set all post holes before the first batch goes in
- Batch and pour strainer and corner posts first, they carry the most load
- Work in one direction down the line to minimise backtracking
- Keep water supply and aggregate stockpiled at intervals, not one central pile
- Leave the mixer running between pours rather than restarting each time
Clean and maintain the mixer between jobs
A mixer left dirty after a pour sets up hard and loses capacity fast.
- Rinse the drum immediately after the last batch of the day
- Check PTO shaft guards and linkage pins before towing to the next job
- Grease drive components per the mixer's own service points
- Store the mixer under cover between fencing jobs to protect the drum
Comparing your options for fence footing pours
| Option | Best for | Key limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Hand mixing (wheelbarrow/tarp) | A handful of posts, one weekend job | Slow past 15-20 holes, batch strength drifts hole to hole |
| Sierra SCM350 PTO Concrete Mixer | Lifestyle block fence lines, small-to-mid jobs | Needs a tractor with a rear PTO and matching linkage |
| Sierra SCM800 PTO Concrete Mixer | Contractors running long or multiple fence lines | Requires 75+ HP tractor, too much machine for a short job |
| Zagroda Hydraulic Concrete Mixer 0.85 m3 | Bulk footing pours plus other farm building work | Needs hydraulic flow and pressure matched to the tractor circuit |
| 200L Skid Steer Mixer Bucket | Crews without a spare tractor PTO but running a skid steer | Ties up the loader for the whole pour |
If you're pouring more than fifteen footings in a weekend, a PTO mixer earns its keep before lunch.
Common mistakes fence footing crews make
- Sizing the mixer to the whole job instead of the batch. An 800L drum is wasted on a 20-post lifestyle block boundary where a 350L Sierra SCM350 batches faster and empties fully every time.
- Not checking PTO speed and horsepower before buying. A mixer rated for a bigger tractor stalls or turns too slowly under load on a smaller unit.
- Mixing too wet to save time. A sloppy batch pours faster but weakens the footing; a batch too dry struggles to turn in the drum at all.
- Running out of material mid-line. Underestimating total post count leaves the crew short on cement or aggregate three-quarters down the fence.
- Skipping the rinse-out. Cured concrete build-up in the drum reduces capacity and eventually stops the mixer turning cleanly.
FAQ
What's the best concrete mixer attachment for fence footings in 2026?
The Sierra SCM350 PTO Concrete Mixer at 350L suits most lifestyle block and small contractor fence lines, batching consistent footings off the tractor's own PTO. Larger or longer jobs suit the 800L Sierra SCM800, which needs a 75+ HP tractor.
Is a PTO concrete mixer better than hand-mixing for fence posts?
Past roughly 15-20 post holes, a PTO mixer saves more labour time than it costs and keeps batch strength consistent across the whole fence line. Under that count, a wheelbarrow and hoe are enough.
Do I need a big tractor to run a concrete mixer attachment?
No — the Sierra SCM350 runs on compact and mid-size tractors, while the larger Sierra SCM800 needs 75+ HP. Match the mixer to the tractor you actually own before buying capacity you can't turn.
Can a skid steer mix concrete for fence footings?
Yes, a mixer bucket from 160L to 360L attaches to a skid steer's standard attachment plate and batches concrete without needing a tractor PTO at all. It ties up the loader for the pour, so plan other loader work around it.
How much concrete does one fence post footing need?
Volume depends on hole diameter and depth, so total it across the whole fence line before choosing a mixer size. A line of forty posts adds up fast even if each hole takes only a fraction of a cubic metre.
What's the difference between a PTO mixer and a hydraulic mixer?
A PTO mixer draws power straight from the tractor's rear PTO shaft; a hydraulic mixer runs off the tractor's hydraulic circuit and needs matching flow and pressure. Choose based on which power source your tractor has spare.
Is a mixer attachment worth it for a one-off fence job?
For a short boundary fence under 15-20 posts, hand-mixing is usually cheaper than buying a mixer outright. For repeat fencing work across 2026 and beyond, a PTO mixer pays for itself in saved labour.
One last thing
The detail most crews miss is PTO speed, not drum size. A mixer rated for 540 rpm bolted to a tractor running a different PTO speed either stalls under load or churns the batch unevenly, and that's a linkage and gearing mismatch, not a mixer fault. Check the PTO spec against your tractor before capacity.