hayray":3l509t9c said:
Aaron":3l509t9c said:
High tensile and steel t-posts with wide spacings are the only way to go in low water/flood prone areas. I've tried and seen it all when it comes to fencing around waterways. If your willing to clean off the wires at least once a year, or after a flood (takes about 10-15 minutes), then it is the way to go. I've spent 4 days cleaning off barb wire fence in low areas after a flood, never mind tightening wires. :cowboy:
Why are the t-post the best way to go in flood areas? Is it because wood post will settle? Also, what are the best insulators to use on t-post. I have a lowland cannary grass area that is semi-permenant wetland I will be fencing soon. How wide of t-post spacings?
It all comes down to reducing the surface area of the fence supports, thus reducing weight of the load of trash that the support with come in contact with. After a good storm with a lowland creek, a 6 inch wood post with barb wire could easily collect 50 to 100 lbs of debris, depending on how much wood dams up. A T-post after the same storm, and at proper spacings with hi tensile, won't even collect a 1/4 of the debris.
Most lowland/creek fences made with wood posts, that I have seen, have put them at 8'-10' spacings. Way too close. Using T-posts, go for at least 20 foot spacings, no more than 30' through a creek, and at least 50 feet on creek banks and through lowland fields (I go 70 feet).
Best insulators are T-post insulators that are snug to the post, not the extended 2-3" ones...again...the extension adds surface area which increases the weight load.
Also guys have been mentioning about putting the insulators downstream. I only recommend that if your cows are on the downstream side. If your cows are upstream of the fence, put the insulators upstream. A cow with an urge to rub will do more harm to the post than water and debris will do to the line. Use new 12.5 gauge wire when you do it, with proper strain insulators and braces and the wire will not break (unless of course an entire tree floats through it). I've had wires with well over 200 lbs of debris on them, and they don't break.
Through a creek, bottom wire is maximum 6 inches above the water level, next wire 20" above that, and the third 20" above the second. Through a lowland field/pasture, first wire 18-20" above the soil and the 2nd one about 12-15" above that. :cowboy: