How to choose a petrol post driver
A practical guide for distributors and dealers choosing which petrol post drivers — also called post rammers — to stock, and for professionals buying their first machine.
Start with the posts
The posts your customers install decide almost everything. A light machine is perfect for vineyard stakes, T-posts and small round posts, but struggles with large wooden posts. A heavier machine drives big posts faster, but is tiring to carry all day on light work.
- Vineyard stakes, T-posts and small posts: compact model
- Farm and livestock fencing: professional model
- Large wooden posts and hard ground: heavy-duty model
Consider the ground
In soft soil almost any post driver works quickly. Clay, stony or compacted ground needs more driving force and a heavier hammer. If your customers work in mixed conditions, a mid-weight professional model is usually the safest choice.
Two-stroke or four-stroke engine
Four-stroke engines run on regular petrol with no oil mixing, are quieter and produce fewer fumes — an advantage for daily professional use. Two-stroke engines are lighter and simpler, and many users already know them from chainsaws and brush cutters.
For a distributor, the right choice often depends on what your customers already use and service.
Weight, handles and vibration
A post driver is held by hand, so balance matters as much as power. Look for comfortable handles on both sides, anti-vibration mounts and a weight that one person can lift onto a post again and again. On long fence lines, a slightly lighter machine often means more posts per day.
Adapters and accessories
Adapters let one machine drive posts of different shapes and sizes, so check which adapters are available before you buy. A post puller is the natural add-on: the customers who install fences also need to remove old posts. A transport case protects the machine on the back of a pick-up.
Spare parts and after-sales service
Post drivers are percussion tools, and some parts wear with use. Before choosing a supplier, make sure wear parts are available and can be shipped quickly. Distributors usually keep a small spare-parts kit in stock so their customers are never stopped for long.
For distributors: building a range
Most dealers do well with two or three models — one compact and one or two professional or heavy-duty machines — plus adapters, a post puller and spare parts.
Ask your supplier for user manuals and labels in your language, product photos for your catalogue, and the documents your market requires (in the EU, for example, the CE declaration of conformity and noise and vibration data).
Quick checklist before you order
- Which posts will customers drive?
- Size and material decide the model and adapters.
- What ground conditions?
- Hard or stony ground needs more driving force.
- Two-stroke or four-stroke?
- Match what your customers already use and service.
- Can one person handle it all day?
- Weight, balance and anti-vibration handles.
- Which adapters and accessories?
- Adapters, post puller and transport case.
- Are spare parts available?
- Wear parts in stock and fast shipping.
- Which documents does your market need?
- Manuals in your language, declarations and data sheets.
Buying guide FAQ
Which petrol post driver is best for vineyards?
A compact model: it is light enough to carry along the rows and drives vineyard stakes and T-posts quickly.
Can one post driver handle different post sizes?
Yes, with the right adapters. Check the adapter range before choosing a model.
Is a post rammer the same as a post driver?
Yes. “Post rammer” is the usual term in the UK; “gas-powered post driver” or “post pounder” in the US.
Should a distributor stock spare parts?
Yes. A small kit of wear parts keeps your customers working and protects your reputation.