Ever pull concrete-embedded 4x4's with a floor jack?

Hello all. tore down an old gazebo today and need recommendations on pullin' the old posts out. perused the internets briefly and ran across the idea of using an automotive jack to assist, but had little further info. friend of mine suggested my floorjack, though i'm leery. so, any suggestions? Alas, no i do not own a highlift jack or further equipment, other than a shovel, a tow chain, and the taco.................

 

frontend loader on a tractor works well

 

I would worry about damaging my floor jack or the floor jack sinking in the soil before it would lift up the 4x4's.

Dig around the post until you have removed the dirt around the footing then pull it up by hand.

 

Just use the taco! Hook up a chain to the fucker and pull that bitph out!

 

off topic, lighted step bars looks sweet!

 

Wish i had one right about now..............actually a bobcat is nestled in my dreams...........lol

 

would rest the jack on a piece of 2x12 have layin around..........

 

We used a chain, pry bar, and a jack stand when we pulled up all our old cemented in fence posts. Worked like a charm.

 

^^ why not?

I have a winch

 

C-clamp or a chain tight on the post. Use the jack from there

 

considered this but as the taco would be pullin' horizontally and the posts need to be brought-up vertically.............. the truck did admirably with pullin' the old structure down though

 

I'd knock them side to side with a maul to loosen them up before trying to pry them up. If you can, pick up a fence post puller at Home Depot or Lowes. More pulling power and you won't ruin a $100+ dollar jack.

 

Give me a lever big enough and I'll move the world

 

A buddy of mine told me how he recently did this: took three old 2x12's about 6 feet long and nailed them together in the shape of a triangle. The top of the triangle was attached to his truck by cable and run down to the post, and the triangle became a lever to exert an upward force on the post.

I didn't see it in action but I saw the large posts embedded in more the 3 feet of concrete he pulled out. I will pimp him for more info when I see him in a few days.

Alternately, you could use a Hi-Lift jack:

http://www.hi-lift.com/post-popper/index.html

(that would be MY excuse to get a Hi-Lift!)

 

X2 on the hi lift

 

thanks for the info. this method sounds similar to one heard about requiring nothin' more than a 2x8 placed vertically at an angle towards the post, with the towchain resting on top of the 2by, then pulling with the truck. the idea being the 2by will be righted- up as the truck pulls forward, creating upward exertion. sounds interesting. did see a vid where a guy used a similar method using an old, large truck tire to basically do the same thing. either way, gonna go out now and loosen them up with the shovel first thanks again all for the suggestions

 

I have used the "truck rim method" with a strap and chain on smaller trees, it worked good.

 

I have to pull about 100 of these at my dads place in the next few weeks (replacing an old fence). I am just borrowing my cousins kubota tractor, and hopefully that will do the trick.

 

I went and purchased a hi lift (off brand from the local farm store) for $40 and pulled 6 fence posts with ease. I drilled a hole in the post and put some pipe through it used some 2x6's to make a lever and used the high lift to lift it out. It would probably work the same way with your floor jack.

kind of like this.

 

Leverage is your friend...