Fence Hog Does the Heavy Lifting

Fence contractors know the single greatest expense when it comes to fence installation is labor. According to the Economic Research Institute, the 2021 U.S. national average salary for a fence installer ranges from $28,287 for entry level to $44,570 for senior level. Labor costs are compounded by sick days, injuries, cancellations and delays caused by weather as well as fluctuations in consumer demand.

EZG Manufacturing engineered and created the Fence Hog in 2001 with the input and expertise of professional fence builders and installers from all over the world.

“Fence installers needed a product that picked up a fence roll from the ground without physical effort and held enough fencing to eliminate the need for constant reloading. Minimal maintenance, reliability, and a short learning curve to operate this machine was also on the list,” explains Matt Schott, inside sales manager with EZG Manufacturing. “This machine can do all of that as well as minimizing injuries of employees since Fence Hog handles the heavy lifting, literally,” Schott says.

The Fence Hog leverages the hydraulic power of a standard skid steer loader with a universal attachment plate. Its operation is controlled by the operator from the cab, including opening, closing and tilting the cage. Because there are few intricate parts, the Fence Hog is reliable, durable and requires virtually no maintenance.

“Anyone who operates a standard skid steer should have no problem operating the Fence Hog,” says Schott. Typical hands-on familiarization takes less than three hours for a crew to become ready for an installation.

The Fence Hog is available in three models with fence roll capacities ranging from 22” to 36”, 50’ to 100’ of chain link or 330’ of woven wire. The Fence Hog also accommodates vinyl coated fabric, snow fence, and most other fencing materials.

“One of the great benefits of the Fence Hog are the reduction of injuries for employees, specifically back injuries,” adds Steve Wheeler, sales manager with EZG Manufacturing.

Ergonomic hazards rank in the top five of workplace and jobsite injuries. Proper manual lifting requires a disciplined approach that is hard to enforce in small or unsupervised crews. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommends lifting with legs rather than back, avoiding straining, not twisting or bending while lifting and lifting close to the body.

“It’s not always practical or possible to lift in the recommended way because of uneven terrain, limited space and other factors that can vary on the jobsite,” says Wheeler.

The Fence Hog dramatically reduces the weight and frequency of manual lifting during a fence installation project. A standard 400-pound roll of chain link fencing distributed between two workers, even if lifted properly according to NIOSH guidelines, still results in a potentially hazardous weight of 200 pounds per crewman. “The Fence Hog is the only product of its type that allows the user to pick up a roll of fencing from the ground with absolutely no manual lifting,” explains Wheeler.

During a typical chain link installation, the Fence Hog eliminates much of the need for a crewman to walk along a fence line while carrying fencing or other heavy materials. Rolls of fencing are encased in the Fence Hog cage and rest on a rotating turntable ending the requirement for manual lifting and turning.

The Fence Hog is forward driving, so the operator has a clear view ahead. Fence dispensing can be directed left or right, so the operator can dispense where access is easiest and least obstructed. The occurrences of slips, trips, and falls are substantially reduced because crew members do not have to walk while carrying and installing fencing.

A recently developed accessory builds on the Fence Hog’s innovation. The Fence Winder attachment easily and safely retrieves standing fencing, recoiling it into roll form. “Some of our existing Fence Hog customers expressed a need for a product that would make it faster and more convenient to re-roll fencing,” Schott says. “The winder attachment was born.”

The Fence Hog is just one part of a comprehensive line of fencing installation products that have become the industry’s complete, go-to fencing solution. The chain link fence stretcher and dispenser, the barbed wire stretcher and dispenser (Barbwire Hog, 2016), the woven wire dispenser (Stretch-n-Go Hog, 2006) all go about their respective tasks with remarkable speed and efficiency. The Fencer’s Cement Hog (2003) and Mobile Mud Hog (2003) allow cement to be dispensed while driving along the fence line. This is innovation that translates into real-life efficiency. A typical three team crew can cut installation time by nearly two thirds.

Pressure on fencing contractors and installers to remain profitable and competitive continue to grow. Innovations such as the Fence Hog and its capable stablemates provide proven, results-based solutions to help the fencing industry survive and prosper in a rapidly changing economic landscape.

For more information, visit www.ezgmfg.com.