Fence-Line Check Tips with a UTV

Riding fence is one of the most common UTV jobs on a ranch. A good fence check finds problems before cattle do. A rushed one misses the loose staple that turns into a downed wire by the weekend. Here is how to set up your rig and ride a fence line so you can do repairs on the spot instead of coming back for tools.

How often to check

• Weekly on pastures with livestock in them, and before turning stock out.

• After every storm, high wind, flood or fire. Check creek crossings and water gaps first, since debris piles up there.

• Before and after hunting season and on boundaries next to roads, where gates get left open and vehicles hit fences.

• Electric fence: check voltage at the far end of each run, not just at the charger. A reading that drops as you go out the line points to a short or heavy weeds.

Build a fence kit that stays on the rig

Keep these in a bed box or tote so the kit never leaves the machine:

Hand tools

• Fencing pliers (cut, pull staples, splice and hammer all in one)

• Hammer and a short pry bar

• Hand post driver for T-posts

• Wire stretcher or come-along, and a ratchet tensioner for high-tensile wire

Materials

• A partial roll of barbed or field wire matching your fence

• T-post clips, staples (1¾-inch for treated posts) and crimp sleeves

• Two or three T-posts lashed along the bed side

• Electric fence: insulators, a splice kit and a fence tester

Safety

• Leather gloves and eye protection, since tensioned wire whips when cut

• First aid kit, water and a charged phone or radio. Tell someone which pasture you are riding.

A roll bar storage bag keeps gloves, clips and the tester within reach so you do not have to get out and dig through the bed for small parts.

Ride the line the right way

1. Drive slowly with the fence on the driver's side. At walking to jogging speed you can see sagging wire, leaning posts, missing clips and slipped staples from the seat.

2. Watch the bottom wire and the ground line. Washouts under the fence, wildlife paths and fresh hog rooting show where stock will push through next.

3. Stop at every corner and brace. H-braces and corners hold the tension for the whole run. A leaning corner post means trouble down the whole fence, even if the wire looks tight.

4. Fix small things right away. Re-clip a wire or reset a staple now. Mark bigger jobs with flagging tape and a GPS pin on your phone so you can come back with the right materials.

Set up the rig for fence work

• Mirrors: side and rear mirrors let you watch the fence and the trailer without twisting around. Our UTV mirrors list exact cage fit by model.

• Lights: early morning and evening checks are common in summer. Rock lights or pods help you see ground and wire at a gate after dark. Our universal rock light kits come in 4-, 6- and 8-pod sets.

• Tires: fence lines are where staples, wire scraps and mesquite thorns live. Carry a plug kit and a 12V compressor.

• Windshield: a vented or flip-up windshield keeps brush out of your face along overgrown lines.

Safety reminders

• Never drive over loose wire on the ground. It can wrap around an axle and pull tight in an instant.

• Cut tensioned wire with your body to the side, never in line with the wire.

• Turn off electric fence chargers before splicing.

• Watch for hidden washouts and burrows near the fence. They are a common cause of UTV rollovers at low speed.

A simple fence log

Keep a notebook or phone note for each pasture with the date checked, repairs made, and materials used. Over a season it shows which sections fail again and again and should be rebuilt instead of patched.

For more setup ideas, browse our UTV setup guides by vehicle and our summer heat tips.