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Corner, End, and Gate Posts
Strong 2-inch diameter fiberglass posts for corners, ends, and gates come with hefty earth anchors designed to resist sideways stress. The good news: They do resist such stress (not just the stress of polyrope or electrobraid but also the stress of high-tensile wire, Hot Coat, or Poly Coat (see High-Tensile Fence). They also provide an elegant complement to fiberglass line posts; and because the earth anchors are easy to unscrew, these posts (like the line posts) can be extracted from the earth in moments and moved elsewhere. The bad news is that these elegant and effective devices are quite expensive (see below). Those who wish to explore alternatives that are less elegant, labor-saving, and mobile but also less expensive should consider wooden Hi-braces or steel T-post braces to buttress their corners, ends, and gates. Those pursuing the full fiberglass option below should order one corner brace set (09-53 or 09-54) for each corner or sharp turn; one end brace set (09-56 or 09-57) for each end where the fence abuts a wall, building, or other fence; and two end brace sets (09-56 or 09-57) plus two gate brace sets (09-59 or 09-60) for each gate. Use an anchor installation tool (09-69) to screw in the anchors easily.
Dip and Ridge Posts
We like the fact that fiberglass line posts are easy to pull up and relocate. But this advantage can become a weakness at dips and ridges, especially where the fence is under high tension or carries multiple polyropes stretched tight, because then a post at the peak of a ridge will slowly be pushed into the ground, while a post at the base of a dip in the ground will be pulled up. To prevent this, use the sturdy 7/8-inch dip and ridge posts below that come equipped with flat plates (to resist downward pushes) or earth anchors (to counter upward pulls). You don’t need these posts where the fence crosses a stream; just dangle some lines of chain from the lowest electrified conductor (without contacting anything grounded) to within a foot or so of the stream. But for places where the fence line crosses miniature hills or valleys, they are very useful.
