Chicago Pneumatic PDR Hydraulic Post Drivers
Four hydraulic post drivers from 39 lb to 88 lb, $1,600 to $3,525. Fence post, T-post, sign post and guardrail, driven from a power pack or a carrier circuit at 5 to 10 GPM.
The short version
A hydraulic post driver is the difference between a fence line and a fence line finished on Tuesday. It drops over the post and drives it with hundreds of blows a minute instead of one swing at a time, straight, without a ladder and without mushrooming the top. Pick on post size and available flow: the PDR 30T at 39 lb and 5 GPM for T-post and light fence, the PDR 75 at 75 lb and 5 to 8 GPM as the general-purpose driver, and the PDR 95 at 86 to 88 lb and 8 to 10 GPM for guardrail and heavy sign post.
The CP Post Driver Line
Three PDR models plus the budget MDR30T. Trigger lever activation throughout, with a remote valve option on the PDR 75 and PDR 95 for closed-centre circuits.
PDR 95 · 86 to 88 lb · HTMA class II · 8 to 10 GPM
8 to 10 GPM · 1,522 to 1,812 psi · 1,320 BPM · 86 to 88 lb with hoses · HTMA class II · 105 dB sound pressure · 20.1 m/s2 vibration
The heavy driver, and the one that puts guardrail post, sign post and heavy T-post in without a hammer truck. 1,320 blows a minute on 8 to 10 GPM at 86 to 88 lb. Available with a trigger lever or a remote valve, the latter for open- or closed-centre circuits.
PDR 75 · 75 to 76 lb · HTMA class I or II · 5 to 8 GPM
5 to 8 GPM · 1,522 to 2,030 psi · 1,680 BPM · 75 to 76 lb with hoses · HTMA class I or II · 102 dB · 12.8 m/s2 vibration
The middle driver and the most widely useful: 1,680 blows a minute on 5 to 8 GPM, so it works off a class I pack as well as class II. 75 to 76 lb, and at 12.8 m/s2 it is the lowest-vibration driver in the line by a wide margin.
PDR 30T · 39 lb · HTMA class I · 5 GPM
5 GPM · 1,160 to 1,450 psi · 2,300 BPM · 39 lb with hoses · HTMA class I · 102 dB · 17.5 m/s2 vibration
Half the weight of the others at 39 lb, and the fastest at 2,300 blows a minute on a flat 5 GPM. Factory set to class I and not adjustable upward, which keeps it simple: it runs off the smallest pack and one person can carry it down a fence line all day.
MDR30T · hydraulic post driver · trigger lever
Hydraulic · trigger lever activation · full specification not published by CP
The budget driver in the range and currently the cheapest way into a hydraulic post driver at all. Trigger-lever activation on a hydraulic circuit, same working principle as the PDR line. Chicago Pneumatic do not publish a technical datasheet for this model, so we are not going to invent one — call and we will get the flow and pressure figures from CP before you order.
Which Driver Do I Need?
Two questions decide it: what are you driving, and what flow can you feed it.
T-post and light fence line
The PDR 30T. At 39 lb it is half the weight of the others and the fastest at 2,300 blows a minute, and one person can carry it down a fence line all day. Factory set to 5 GPM and class I, which means it runs off the smallest power pack.
General fencing, vineyard and agricultural post
The PDR 75. 1,680 blows a minute on 5 to 8 GPM, so it works off a class I or class II circuit, and at 12.8 m/s2 it has by far the lowest vibration in the line. If you are buying one driver for mixed work, this is it.
Guardrail, sign post and heavy sections
The PDR 95. 86 to 88 lb and 1,320 blows a minute on 8 to 10 GPM. The extra mass is what drives heavy-gauge post into compacted ground without stalling.
Trigger lever or remote valve
The trigger lever is the simple option for an open-centre circuit. The remote valve build works on open- or closed-centre circuits and puts the control at the machine rather than the tool, which is what many carrier installations need.
Compare All Four Drivers
Factory figures from the Chicago Pneumatic hydraulic post driver datasheet. Vibration is quoted to ISO 28927-10 and CP publish it in metric only.
| Model | Part no. | Activation | Weight with hoses | Oil flow | Working pressure | Impact rate | HTMA class | Sound | Vibration | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PDR 30T | 1801 3940 07 | Trigger lever | 39 lb | 5 GPM | 1,160 to 1,450 psi | 2,300 BPM | I | 102 dB | 17.5 m/s2 | $2,378 |
| PDR 75 T | 1801 4040 01 | Trigger lever | 75 lb | 5 to 8 GPM | 1,522 to 2,030 psi | 1,680 BPM | I or II | 102 dB | 12.8 m/s2 | $2,983 |
| PDR 75 RV | 1801 4050 01 | Remote valve | 76 lb | 5 to 8 GPM | 1,522 to 2,030 psi | 1,680 BPM | I or II | 102 dB | — | $2,983 |
| PDR 95 T | 1801 4140 01 | Trigger lever | 86 lb | 8 to 10 GPM | 1,522 to 1,812 psi | 1,320 BPM | II | 105 dB | 20.1 m/s2 | $3,525 |
| PDR 95 RV | 1801 4150 01 | Remote valve | 88 lb | 8 to 10 GPM | 1,522 to 1,812 psi | 1,320 BPM | II | 105 dB | — | $3,525 |
| MDR30T | — | Trigger lever | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,600 |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
The MDR30T row is blank on purpose. Chicago Pneumatic do not publish a technical datasheet for that model in the literature we hold, and we would rather leave the cells empty than fill them in from the PDR 30T alongside it. It is a real product, it is in stock, and it is currently the cheapest way into a hydraulic post driver. Call 1-888-883-5144 and we will get the flow and pressure figures from CP before you order.
The PDR 30T is factory set and not adjustable upward. It ships at class I and stays there. The PDR 75 RV and PDR 95 RV are factory set at the higher flow and can be brought down with a restrictor kit if your circuit needs it.
Power Pack and Carrier Matching
Same rules as the rest of the hydraulic line: match the class, then check the return line.
HTMA class is the thing to get right. The Hydraulic Tool Manufacturers Association standardised circuit ratings so a tool from one maker runs off a pack from another. Class I is 5 GPM at 2,000 psi and class II is 8 GPM at 2,000 psi. Feed a class I tool from a class II circuit without a flow restrictor and you overspeed it; feed a class II tool from a class I circuit and it runs slow and hot. Every CP tool on this site states its class, and every CP pack states what it delivers.
| Tool | Flow needed | Class | PAC P9 (5 GPM) | PAC P13 (5 to 8 GPM) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BRK 25 pick hammer | 5 GPM | I | Yes | Yes |
| BRK 40 breaker | 5 GPM | I | Yes | Yes |
| BRK 55 breaker | 8 GPM, adjustable to 5 | II or I | At reduced output | Yes |
| BRK 70 breaker | 8 GPM, adjustable to 5 | II or I | At reduced output | Yes |
| BRK 95 breaker | 8 GPM, adjustable to 10 | II | No | Yes, at 8 GPM |
| PDR 30T post driver | 5 GPM | I | Yes | Yes |
| PDR 75RV post driver | 5 to 8 GPM | I or II | At reduced output | Yes |
| PDR 95R post driver | 8 to 10 GPM | II | No | Yes, at 8 GPM |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
Driving and pulling are one job. Most crews that buy a driver end up needing a puller too, because fence and guardrail replacement means taking the old post out first. The PPU 22HD post puller runs off the same power pack, so it is a tool purchase rather than a second machine.
Chicago Pneumatic Post Driver FAQ
What size hydraulic post driver do I need?
Match it to the post and to your available flow. The PDR 30T at 39 lb and 5 GPM handles T-post and light fence and is the one person can carry all day. The PDR 75 at 75 lb and 5 to 8 GPM is the general-purpose driver for agricultural, vineyard and standard fencing. The PDR 95 at 86 to 88 lb and 8 to 10 GPM is for guardrail, heavy sign post and compacted ground.
What is the difference between trigger lever and remote valve?
Where the control sits and what circuit it suits. Trigger lever activation is the simple option and works on an open-centre circuit. The remote valve build works on open- or closed-centre circuits and puts the control at the machine rather than in the operator’s hand, which is what many carrier installations require. Both cost the same on the PDR 75 and PDR 95.
What power pack drives a post driver?
The PAC P9 at a flat 5 GPM drives the PDR 30T. The PAC P13 at 5 to 8 GPM drives the PDR 30T and the PDR 75, and the PDR 95 at its 8 GPM setting. For a PDR 95 at full 10 GPM you want the larger PAC P18. Any carrier with a matching auxiliary circuit will also drive them directly.
Why is the MDR30T listed without specifications?
Because Chicago Pneumatic do not publish a datasheet for it in the literature we hold, and we will not fill a spec table in from a neighbouring model. It is a genuine product, it is in stock at $1,600, and it is the cheapest hydraulic post driver we sell. Call 1-888-883-5144 and we will get the flow and pressure figures from CP before you commit.
Which driver has the lowest vibration?
The PDR 75 T at 12.8 m/s2, measured to ISO 28927-10. For comparison the PDR 30T is 17.5 and the PDR 95 T is 20.1. On a job where one operator is driving post all day, that difference is the one that decides how many posts get driven by Friday.
Can I pull posts with the same setup?
Yes. The PPU 22HD post puller runs off the same power pack and the same hoses, so replacing a fence line or a run of guardrail is one machine and two tools rather than two machines.
Do you stock these?
Yes, all four, shipping the same day on orders placed by 4 PM Eastern. Add an activation type to the cart above, or call 1-888-883-5144 to have the driver, a power pack and a puller quoted together.
Post drivers in stock
Tell us the post, the ground and what flow you have, and we will match the driver and the pack. Same day shipping on orders placed by 4 PM Eastern.