6 Best Fence Unrollers For Smooth Wire Old Farmers Swear By

There’s nothing quite like wrestling a 100-pound roll of high-tensile wire that’s decided to uncoil itself into a tangled, spring-loaded mess. It’s a frustrating, time-consuming, and frankly, dangerous rite of passage for anyone building a fence by hand. The right tool transforms this chore from a two-person battle into a smooth, one-person job, and that tool is a proper wire unroller.

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Why a Quality Wire Unroller Saves Time & Labor

Trying to unroll wire by sticking a pipe through the middle and having a helper hold it is a recipe for disaster. The wire inevitably over-spools, creating loops and kinks that weaken the fence and snag on everything. A dedicated unroller, or "jenny," controls the payout. It keeps the coil tidy and lets you focus on walking the fenceline.

This control is the key. A good unroller has a friction brake or tensioning system that stops the spool the moment you stop pulling. This prevents the dreaded "bird’s nest" of tangled wire. It means you can work alone, walking the line and clipping the wire to posts as you go.

The result isn’t just less frustration; it’s a better fence. A smooth, kink-free wire pulls tight and stays tight. You get a professional-grade result without the wasted time, wasted wire, or strained back. It’s one of the first tools a new landowner should buy after they get their post-hole digger.

SpeeCo S16112400: The Classic Farm Standard

If you see a simple, heavy-duty, red wire unroller hooked to a tractor’s 3-point hitch, it’s probably a SpeeCo. This tool is the definition of no-frills reliability. It’s built from heavy gauge steel and designed to do one thing: unroll heavy wire coils for miles without complaining.

Its strength is its simplicity. You back the tractor up, drop the arms, slide a heavy roll of wire on, and drive. It’s made for long, straight runs across open pasture where you can get a tractor in easily. The weight of the tractor and the implement itself means it stays put and handles the inertia of a full, heavy roll without issue.

This isn’t the tool for tight spots or wooded fencelines. Its reliance on a tractor makes it cumbersome for repairs or weaving through obstacles. But for establishing new perimeter fences on open ground, the SpeeCo is the benchmark for speed and efficiency. It turns a massive job into a manageable afternoon task.

Tarter Wire Unroller: Versatility on the ATV

Many hobby farms have more use for an ATV or UTV than a big tractor. The Tarter Wire Unroller is built for this reality. It typically mounts into a standard 2-inch receiver hitch, making your four-wheeler the perfect fencing machine for navigating tricky terrain.

Think about running a new cross-fence through a partially wooded pasture or along a creek bed. A tractor would be impractical, but an ATV can zip right along the line. The Tarter unroller brings the efficiency of a vehicle-mounted system to the places your tractor can’t reach. It’s ideal for checking and repairing existing fences, as you can carry a roll of wire, posts, and tools all on one vehicle.

While it’s not as massively overbuilt as a 3-point tractor model, it’s more than tough enough for standard rolls of smooth or barbed wire. Its real value is agility. For the property owner with varied terrain, this unroller offers the best balance of speed and accessibility.

The Wire Jenny: Controlled Hand-Carried Payout

Sometimes, a vehicle just won’t work. Fencing on a steep, rocky hillside or through a dense thicket requires a manual approach. This is where the Wire Jenny, also called a Spinning Jenny, is indispensable. It’s a freestanding frame that holds the coil and allows it to spin freely as you pull the wire out by hand.

The magic of a good jenny is its braking system. A simple adjustable friction plate keeps the spool from over-running when you stop pulling. This gives you complete control, allowing you to walk the line, navigate around trees, and pull the wire through obstacles without it turning into a tangled mess behind you. You set it up at the start of your run and simply walk the wire to the end.

This is not the fastest method. It’s a tool for precision and difficult access, not for covering a half-mile of open ground. But for those tough sections that every farm has, a wire jenny is the only practical solution. It ensures a quality result in the worst conditions.

Behlen Country 3-Point Unroller for Tractors

Much like the SpeeCo, the Behlen Country 3-Point Unroller is a testament to heavy-duty, tractor-based efficiency. Made from thick steel and designed for the rigors of farm life, it’s an investment that will likely outlast the tractor it’s attached to. It’s built to handle the heaviest rolls of 12.5 gauge high-tensile wire without flinching.

Choosing between a Behlen and a SpeeCo often comes down to local availability or brand preference, as both serve the same core purpose. They are designed for large-scale projects where you measure fencelines in quarters of a mile, not feet. The 3-point connection provides unmatched stability, ensuring the wire pays out smoothly, even when driving over uneven ground.

For the hobby farmer with a compact utility tractor and plans for serious perimeter fencing, this type of unroller is a game-changer. It fundamentally changes the scale of what one person can accomplish in a day. It’s the right tool for turning big dreams of rotational grazing into a physical reality.

Dare TUW T-Post Unroller: Simple & Effective

Not every fencing job requires a heavy piece of equipment. For quick repairs or short runs, the Dare T-Post Unroller is a brilliantly simple and affordable tool. It’s little more than a specially designed bracket that slips over the top of a standard T-post.

You drive a T-post into the ground at the start of your run, place the unroller on top, and then lift your roll of wire onto it. The T-post becomes the pivot, and the unroller allows the coil to spin freely. You can then walk the line, pulling the wire out as you go. When you’re done, you just pull the T-post and take the whole setup with you.

This isn’t a solution for a 2,000-foot roll of high-tensile wire, as a single T-post can’t handle that much weight and inertia. But for a small roll of electric fence wire or for patching a 200-foot section, it’s an incredibly handy, portable, and effective tool. It’s cheap enough to throw in the toolbox and forget about until you need it.

Gallagher Spinning Jenny for Smooth Wire Control

Gallagher is a name synonymous with serious electric fencing, and their tools reflect that focus on quality and control. While functionally similar to a standard wire jenny, the Gallagher model is a premium version designed for professionals and serious fence-builders. It’s built for smoother operation and longer life.

The key differences are in the details. The Gallagher jenny often features a better-designed, more adjustable braking system and a heavier, more stable base. The spindle and bearings are engineered for a smoother payout, which is critical for preventing the slightest snag when working with stiff, high-tensile wire.

Is it worth the extra cost for a hobby farmer? If you only fence in difficult terrain or you place a high value on smooth, frustration-free operation, then yes. For those who will be building and maintaining miles of high-tensile fence over the years, the superior control and durability make it a worthwhile investment. It’s a professional-grade tool for those who want a professional-grade fence.

Choosing Your Unroller: Tractor vs. ATV vs. Walk

The best unroller for you depends entirely on your property and your primary vehicle. There is no single "best" option, only the right tool for your specific context. Thinking through how you’ll use it is the most important step.

• Tractor-Mounted (SpeeCo, Behlen): Choose this if you have a tractor and are fencing long, straight, open areas. This is the fastest and most efficient method for large-scale projects. Its weakness is a lack of maneuverability in tight spaces.
• ATV/UTV-Mounted (Tarter): This is the sweet spot for versatility. If you have varied terrain with woods, hills, and open pasture, an ATV-mounted unroller provides the best blend of speed and access. It’s perfect for properties where a tractor is too clumsy.
• Manual/Walk (Wire Jenny, Dare): This is essential for precision, repairs, and inaccessible areas. If you’re fencing on steep grades or in dense woods, a spinning jenny is non-negotiable. The T-post model is a great, low-cost addition for quick, small jobs.

Ultimately, many well-equipped farms have two solutions: a vehicle-mounted unroller for the big jobs and a spinning jenny for the problem areas. Start with the one that fits 80% of your needs, and add the other when the project demands it.

Investing in the right wire unroller is about more than just convenience. It saves wire, prevents the kinks that lead to future breaks, and allows one person to build a fence that’s tighter and stronger. It’s a tool that pays for itself on the very first big project, not just in time saved, but in a job done right.