[riderguy57]

I was just introduced to the concept of power rakes. I have 18 acres, about 60% of it is open, rutted and a bit rocky. As I mow it with my JD3720 and Frontier RC2060 cutter, I am constantly (and I mean CONSTANTLY) being rolled, dipped and moved about in the seat. Anything over about 3 mph is unsafe as I can either be thrown off (yes I wear my seatbelt) or the FEL is being banged around due to the ruts, etc. After mowing, I am physically tired from all the gyrations. Even at slower speed, I am still moving about in my seat. Would a power rake be the implement to smooth out the ruts and give me a new surface to deal with? I am also wondering if those that do have a power rake use it truly enough to justify ownership, or is it something that would best be rented? Even if it is used for 20 hours (3 days of use at say $200 a day) it is not a small investment. But for those that own one, do you find that you are going over the same areas to maintain your grounds as erosion and other things have a tendancy to change the landscape? If that is the case, ownership is not out of the question for me, it's just a matter of practicality. To me it looks like an implement that is used more by landscapers to initially smooth over an area of ground. I'm just wondering if it is something for a landowner to also use in day to day or even month to month operations.

Thanks for any input you can give.

 

[has15]

I think before I made that kind of investment I would try the rental unit to see if it would do what you want it to do, you should know if it will with in the first hour. A question I have for you is what is causing the rutting? Is it from driving on the land when it is wet & soft or is it from rain run off or something else? I ask this because if the ground gets soft enough you may get by with a HEAVY roller or if not you may have to consider tilling and regrading. Just some thoughts, good luck:good2:

 

[riderguy57]

I think before I made that kind of investment I would try the rental unit to see if it would do what you want it to do, you should know if it will with in the first hour. A question I have for you is what is causing the rutting? Is it from driving on the land when it is wet & soft or is it from rain run off or something else? I ask this because if the ground gets soft enough you may get by with a HEAVY roller or if not you may have to consider tilling and regrading. Just some thoughts, good luck:good2:

Good question! The land is on a hillside, so I'm thinking it is due to runoff. Years ago it was pasture land and with the 5 ponds on it, the previous owner used it as a minnow farm of sorts. The land is vacation/retirement property for me and my wife. We have a small garage/apartment on it and keep the tractor and other toys in the garage. We are not there full time, so constantly working the land is not possible. That's why I'm wondering if the power rake is the way to go to keep it in shape.

 

[has15]

My only experience with power rakes have been the final step before seeding or laying sod. The only advice I can give you is, if the rutting is from run off that means a lot of your soil is at the bottom of the hill, the right thing to do is to try to place that soil back on the side of the hill how ever with out some kind of erosion control it will be a loosing battle every time it rains.
Just my .02

 

[RandyM]

Hey Scott

Have you checked this video out?

http://www.everythingattachments.com/Implement-Video-Demonstrations-s/2999.htm

Might help you make a decision.

 

[riderguy57]

Have you checked this video out?

http://www.everythingattachments.com/Implement-Video-Demonstrations-s/2999.htm

Might help you make a decision.

That's the video I from which I learned about the rake! I"m just trying to get an idea if in the real world folks find owning one better than renting. The area where my tractor and land is doesn't currently have a 3pt power rake available for rental. I could hire a bulldozer to try and smooth the land, but I'd really like to do it myself with the tractor if possible - that's why I have the tractor in the first place. This implement just seems very expensive so I'd like to hear from as many folks as possible that have the unit.

 

[Kennyd]

I used a rented Rock Hound on a rented Skid-Steer when I built my house. I chose it over the Harley Rake because it collects the rocks/debris rather than windrow-ing it off to the side. It did a very nice job, but it's slow, dusty( I did not have a cabbed SSL) and you have to drive backwards. Doing 18 acres would be tedius at best...

 

[rgd]

When I saw the videos on the Harley Rakes,I was sold...but then I saw the price .There was no way I could justify one of these for my 3 acre yard.....dangit, 'cause I really wanted one. I checked to see if anyone rented them locally...nope....double dangit!:thumbsdown: I am thinking that if I can find an old 3 pt tiller,I'll modify one and make my own as they're not that far removed in design. And this kind of brings up...since this is the case....why are these rakes almost triple the cost? Surely the carbide bullets on the drum cant be that expensive?:nunu:
Oh well...in the meantime I've got to get my old pasture land into something resembling a yard. My plan is to till it,drag a chain harrow over it ,then seed, and finally run a cultipacker over it. My land is east Texas sandy soil with a little clay thrown in here and there...no rocks.Since your in arkansas,I imagine you have alot of rocks and a tiller will not work for you. If thats the case,and you expect this to be an ongoing problem, if it was me, I would probably buy one. I would look for a used one first of course. With the economy like it is,you may find a landscaper needing to sell. Good luck!

 

[Big Cat]

I'm with has15. My only experience with a power rake is when I use it to de-thatch my lawn in preparation for overseeding and top-dressing. I've never used a Harley Rake before, but I would think a tow behind tiller followed up with a tow behind york rake would get the job done right. Only downside would be that you have to seed afterwards, but you'd have to do the same if you used a dozer.

 

[riderguy57]

When I saw the videos on the Harley Rakes,I was sold...but then I saw the price .There was no way I could justify one of these for my 3 acre yard.....dangit, 'cause I really wanted one. I checked to see if anyone rented them locally...nope....double dangit!:thumbsdown: I am thinking that if I can find an old 3 pt tiller,I'll modify one and make my own as they're not that far removed in design. And this kind of brings up...since this is the case....why are these rakes almost triple the cost? Surely the carbide bullets on the drum cant be that expensive?:nunu:
Oh well...in the meantime I've got to get my old pasture land into something resembling a yard. My plan is to till it,drag a chain harrow over it ,then seed, and finally run a cultipacker over it. My land is east Texas sandy soil with a little clay thrown in here and there...no rocks.Since your in arkansas,I imagine you have alot of rocks and a tiller will not work for you. If thats the case,and you expect this to be an ongoing problem, if it was me, I would probably buy one. I would look for a used one first of course. With the economy like it is,you may find a landscaper needing to sell. Good luck!

rdg:

Thanks...some very good points you bring up. I too can't figure out why the price is 3x that of a tiller, as this implement looks like exactly what I need. The price is what is putting me off. I guess for now I'll keep an eye out for a used one, or call a couple landscapers and see if they have one that I can have used on my property for a short period of time. If it works, then it might be worth buying one, knowing that it is indeed the implement of choice.

 

[RRMCCABE]

Sounds like you could use a box blade first.

Depends a lot on your soil. I see you are in AZ so things would be different than for me.

I just prepped 3 acres where we built our new house. All major grading was done by hiring someone with a CAT loader. I did about a weekends worth of "rearranging" soil with a bobcat I rented in the spring.

I used a box style blade on my tractor to do final leveling for seed and a landscape rake to rip out weeds and the lanscape rake did a good job at grading as well.

You have to watch how much you play with it. I had a really nice 2" soft almost tilled top layer which I am sure the seed loved. But if you have anything but flat ground its a double edge sword because as soon as it rains you are fighting erosion.

Key is getting it leveled out and then vegetation growing fast !

I hydoseeded in the spring and had to redo a bunch of stuff in the fall which included another half dump truck load of dirt raked into the ruts and reseeding those areas.

I expect to be doing more filling and seeding this spring.

 

[riderguy57]

Actually, my property is in NW Arkansas. Very hilly and rocky with lots of clay. The property is covered in field grass that would be great to be stripped off so that the ground could be smoothed over. I tried with my box blade, but that is VERY slow and tedious to do with a 5' BB on 18 acres. With all the dips and ruts, even with the BB engaged as much as the tractor will allow, it didn't do a great job of ripping up the top level of ground. Looking at what a Power Rake will do with just a pass or 3 seems to make more sense in what I'm trying to achieve. I'm just really wondering if after I achieve it, will owning a Power Rake make sense. Do these implements get used a lot on the same property, or do most owners use them in professional landscaping work? It's a lot of money to spend on something that may only get used once, but yet trying to rent one in NW Arkansas is difficult, as I can't seem to find an outfit that has one that will attach to my PTO.

 

[RRMCCABE]

Guess I misread that. OK on Arkansaw.

I would say 18 acres is a pretty good task to level out regardless what what you are using.

Wonder if a really good suspension seat would help some of that?

 

[has15]

For the cost of the rake, you may be able to hire the work done and get some kind of work warranty to where they would be responsable for erosion control and reseeding if needed. That kind of equipment is ushally used by people in landscape business or home building. Of corse if you did buy one you could start your own power rakeing business.:thumbup1gif:

 

[riderguy57]

For the cost of the rake, you may be able to hire the work done and get some kind of work warranty to where they would be responsable for erosion control and reseeding if needed. That kind of equipment is ushally used by people in landscape business or home building. Of corse if you did buy one you could start your own power rakeing business.:thumbup1gif:

I am quickly finding out how true your statement is. This implement is pretty rare in NW Arkansas, and I'm wondering if just a landscape rake might be the way to go. I talked with an implement dealer who did not have a power rake in stock, and he recommended a landscape rake for what I want to do (tear off the topsoil and smooth out the dirt so that when the fieldgrass grows back in, it is smooth). As I said in an above statement, I am getting bounced all over the place during my brush cutting of the property. Trying to use a box blade on this type of grass is next to impossible in terms of tearing up the top layer. Anyone have any thoughts on a landscape rake? How does this differ from my box blade? I've attached a couple of pictures of the type of soil I have. I don't know if the pictures do the issue I have justice.

 

[kml]

I have an old beat up power rake ( ATI 686 Preseeder), a landscape rake and a land plane.. My 2 cents:

A power rake is the tool of choice for preparing land for grass but as you've found they have a hefty price tag new. They are generally only used by pros because of the cost. The fact that small businesses in a very competitive industry buy them despite the price tag should give you an idea of how well they work! As long as the overall contour of the site is ok, they will take care of small imperfections like tire and smaller runoff ruts. If you have ruts more than 6-8" wide and deep it may need help.

After the lawn is done the power rake is out of a job, in the grass anyway. Thay are VERY good for gravel driveway maintenance. This is hard on them and your wear parts will feel it. Oh, and when used on gravel they are REALLY loud!!! Beyond that it would sit most of the time. If you can find one cheap enough It'd make that 18 acres go about as fast it could be done and you'd have a great surface for your seed.

The landscape rake (with gage wheels) does a good job but it's work to get the original turf broken through. Something a little more aggresive to break up the sod the first few passes would make it go faster. A land plane or box blade with scarifiers would be good to get the sod broken up with my money on the land plane as a better all around impliment.
Once the sod is broken through, the landscape rake will move it around as you wish and will smooth and level the remaining dirt very well. I've never used a box blade for grass prep so can't help there.


Another option, and the way I'd strongly cosider if it were my land, is not to remove the original sod at all and just spread dirt across the whole area, filling in the ruts but leaving the "good" spots more or less intact. This will get the grass back way faster than seeding and keep your root structure in place for some errosion control. If you go that route a landscape rake would be the ticket. It's a tool you'll find plenty of work for after this job is done.

Any way you do it, looks like you have plenty of seat time ahead of you:beer:

Kelly

 

[riderguy57]

Kelly:

Some very good thoughts. Thanks for the comments.

 

[EquipmentJunkie]

Kelly makes excellent points. I have spent hours behind a Preseeder cleaning up windrowed stones and just as many on a tractor seat operating one. Power rakes are unmatched for fine grading and raking. I suspect that your task could use a tool less expensive which could do more major soil moving like the box scraper or land plane.

 

[eagleeyetv]

I am currently using a box blade to do exactly what you are doing. I have about an acre that bounces me all over the place. I've done about a quarter of it and it is noticeably smoother. It will take me a while, but I'm using it as learning what I can do. I have clay soil with some basketball + sized rocks and a few small tree stumps that have stopped me abruptly. I'm thinking that there is probably something that might make things easier, but once the project is done, I will have no need for the rake, plane, or anything else that I would need to buy.

 

[riderguy57]

Are you using the scarifers or just running the blade over the ground trying to level everything. Let me know what you're doing and how it's working. I don't have a problem running over the same area a number of times if it will level it out somewhat.