[Spudland_Dave]

Ok, so since I sold my BB, i've been thinking about getting a road grader...still too early to tell if I will get one as I'm debating the whole need/want thing. What really made me start "rethinking" of this is this spring (not done yet) has been especially hard on my driveway. I've wanted to build one, but I've come to the conclusion that probably wont happen anytime soon cause of my project load and all the other things I want to do first.

The one I'm looking at is the Land Pride GS1572:

Cheapest I've found one locally thus far is $1500 bucks. I can get the Frontier LP1172 for a bit less...
Nothing in stock regardless of brand, so I cant really kick the tires and get a feel for it but..that essentially means to me (assuming equal quality) that is it worth the couple hundred for the scarifiers. I've never used one before, but my driveway is TOUGH, I'm just picturing the non-scarifer version just sliding across the top and accomplishing nothing.

And now I'm debating if I even need one...thats alot of money to grade the driveway once a year...heck this will be the first time in the 6 years since we built the house I've had to mess with the driveway.
Any thoughts on Scarifiers or no, and if I should even get one in the first place?

 

[eepete]

Regarding scarifiers, I didn't get them because I (still) had my box blade. When trying to just work the ground (red clay here) there are areas where the land plane did not dig in enough. It is a 7 foot wide unit and weights 660 lb, as opposed to my 6' 800# box blade with scarifiers.

So if you have nothing with scarifiers, and you got rid of your box blade I'd get the scarifiers on your land plane.

As for your "haven't touched the driveway in 6 years" comment, well, when you have the land plane you'll clean it up once a year just 'cause you can :laugh:.

My biggest complaint with the land plane is the length. More would be good. The Jenkinsph home built special has the length and weight needed. It's a "Ubber-Grader".

BTW, my GradeMaster U7 was $930 (pre-tax). So for me it's another occasional use medium grade implement. I looked at the Frontier, it was about $1300 with no scarifiers.

TnT also takes the land plane (and the box blade) to a whole new level (If I can use that trendy phrase with a straight face :mocking:....).

Pete

 

[Spudland_Dave]

Thanks Pete for confirming my suspicions...
Yeah, the plan for me all along was to build my own 'Uber grader...only cause I just dont see 1500 bucks of materials or labor in a road grader..I wanted to combine the hydraulic scarifers of a higher end BB and longer sides for the ultimate Land Plane...but I've got too much going on. IF I were to build one, I'll have to shelf another project to do it...

 

[Johndeere3720]

I have been wanting to make a land plane too. But my grandpa said that why would I need it when i have a box blade, rear blade with gauge wheels, and a landscape rake? So I haven't made one, yet. And if I did make one, weight is a must, kinda limiting since my little Yanmar can only lift about 500 pounds on the 3 point hitch. Now if i made one for the 3720 than I could make one real sturdy and heavy. I might even make it over built like all of the things i make and have stuff on it that aren't necessary but make it so it will last forever.