Road maintenance - Tuffline v. Grademaster v. Roadboss

[Charlesaf3]

Thanks Lonecowboy, that's really useful.

What sore of road do you have? Do you find the road boss performs as well as advertised?

Road boss is actually not being all that good about demonstrations - I asked for one, not even on my land, and I haven't heard anything back. If they are going to charge twice as much as the next guy, they've got to be able to show their product..

[FrogLick]

Originally Posted by PaulChristenson

Here is one more item for you to consider...
TR3 Rake For Gravel Driveway Maintenance >>> ABI Property Owner

This looks like a really nice attachment that's kind of a cross between a box blade and a rake, but probably more easily used than a bb. It's also expensive so I'd have to use it a lot to justify - but I'd sure like to have one!

[GeorgeW]

I use a 6ft. roadboss behind my Kioti DK 45. No problems. Doug from Roadboss who brought one for me to try said I should be able to pull a 7ft. OK. Got a 6 because i have to trailer to some of the roads I keep up and the 7ft wouldn't fit.

I would call the main office in Texas about a demo. They insisted that they demo for me before I bought, no strings attached.

George

[weldingisfun]

My 42 hp Mahindra pulls a 7 foot Roadboss without any problem.

Just like LoneCowboy said "The one advantage of roadboss is that they come out, unload it, hook it up to YOUR tractor on YOUR land and you see if it works. If not, they load it back up, if so, you can then write a check."

How does it work can be said with one word,,,,GREAT!

[Charlesaf3]

Thanks guys, that's good to know - I would have thought a 7 would be hard to pull for a 42.

The problem is road boss - at least their local distributor - seems uninterested in actually giving me a demo, despite my being willing to go to another state to see it (remember, though, we have really small states up here!)

So at that point grademaster which is half the cost seems like more something to take a risk on.

I still can't tell the difference really between grademaster and road boss - online they seem very similar. Anyone had a chance to compare?

[MtnViewRanch]

Do any of you that have grader blades have any action shots? I would like to see some other guys grading besides myself.

[thunderworks]

Originally Posted by Charlesaf3

Thanks all.

I'm actually seriously thinking of getting the L5240 instead, for the extra horsepower and Cat II

Thunderworks, how's your experience with the grademaster been? Does it do a good job? Wish it were longer or heavier?

It does a great job. Wider would be OK, but I don't think heavier would accomplish anything for me. The implement belongs to my neighbor and closest friend. I borrow it a couple of times a year to redo the drive. He borrows my stuff -- I borrow his. Perfect working arrangement.

[Kubota L5030]

Is anyone using the Roadboss or Grademaster to maintain a road, not a one house driveway? I live on a private road that is shared by about 12 homes, plus some cut-through traffic.

We have been paying contractors to maintain the road with road graders and rollers twice a year. Does the Roadboss or Grademaster take care of potholes well?

[MtnViewRanch]

Originally Posted by Kubota L5030

Is anyone using the Roadboss or Grademaster to maintain a road, not a one house driveway? I live on a private road that is shared by about 12 homes, plus some cut-through traffic.

We have been paying contractors to maintain the road with road graders and rollers twice a year. Does the Roadboss or Grademaster take care of potholes well?

1/2 mile of the over 2 miles of road that I maintain is shared with 4 other homes. The grader blade that I have is very similar to the Roadboss, just a bit longer and heaver. I usually grade the road 3-4 times a year. The road is decomposed granite with only a very slight crown to it. These graders work very well in removing wash boarding, filling potholes, all around maintenance of a dirt road. I would think that one could be purchased for what you might be paying to have your road graded by a contractor. Plus once you have the grader blade, the road can get graded when it needs to be graded, not just when everybody has chipped in to pay for it to get regraded. I highly recommend them, just be sure to get the right size and weight for your application.

[LoneCowboy]

I take care of our private road too. It works extremely well on potholes. Breaks the edges down, doesn't just fill it up to come right back. It takes a long time to get beat up again (i.e. I don't have to do it as much). you set a little tilt to it and you can put a nice crown on the road too.

Heavy matters. I've found on really hardpacked dry clay, i simply can't dig into it. It just bounces along the top. I can make 3 or 4 trips and it still just bounces (I usually stop at that point)
It actually works better on roads with some gravel in it. Pure dirt can either become so hardpacked it bounces (see above) or so loose it can fill up.

But it works really well. And considering a small grader rents for $700 a day out here, seems like a heck of a deal.