Is a land plane really worth it?

[andrewj]

For those of you that own/use one, is there a substitute that works just as good? I have a 6 ft box blade....would that do? thank

 

[texasjohn]

Here a land plane can be rented for $50 per day.
Super deal.
No way a box blade will do the same job a land plane will.
Well, actually, it could, but would take 10X as long, IMHO, and burn more fuel than a land plane...which can dig up, transport without material loss, and then drop and spread exactly where you need it.

My net... would always rent instead of purchasing this tool... and wouldn't tackle cleaning out a dirt tank or picking up and moving a lot of dirt without it.

 

[bucmeister]

Texas,

I am now curious as to what kind of apparatus are you calling a "land plane"? It sounds to me like you are describing what we call a "dirt pan" in this part of the country (MS). You scoop the dirt lift the blade up, close the door and take off to where ever you want to dump it. A land plane around here is a drag unit that has a series of blades, 2 in most, more in huge units that literally plane the ground cutting off the high spots leaving the dirt in the low spots.

Dirt Pan

Land Plane

A real land plane Rayne Plane This bad boy will surely level things down in a hurry. I hope to build a much smaller model for working the road at my camp property due to the fact the Frontier style unit we have still leaves highs and lows because of the relative closeness of the blades. Actually, need one 12-16' long to be able to leave a few feet between the offset blade and to eliminate as much roller coaster wave effect as possible.

 

[rvaitor]

For those of you that own/use one, is there a substitute that works just as good? I have a 6 ft box blade....would that do? thank

This is what I think of when considering a land plane - - be sure to watch the videos

CourtMaster Media Gallery

 

[Opti-Mist]

I guess it really depends on the size of your project. I have a 1-1/2 yard RO (Roll Over) Series Soilmover, it is a manual dump, that I have used to raise a road, peel and scrape to level an area, etc. It works well behind my 28 pto hp tractor. Actually, I'd like to have more use for it.

 

[D7E]

This is what I think of when considering a land plane - - be sure to watch the videos

CourtMaster Media Gallery

That would be known as a land leveller here, Land plane is generally thought of as a lighter affair with several cutting edges on the 3pt as bucmeister showed

 

[MtnViewRanch]

I think that the OP needs to clarify, but my guess is he's asking about the twin blade type commonly used on roads.

 

[BarryinMN]

I have a landplane for a skidloader. Way larger & faster than a bucket. Bought it cheap on craigslist.

 

[texasjohn]

OK... guess I was describing a dirt pan rented from county soil conservation.

No experience with a dual blade land plane. sorry for confusion on my part.

 

[irvingj]

Land plane, water plane....



Sorry, I just couldn't resist!

(Apologies included....)