Big Bee Soil Mover ? ( AKA duragrader )

[goochy]

Darrell Harp Enterprises - Big Bee Soil Mover

I LOVED the Dura Grader , someone let me use . I want one !!! Dura grader has NOT called me back yet . But I an get a great deal on a demo ( like NEW ) Big Bee Soil Mover . It looks the same , looks very heavy duty !! The only problem is the blades , you can not move them like the dura grader . Anyone have a Big Bee ? It looks like it would do a great job like the dura grader did .

 

[CompactTractorFan]

That just looks like a standard land leveler (or land plane)...Many manufactures make them...Here is a video:

YouTube - How To - Tractor Land Plane - Gravel Road Maintenance

 

[MtnViewRanch]

I think that most of the guys here have fixed blade units. Everyone is happy with these types of graders. What size tractor do you have? Big Bee only has 5 and 7 footers. Don't have any idea of the weight of them and that can be a huge factor. I would look around some more, there are quite a few manufacturers of these around.

Good luck

 

[goochy]

retail is $1095.00 ( I think ) I can get like new for $800.00 from a friend . I guess I will get 5 foot . Looking to buy a L3400 or L3700 Kubota 4x4 . I have a Ford 3000 now . Yes it looks like a land plane , but with the angled blades it helps bring gravel to center of road , also makes it very smooth

 

[jenkinsph]

goochy,
Most of the models have angled blades and make the ground very smooth as you say.

I think I have the rare fixed straight blade unit with a reason, I use mine to level and smooth landscapes. So I prefer not to move the soil to either side. When needing to crown a driveway I use the rearblade for this.

Still, for those who intend to use this primarily for driveways having the angled blades is okay but recognize it has limited effect.

 

[goochy]

I was so impressed with the dura grader , it just tore the driveway up ! It made more gravel , come to the top . I did 3 different driveways last week with the Dura grader angled blades , and EVERYONE thought that someone bought a load of new white rock ( and NO one did ) . Everyone wanted to see the next day , what I used to grade driveways . Even after hard rains , driveway still held up good . I do alot of driveways , so I WANT the angled blades , I also loved how it separated the grass form the gravel . I just hope the Big Bee Soil Mover is as good as the Dura Grader . Still waiting for Dura Grader to call me back , before I buy . But so far I have found 2 that look similar for $800.00 to door - $2650 .00 !!!! They just out perform any blade or box blade , ( unless you have a MASSIVE angle heavy duty blade , and huge tractor to pull it ) . I am wanting it for a 35-40 hp 4x4 tractor . My dad wants me to buy a 7 ft , but I am thinking a 5 ft would be better for a L3400 or L3700 that I am looking to buy very soon .

 

[Sponge Bob]

I was so impressed with the dura grader , it just tore the driveway up ! It made more gravel , come to the top . I did 3 different driveways last week with the Dura grader angled blades , and EVERYONE thought that someone bought a load of new white rock ( and NO one did ) . Everyone wanted to see the next day , what I used to grade driveways . Even after hard rains , driveway still held up good . I do alot of driveways , so I WANT the angled blades , I also loved how it separated the grass form the gravel . I just hope the Big Bee Soil Mover is as good as the Dura Grader . Still waiting for Dura Grader to call me back , before I buy . But so far I have found 2 that look similar for $800.00 to door - $2650 .00 !!!! They just out perform any blade or box blade , ( unless you have a MASSIVE angle heavy duty blade , and huge tractor to pull it ) . I am wanting it for a 35-40 hp 4x4 tractor . My dad wants me to buy a 7 ft , but I am thinking a 5 ft would be better for a L3400 or L3700 that I am looking to buy very soon .

Goochy,
I have an 8' Dura-grader and have been very pleased with its performance as well. It has been used on my own driveway and to maintain about a mile long road. As you have pointed out, they do a great job. The blades are adjustable as far as the angle goes. One thing that was recommended by Mr. Seal when I bought mine was the hydraulic ram that adjusts the angle of the connection for the top-link. This works very well to "fine tune" the cutting action of the grader. My tractor is an M7040, which can be brought to a full stop in 4wd if you allow too much cut and gravel to build up. Too wide a unit may be too much for a smaller tractor, but you also don't want to undersize the unit either. If the size of the unit that you borrowed worked well for your tractor, you may want to go with that.

 

[jenkinsph]

I was so impressed with the dura grader , it just tore the driveway up ! It made more gravel , come to the top . I did 3 different driveways last week with the Dura grader angled blades , and EVERYONE thought that someone bought a load of new white rock ( and NO one did ) . Everyone wanted to see the next day , what I used to grade driveways . Even after hard rains , driveway still held up good . I do alot of driveways , so I WANT the angled blades , I also loved how it separated the grass form the gravel . I just hope the Big Bee Soil Mover is as good as the Dura Grader . Still waiting for Dura Grader to call me back , before I buy . But so far I have found 2 that look similar for $800.00 to door - $2650 .00 !!!! They just out perform any blade or box blade , ( unless you have a MASSIVE angle heavy duty blade , and huge tractor to pull it ) . I am wanting it for a 35-40 hp 4x4 tractor . My dad wants me to buy a 7 ft , but I am thinking a 5 ft would be better for a L3400 or L3700 that I am looking to buy very soon .

If you do alot of driveways you will find a time to need all three tools. While I really like my landplane/grader there are times the rearblade and boxblade are more appropriate to use. At the present time my rearblade is a light duty model rated for 45 hp max but the boxblade and landplane/grader are heavy duty.

I like the Duragrader seems like a good unit, but I will likely build my own again next time with some improvements. These graders are becomng more popular and there are lots of good ones out there now, keep your eyes open to other brands too, might find a good deal.

 

[goochy]

How much is a 5 ft Dura Grader ? I can not get any info on it . I have sent 3 different messages to Dura Grader , they must be off all week ? I am ready to order a angled road grader NOW :licking:

 

[goochy]

What size should I buy ? I am buying 41 hp , 4x4 tractor . I want 5 or 6 ft , my dad said buy a 7 ft !! I just do not want one to big . I think 6 ft would be the best , but Big Bee Soil Movers are 5 ft and 7 ft only