Grading Scraper (land plane) - Might be my new favorite attachment

[fordmantpw]

I pull my 5' LPGS with my JD 2720, and there just isn't enough weight to pull the LPGS loaded with gravel up our driveway. Even with a bucket load of gravel up front, I'm still spinning all 4 tires. It's not the HP, it's the weight, and I think you'd be wasting your time and money with a garden tractor.

 

[k0ua]

People often comment that they do not want loaded tires, and that they will just add the needed weight for traction in the form of a ballast box or carry some other long 3pt implement. BUT when you want to pull a ground engaging implement like the LPGS's as shown on these excellent photographs, you need weight. And if you don't have enough built in weight to the tractor, you can augment that somewhat with loading the tires and/or adding wheel weights. Tractors don't work without weight, and if your tractor is light for its frame size, you have to have weight on board to pull these implements.

 

[sleepybozo]

I do have Ag tires (somewhat worn) that are loaded with WWF, and chains are available. No hydraulics, so no 3 pt. hitch, just a winch operated sleeve hitch, so anything heavy enough to work would probably have to be towed. Maybe I'll have to stick with the grader blade, possibly make some small rippers to loosen up the surface on the early passes. Thanks for all the advice.

 

[joeu235]

I recently made a video of my using a Road Boss land plane. They are great implements. It's 8 feet wide and is the biggest load the 98 HP tractor gets all year.

 

[biodegraded]

To OP, I hear ya. I acquired a 7', 1000 lb lpgs this season, and, wow, it is so good at what it does, it's like magic. For what I mostly do, though, the grapple is still my favorite implement. But the land plane is a close second.

 

[vlcakc]

Finally got use my new Woods 84" grading scraper on the driveway for a short while this evening! Still learning how to best use it, but looks like it will do an awesome job. Presents a real rainbow of colors: Blue tractor, green iMatch quick hitch and bright orange scraper! It was too late to take pictures this evening, but maybe tomorrow. Vic

 

[MHarryE]

My LPGS has frustrated me because it quickly fills with vegetation and I have piles of grassy gravel at each end of my 500 foot driveway. I did reset my front blade to level with the sides and rear blade 1/8" higher which has helped, but in these pics I see similar piles. Is the real method to keep going back and forth until I pulverize everything? I have found that it doesn't work well in damp gravel that will compact after grading, and high travel speed like I see in the video does work better. But when I am done, I do have a good looking driveway.

 

[CADplans]

My LPGS has frustrated me because it quickly fills with vegetation and I have piles of grassy gravel at each end of my 500 foot driveway.

I do not think there is any "magic bullet" for vegetation in a gravel drive. AND grass will be the worst.

So, months before I want to do anything to my driveway, I spray Roundup.
In the spring, when I remember, I apply a heavy dose of 2-4,D.
The 2-4,D will stop seeds from sprouting for a month, or so.
It will even stop grass from sprouting.
Then the weeds/grass will get a late start, and there is little the Roundup has to kill.

No plants, no roots, = nice driveway!! :thumbsup:

 

[fidowanttobe]

While I see that these work well making a smooth roadbed, I can't see them working for me. I have to angle the blade and pull the gravel to the middle while cutting down a bit to get the crown, otherwise I would have to do this every time it rains not even mentioning the spring thaw! I really like how they "re-animate" the gravel tho. That isn't something easily done with a box or angle blade.
Now if only I could train the other drivers NOT to drive in the exact same spot every time and to go AROUND the pot holes!!

 

[coldsteelva]

While I see that these work well making a smooth roadbed, I can't see them working for me. I have to angle the blade and pull the gravel to the middle while cutting down a bit to get the crown, otherwise I would have to do this every time it rains not even mentioning the spring thaw! I really like how they "re-animate" the gravel tho. That isn't something easily done with a box or angle blade.
Now if only I could train the other drivers NOT to drive in the exact same spot every time and to go AROUND the pot holes!!

If you have an LPGS narrow enough to require two passes to cover the full width (like I do), then retrieving the gravel is fairly easy; you just drive on the opposite side and the angle pulls everything to the middle instead of the edge and then you go ahead an adjust your crown in the other direction.