HELP ME DECIDE - Ratchet Rake or Landscape Rake?

[bmarshall1]

Hello - I am trying to figure out which will be more helpful in the long run. I am leaning toward the RR but would like some input.

I live in Florida and have about 2 acres to clear and another acre to clean up (we hired a bobcat guy with a grinder). So... I need to scrape up all the grindings, level the ground and plant grass after we bring in some dirt, also have about 100 yards of sand/marl road maintenance, and then work on clearing the 2 acres of scrub brush and small trees.

I am leaning toward getting the RR and just renting the Landscape Rake as it seems like it would be more of a one time use sort of implement.

Lastly, i have a 60 inch bucket on my EX3200, should i get the 68" or the 60" RR?

TIA, Bruce

 

[jeff9366]

The Ratchet Rake will work much better for the uses you have projected.

Landscape Rake is fine for leveling loose soil and straining rocks but less effective than the Ratchet Rake for tasks you have projected. You need to swivel a Landscape Rake from forward to reverse position fairly often as your requirements change. If you have gauge wheels installed, pretty necessary for leveling soil, you cannot swivel a Landscape Rake.

Have you viewed the multiple Ratchet Rake videos on U-tube?

I use a 66" Ratchet Rake on my 72" bucket. You can offset the Ratchet Rake easily on the bucket should you want one side to protrude. I have never felt the need for offset.

Ratchet Rake has periodically changed the width of rakes offered.

Tearing out brush and saplings is mostly done in reverse. If the RR is wider than your bucket you will inevitably tear out things you do not wish to remove, plus wider rake will inhibit tractor passage between trees.

You will not need to rent a Landscape Rake to accomplish all your tasks.

T-B-N ARCHIVE: ratchet rake site:tractorbynet.com - Google Search

 

[mddorange]

:welcome:
To the TBN forum Bruce. You came to the right place to get answers.

Sounds like you have already made a decision and just want confirmation.

 

[fried1765]

Hello - I am trying to figure out which will be more helpful in the long run. I am leaning toward the RR but would like some input.

I live in Florida and have about 2 acres to clear and another acre to clean up (we hired a bobcat guy with a grinder). So... I need to scrape up all the grindings, level the ground and plant grass after we bring in some dirt, also have about 100 yards of sand/marl road maintenance, and then work on clearing the 2 acres of scrub brush and small trees.

I am leaning toward getting the RR and just renting the Landscape Rake as it seems like it would be more of a one time use sort of implement.

Lastly, i have a 60 inch bucket on my EX3200, should i get the 68" or the 60" RR?

TIA, Bruce

The ratchet rake is a great tool!
You will love it!
You should consider ordering it with the chains, rather than the straps.
I think the cost is the same, and the straps are prone to breakage/wear.
The width issue is one of personal preference.
Do you want to go between close trees at the same width as your bucket (60"), or do you want to get the rake as close to a tree stump as possible (68")?
I think mine is a 66" model.
I use it on two different tractors.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Don't have a RR nor ever used one, but I do have a landscape rake. It works great for the chickens to rest upon it, but other than that it is pretty useless. I do a better job of grading my roads by backgrading using the FEL than the rake ever did. It hasn't been moved from its chicken resting place in 4 or more years.

I don't know if the Ratchet Rake will do any better, but for sure you don't need a landscape rake.

 

[EddieWalker]

My experience with a rake was very disappointing. I tried cleaning up about a 5 acre area that I had cleared and wanted to make into a pasture. I had a six foot rake and I learned real quick that it would just bounce along the ground, picking up dirt clods and leaves, but a lot of the smaller branches would get caught between the teeth. In just a very short distance, it would have more then it could hold, and then it all went off to the sides of the rake. The amount of material that I was able to pick up was so small that it really wasn't worth it. I stuck with it for awhile, trying to figure out a way to make it work better, and even posted the question on here only to find out that is what others experienced too. They just felt that was acceptable. I sold it and used my front bucket to scoop up what I could, back dragged the bucket to smooth out the rough spots where the trees used to be, and bring in more dirt where needed. I found that just using the bucket was a lot easier with better results. Now I have a grapple, and that's even better!!!

 

[jbrumberg]

I agree about the landscape rakes. I got a Woods LR108 (9') for free. All I had to do is dig it out from the junk, debris of all kinds, and the vegetation surrounding everything. I got it home; used it once or twice and had similar experiences to the previous posters; and now it sits with other junk, debris of all kinds, and the vegetation surrounding everything.

 

[/pine]

Landscape rakes are most useful for grooming and manicuring existing gravel lanes etc...the ability to adjust the angle is paramount to easily level washboards etc...
They work well to recover gravel that has migrated to the shoulders etc...

On dry material they will tend to separate larger gravel from the fines which is not a good thing in many cases...

I have never seen one used reversed...in fact the Woods rake I have will only angle it will not rotate 180*

 

[rekees4300]

Lastly, i have a 60 inch bucket on my EX3200, should i get the 68" or the 60" RR?

The RR is the way to go. I've had one for 6 years and love it. You get a big increase in your FEL's functionality for a low price. Recommend going with the 60" since it weights less and would be a perfect fit for your bucket.

Ratchet Rake, LLC - Tractor attachment, Bucket attachment, Loader, Skid loader, Kubota, Skid steer, Landscape rake, Brush remover, York Rake, Harley Rake, Rock Rake, Tractor rake attachment, Construction attachment, New Holland, Bobcat, Fire safety, Home fire safety, Fire prevention, John Deere, skid steer attachment, tractor implement

 

[bmarshall1]

Thanks for all the replies everyone - the comments, this just affirm RR is the way to go. I'll be ordering thru TBN if they can get me a 60" (they don't list it).