Using heavy pipes for field leveling

   / Using heavy pipes for field leveling #1  
E

EdwardB

Silver Member
Joined
Jun 2, 2004
Messages
166
Location
Michigan
Tractor
JD 4410
I recently came into possession of some long, heavy galvanized steel tubing. One is 6 in diameter and one is 4 in diameter; both 20 long. I was hoping to make a field leveler/smoother/drag out of them. My tractor is 35hp 4WD and I have sandy soil. I was thinking 10 wide so I could get four pieces out of the material. I have a ridged field from years of the previous owner discing between orchard rows, hence I have ridges. Any ideas for the best use/design using these pipes?
 
   / Using heavy pipes for field leveling #2  
I'd probably save them for some other project. A roller would need to be quite heavy to be effective. Your tractor could likely pull one that weighs a ton or so, which may do the trick, if the moisture level is just right.
 
   / Using heavy pipes for field leveling
  • Thread Starter
#3  
I was hoping to use them as a drag or make a frame, not as a roller. I agree a roller would be ineffective.
 
   / Using heavy pipes for field leveling #4  
Dragging almost anything flat works. I too would save the tubing for something else. Also, a round edge isn't great for leveling.
 
   / Using heavy pipes for field leveling #5  
What size field are you talking about leveling?
 
   / Using heavy pipes for field leveling
  • Thread Starter
#6  
About 20 acres, fairly rolling. Smoothing might be a better description than leveling
 
   / Using heavy pipes for field leveling #7  
how bout two railroad ties attached to chain link fence section?
The weight is good and the fence material will break up small clods.
 
   / Using heavy pipes for field leveling
  • Thread Starter
#8  
The ridges are as much as 2 higher than the area between and about 4 wise so I need to move a fair bit of dirt. Clods aren稚 an issue.
 
   / Using heavy pipes for field leveling #9  
EdwardB said:
I recently came into possession of some long, heavy galvanized steel tubing. One is 6 in diameter and one is 4 in diameter; both 20 long...
Click to expand...

I've had some good success dragging oak logs around behind my tractor, so I don't think a drag has to be square to work. Having said that, the one I built after the log rotted away is out of angle iron and it holds solid cement blocks for weight. It cuts of high spots and it pushes the loose dirt to fill in low areas.

If I had the six inch pipe, I might give it a try. First I would cut it down to 12 feet and then drill two half inch holes all the way through it at 4 and 8 feet. I would get a half inch bolt that's 8 inches long and run it through the pipe and into a link at the end of a chain. Then do the same thing with the other end of the chain. Find center on the chain and run another bolt through the links to create a loop that you can put over a 2 inch ball for pulling it.

My guess is that it's going to be too light to do anything, but I would try it like that first just to be sure.

If it's too light, I would fill it with concrete.
 
   / Using heavy pipes for field leveling #10  
That’s a pretty good amount of dirt and area, your going to need a pull type kilfer blade, like a box blade but with wheels, at least. The wider the better but with your tractor your going to be limited. You may consider contacting a local excavating company to see about getting it roughed in and then you could finish it up. It would all depend on how quick, and just how accurate you need it finished.
 
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