Ideas for a big lawn roller

[rvtech]

I want to vastly improve my 5 acres of lawn for faster tractor speed when mowing. I asked a friend that used to work at a golf course how they smoothed out the fairways. He said they made some very large/heavy rollers and towed them around for 2 weeks every spring. He used 200 gallon fuel tanks, welded bearing carriers on the ends and then made a hitch, installed a bung in the end and filled with water.

Anyone have any good ideas of something that will make a good heavy roller?

[dillo99]

How about just a 55 gallon drum - Rod down the middle/fill with water. Or fill with concrete/rocks if you want something more permanent. Another option might be some kind of heavy drainage pipe also filled with concrete.

[Timber]

I thing 3 lawn tractor water rollers would be easier on your lawn. Just make an extension rod for the 2 outside rollers. Baking up would be impossible though. you could link them in a strait line though

[lsenus]

Propane supply compaies that supply residential tanks often times sell off thier old tanks. Weld on some hubs from the rear axle of a front wheel drive vehicle, and make a frame and you have a lawn roller. There's one I saw on a lawn tractor site:

Simplicity & Allis-Chalmers garden tractor Club, Inc. - Looks like I'm not the only roller nut...

[sandman2234]

55 gallon drums usually have a ridge in the center, or two equally spaced, so that would put more ruts in your yard.
A large piece of PVC pipe if your in the plumbing field, used propane tank if your not.
David from jax

[rdln]

I like the propane tank method, a 330gal is maybe 6 feet wide the round edges dont dig into the ground when turning.

[rvtech]

I like the propane idea too. I'm going to call my supplier to see when I'm due for a new tank.

[George2615]

Lawn roller made from 500 gallon propane tank | Freaky Acres

Check out this members pics of the roller he built at the site above. I did a search for rear roller and found it.

[Glowplug]

I like it!! I think I'm going to do the same. It would be really neat to make one like above with a 3ph so that when it's empty it could be lifted and moved. But that would probably be too difficult and not necessary. Be careful when welding used propane tanks though!!

[Dusty]

The one that was made from a large propane tank is impressive, but I wonder how he would be able to control it if the ground isn't level. I know that it would push a small tractor around quite easily. Reminds me of the tail wagging the dog.
Dusty