Rear Blade REAR BLADE VS. LANDSCAPE RAKE

[adb_11]

I own a John Deere 2210 with 200cx loader and am planning on adding gravel to my driveway. I plan on using crushed limestone to allow it to pack. My current driveway is of the same with a good base. My question is, I am not happy using the box blade for grading, therefore I am considering purchasing a rear blade and using it in the backwards position or purchasing a landscape rack and to fine grade and smooth the gravel out. I don't want the extra charge for gauge wheels as read here but I am unclear as to what to buy as to what would be best in this situation. Any advise is appreciated. Also I do use the loader bucket to backgrade and am pretty happy with the results, however seems very time consuming and thought that one of the two other implements would be alittle quicker, plus I could drive forward rather than backwards all the time.

 

[dirtworksequip]

adb, I'll vote 100 percent for the LANDSCAPE RAKE! Not only can you keep your driveway in good condition with the rake you can also use the rake for snow removal in the Winter. You will find that the Landscape Rake will pop the stone to the surface and give your vehicles better traction in the snow. I'm going to get "flamed" on this one by all the rear blade users. If you need to do any grading of the driveway that can be done with the Front Bucket and then finish off with the Landscape Rake. Landscape rake is my choice for sure!!!

Sincerely, Dirt

Heres what a rake is capable of.

 

[AndyMA]

If you are unhappy with the boxblade (which I think should do the job well) I don't think the back blade will do any better. The angling may help some. What's wrong with the box blade? Does it not bit in enough? If so weight it. A landscape rake without wheels will do a decent job on a drive if it is not packed too hard. I maintain about 3-4 miles of trails and gravel roads with a 8' heavy duty rake each year. I only switch to the boxblade when the roads are very hard or need some substancial material moving. BTW I have 8' rake, box blade and rear blade. I almost enver use the rear blade as the box blade will do just about everything it will do and is quite a bit heavier. In all these implements, heavier and wider is better.

Andy

 

[bandit67]

Either will work ok. However, on the subcompacts with the basic 3pt lift control, the gauge wheels on a rake are very nice - I tried it without and then ended up spending the $$ to get them later, and they made a world of difference in grading/regrading gravel drives.

The rear blade will also work pretty well, and has the added benefit of being a snow removal tool. I've used both on the gravel, and can't say that I liked one over the other, though the rake tends to 'fluff' the gravel, recycled asphalt, etc., whereas the blade, turned backwards, doesn't so much.

 

[fish6942]

I've got a BX2350 which is similar in size to your 2210. I ended up getting a 5 ft backblade for doing driveway maintenance.

Last fall I had 120 yards of 3/4' with fines dumped on the drive and I leveled it all with the back blade. However, the dump truck driver did a great job of spreading it out while he dumped it. Because the material was so loose, I ended up turning the blade backwards.

This spring I had to do some recrowning and sloping. With the blade turned normally, it worked well. I suppose the trick was to hit it before it dried too hard.

 

[adb_11]

Thanks for the post so far. The box blade does great for moving a large pile or digging deep to remove the center crown, however i have been unable to use the BB to fine grade anything! it either digs to deep, pulls to much and then doesn't property "lay" the gravel down. Plus i thought it would be good to angle the blade or rake to one side or the other.

 

[teg]

Try and extend the top-link so that only the rear of the box blade actually touches the ground, the front of the box blade should be higher in the air so that the rear will act like a scape blade that's turned around... Did that make sense I hate Mondays...

 

[jrlandscaping]

Go with the Gauge wheels!!!!

 

[adb_11]

teg,
Yes, makes complete sense thanks alot. I'll try your idea tonight. Do you think that i should try this idea (hopefully have success) and scrap the idea of making a purchase of RB or rake?

 

[Woody_NH]

I don't want the extra charge for gauge wheels as read here but I am unclear as to what to buy as to what would be best in this situation. Any advise is appreciated.

I have both a rear blade with skid shoes and a landscape rake with gauge wheels. My gravel driveway is 650' long and some parts are steep. I have to control drainage: as in getting water to flow off to the side so as not to cause real damage in a heavy rain.
I use the rake to grade and crown the driveway, always with gauge wheels. Unless you have a level smooth situation to start with, it is difficult to get good results without the gauge wheels.
I use the tilt rear blade to clear the ditch line and also when angled (not tilted) to make a series of small side swales to carry water to the side. In winter I use the blade with skid shoes for snow clean up after plowing with my truck.
Get a rake with gauge wheels.

 

[teg]

adb_11, "...scrap the idea of making a purchase of RB or rake?...", My guess is yes but take that with a grain of salt. I never used a rake and my experience with the RB was less then stellar... The length of the top-link is very important for RB, BB or the rake, since you have the BB, learn how to make it work. Also, don't forget that you can angle the BB to the left and right. My neighbor uses a RB and knows how to used it... it works very well for him (and fast, too). He owns a BB but never uses it (and it's not just because it's been at my farm ). I just bought my own BB, a used 6 footer.

 

[GreatWhitehunter]

I have a 7' rake and it works great. I recently purchased a 6' rear blade and it was a complete waste of money. The rake does everything the blade can only better. I also have a boxblade and between the it and the rake I have no use for the rear blade.

Matt T.

 

[Solo]

Seems like the only time I use my blade any more is for burning brush piles. I have better luck with the rake for all kinds of driveway maintenance. Go with the rake.

Solo

 

[Diesel-ME]

I have been very happy with my 8' rake w/ flip down blade for road and driveway maintenance. Eventually I want to get a BB so as to be able to rip down through hard packed material. The only utility that I see in a RB for my use would be to take advantage off the offset to work over in the ditch area.

But I am able to do most of what I need to do with the rake. I have wheels as well, but tend to feather my position control more than I actually bother setting the wheel height. But the wheels are well worth the extra expense IMO. Go with a brand where you can add them later if you don't want to spend the $$ now.

You can crown your road nicely with a rake. You can work material in from the sides easily - without taking too big of a bite. You can turn the rake the other way and work bigger rocks out of the road and towards the ditch.

In the spring I rake up the copious amounts of wood chips from the area where I cut fire wood. Beats using a "manual" rake!! You can rake up brush, etc etc....

So for me it was rake 1st. I'll get a box blade next and later maybe a RB if needed. Your mileage may vary

~Paul

 

[Nuru]

adb, I'll vote 100 percent for the LANDSCAPE RAKE! Not only can you keep your driveway in good condition with the rake you can also use the rake for snow removal in the Winter. You will find that the Landscape Rake will pop the stone to the surface and give your vehicles better traction in the snow. I'm going to get "flamed" on this one by all the rear blade users. If you need to do any grading of the driveway that can be done with the Front Bucket and then finish off with the Landscape Rake. Landscape rake is my choice for sure!!!

Sincerely, Dirt

Heres what a rake is capable of.

Good pics Dirt!

 

[Leon Wittner]

I have a 7' rake and it works great. I recently purchased a 6' rear blade and it was a complete waste of money. The rake does everything the blade can only better. I also have a boxblade and between the it and the rake I have no use for the rear blade.

Matt T.

This is the only wat to go BB are worthless for grading.

 

[Leon Wittner]

Using crushed rock is not the way to go on a driveway, road or parking area. Best to order 5/8 Minus it has the fines and allows the surface bind together. Rock or crushed rock just moves around on the surface. Some folks go with 3/4 Minus but I prefer 5/8 Minus.

 

[sixdogs]

Landscape rake 100%.
Once you use one for this type of task you will understand why they are so highly prized at auctions. I have no use for my blade any longer and use my 8 ft rake for grading and plowing snow.

 

[PAB_OH]

therefore I am considering purchasing a rear blade and using it in the backwards position or purchasing a landscape rack and to fine grade and smooth the gravel out.

If you decide to sell PM me. Depending on size and your location in OH I may be interested. I'm in the market for a used one.

Thanks...

 

[Rara Avis]

Using crushed rock is not the way to go on a driveway, road or parking area. Best to order 5/8 Minus it has the fines and allows the surface bind together. Rock or crushed rock just moves around on the surface. Some folks go with 3/4 Minus but I prefer 5/8 Minus.

Yeah...we call that Yard mix in VT...