Ratchet Rake - ever seen/used one?

[JOHNTHOMAS]

From what you all have said about the RR I think it is the right tool for my job, but thought I'd seek some confirmation prior to ordering.

I'm taking delivery of a new 2660 and need to get after some blackberries that have been left for to long and are about ready to take the place over. I'm going to bush hog the area and then plan to backblade as JT describes to get at the roots. So, do you think this will work properly? Suggestions much appreciated!

I do, especially if you can come at them from two sides and better pushing and pulling.

 

[ghostring1]

The Ratchet Rake was the first attachment I bought, I live in central FL and clearing Florida scrub for planting pasture. I use this device 90% of the time. Learning curve was small, mainly in determining the proper angle for what your doing ie. forwards or backwards. I've found it performs exactly as advertised and am very satisfied with the investment.

I replaced the ratchet strap with chains and binders though because one of the lower connector clips got bent up and one of the ratcheting handles was destroyed by a rouge limb.

THe only limitation I have is not with ratchet rake but tractor power.

Re. what condition the ground is left in? Well we have no rocks here just dirt and sugar sand and that is what's left, maybe an stray root sticking up.
My plan is after ratchet raking the property to then disk.

Good luck!

 

[TheKid]

I don't think there is any comparison. A toothbar is for digging, the RR is for raking, stripping, smoothing.

Ken

Not when you make one that has a lot of teeth like mine. I made this because I'm in a constant battle with honeysuckle. Most of the time I can catch a root, or the trunk where it forks, and rip it right out.

 

[AHNC]

I do, especially if you can come at them from two sides and better pushing and pulling.

They are on one side that I can run with the fence line and then backblade away from the fence. In the other area they run down a slope. Not very steep but I'll have to figure that out as far a how/if the cross slope is to be done. I like the wheel side down. I can go forward down the fall line and backblade down it too.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Not when you make one that has a lot of teeth like mine. I made this because I'm in a constant battle with honeysuckle. Most of the time I can catch a root, or the trunk where it forks, and rip it right out.

This looks alot like the upper half of the Ratchet Rake which I rarely use. The lower half with the smaller teeth is what I use almost always.

 

[Ken45101]

From what you all have said about the RR I think it is the right tool for my job, but thought I'd seek some confirmation prior to ordering.

I'm taking delivery of a new 2660 and need to get after some blackberries that have been left for to long and are about ready to take the place over. I'm going to bush hog the area and then plan to backblade as JT describes to get at the roots. So, do you think this will work properly? Suggestions much appreciated!

It depends on how quickly you need the area and for what use. I've found bushhogging pretty well clears out blackberries, especially if you do it a couple of years. Just doing it that way leaves the grass intact whereas digging out the roots will leave you with bare ground.

Blackberries are biennial. They start one year, fruit the next year, and die. Keep them mowed for a couple of years and they are gone in my experience.

Ken

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

It depends on how quickly you need the area and for what use. I've found bushhogging pretty well clears out blackberries, especially if you do it a couple of years. Just doing it that way leaves the grass intact whereas digging out the roots will leave you with bare ground.

Blackberries are biennial. They start one year, fruit the next year, and die. Keep them mowed for a couple of years and they are gone in my experience.

Ken

Ken: You are quite obviously missing the whole point here. Your way would totally eliminate the justificaion to ones self or significant other for purchasing another piece of necessary equipment for "the" tractor in order to get the maximum use out of it!!! You could even not buy a bush hog and spray everything. In fact, don't buy any type mower and just pave or spray everything. Sell the tractor and pay some one to do everything.

 

[Ken45101]

Ken: You are quite obviously missing the whole point here. Your way would totally eliminate the justificaion to ones self or significant other for purchasing another piece of necessary equipment for "the" tractor in order to get the maximum use out of it!!! You could even not buy a bush hog and spray everything. In fact, don't buy any type mower and just pave or spray everything. Sell the tractor and pay some one to do everything.

LOL! No, I believe in having the appropriate tools for the task, I have a long list of toys (ummm...I mean tools) and need a few more.

It is utterly amazing how the right tools will make a job go so much better and quicker. Originally I built trails in our woods with a tractor and scraper blade. Later a small backhoe (B21). The trails were marginal. Now with a mini excavator and a skid steer, it's amazing how much quicker and better quality I can do the job! (Probably safer too!) My wife loves the new trails, so she is pleased with the purchases too!

The skid steer needs several additional attachments though. Unfortunately, skid steer attachments are a lot more expensive than the ratchet rake

Ken

 

[stevess]

just got my rr yesterday and all i can say is it's great. leveled the side of my yard that had been damaged by heavy cement truck tracks. this thing is effortless on grass your looking to rework. so far i'm very pleased
steve
mass
bx25

 

[ChuckinNH]

It depends on how quickly you need the area and for what use. I've found bushhogging pretty well clears out blackberries, especially if you do it a couple of years. Just doing it that way leaves the grass intact whereas digging out the roots will leave you with bare ground.

Blackberries are biennial. They start one year, fruit the next year, and die. Keep them mowed for a couple of years and they are gone in my experience.

Ken

I agree Ken. Part of my yard was chest high blackberries when I bought it, but I knew that it had been seeded to clover, etc. before it was "let go". I didn't have a bush hog then so I waded in with a weed whacker, and knocked things down. Then I kept it mowed, and the blackberries disappeared quite quickly. My son still mentions the dramatic change in that area. I don't have a good picture, but it is the area behind the tree line in this photo.