Land Plane

[Welshman]

I notice that some land planes have ripper teeth and others don't. How useful/necessary are ripper teeth?

 

[oosik]

I have a mile long driveway. It's a combination of gravel, sand, volcanic ash and large rocks, in some areas. I have a very HD rear blade, a LPGS & a roll over box blade ( ROBB ). The LPGS & ROBB both have manual rippers.

The LPGS is worthless in the areas with large rocks. The ROBB is used wherever I need to repair/maintain pot holes. First I scarify, then drag new material to this area to fill and repair. The ROBB with its rippers is my implement for pothole repairs.

The HD rear blade ( Rhino 950 - 96" wide & 1050# ) is generally my "go to" implement. General grading, ditch repair & maintenance, snow removal.

There are times when I wish my driveway looked like the "after" pictures posted by EveryThingAttachment. But it does not and never will. I have very shallow soil cover over basaltic bedrock in many places and this leads to saturated soils and winter pot holes. There are alway the same sections that will need pothole repair and grading after a winter of abuse. That's just the way it is here.

 

[mred2]

everything attachments, when I was working as a kid in Arkansas, we used a float to level the land for rice fields. A lot like a land plane, but a lot bigger and longer and the blades moved the dirt left to right and the next right to left. I always wondered if anything like this would level a pasture.

 

[EverythingAttachments]

everything attachments, when I was working as a kid in Arkansas, we used a float to level the land for rice fields. A lot like a land plane, but a lot bigger and longer and the blades moved the dirt left to right and the next right to left. I always wondered if anything like this would level a pasture.

Sounds like it probably would. Guys level all kinds of things with the land planes. If you guys want to see TONS of discussions, this links to quite a few discussions in the EA Facebook Group. I don't think you have to be a member of facebook or the group to see: Land Plane Discussions in the EA Channel Group
Travis

 

[Tomtint]

There are a bunch of threads here on the LPGS. I have a 72" with rippers. It is a fantastic tool. But will make your road or driveway flat..over time it will cut any crown that may currently exist..and make it pool table flat. One small thing about my LP that I'm sure will be similar with all of gh m is gnat the bottom front wear bars take a beating dragging on gravel. I have replaced my wear bars 3x now..and due to do it again real soon. Fortunately they can be spun around so you get 2x the wear out of 1 set. ..I know ..I know..you are "supposed" to keep the LP flat on the ground as you use it, but in the real world, it will fill with dirt and sink in as you use it. Maybe if you constantly look at it as you go, you can reduce this..but I don't. I just go back and forth a few times until I get a smooth road.

 

[Smokeydog]

You are right about fast wear on the side skids. Need to flip mine and maybe add some hard surfacing rod beads. Since they don’t say probably not made from abrasion resistant (AR) steel. Maybe Travis of EA could speak to that point?

 

[Professor Marvel]

You are right about fast wear on the side skids. Need to flip mine and maybe add some hard surfacing rod beads. Since they don’t say probably not made from abrasion resistant (AR) steel. Maybe Travis of EA could speak to that point?

Yep, I added what that to mine because my shoes wore out pretty fast. The hardface works great

 

[DKCDKC]

I think the land planes look pretty good, but I just can't afford over $1,300+ for a new tool when my box blade does essentially the same thing. I have a mile long gravel drive and am about to have new side plates welded on my second BB. I have a 3038e, so no adjustable top link - which would help me. But my used BB with subsequent touchup with a ratchet rake, has kept my hilly, curvy drive looking pretty good for years. I love to look at nice new equipment but the old farm-boy in me won't let me shovel out cash for something I'm doing with the used stuff I have.

 

[Tomtint]

You are right about fast wear on the side skids. Need to flip mine and maybe add some hard surfacing rod beads. Since they don’t say probably not made from abrasion resistant (AR) steel. Maybe Travis of EA could speak to that point?

I bought a new set of skids and had some hardened steel welded to the bottom and corners. It helps, but still wears faster than I would like

 

[ovrszd]

If I had a BB but no TnT, I'd add TnT before I spent any money on a different tool.