3 Point Land Leveler

[lincmercguy]

I'm thinking about getting a 3 point land leveler to keep the driveway smooth and level out various spots around the place. Just light duty stuff. I'm thinking about the Behlen 7' model from Tractor Supply given the good price point. I don't think I need scarifiers since I have a box blade with them for heavier work.

Any other brands I should consider? I'd like to keep it under $2k if possible.

 

[scootr]

Looks good to me. Behlen is a solid name. And 500 pounds is about right for that size. You can add additional weight if needed.

 

[lincmercguy]

My box blade is Behlen and it has served me well.

 

[ruffdog]

I had a Behlen rotary cutter that was well made too.

 

[oosik]

It really depends upon the material you are dealing with. I maintain my mile long gravel driveway with a Land Pride LPGS. Seven feet wide - 820 pounds - with scarifiers. I also have a 400 pound concrete weight that can be placed on the LPGS, if it's really necessary. My driveway surface is a combination of gravel, sand, silt & volcanic ash.

It turns to concrete in the summer. The scarifiers are necessary to get to the bottom of pot holes, riffles and washes.

Weight is your friend when dealing with land engagement implements.

 

[nyone]

Unless your driving surface never packs I think you will need scarifiers.

 

[oosik]

I have one area on my mile long gravel driveway that requires "action" every spring. A very large field drains down on a 150 foot section of the driveway. Ditching helps but does not prevent this area from becoming a muddy section.

So every year I smooth it with my LPGS. This year required multiple passes - in both directions. I was lazy this year - did not use the scarifiers. If I had waited until late May or June - the scarifers would have been an absolute necessity.

My driveway dries out and becomes hard as concrete.

 

[scootr]

Ideally you grade the road when it is wet enough to cut without scarifying and packs back down tight. Moisture content is critical in both cutting and compaction. When we have to cut our road we make sure to wheel roll it all back down. Leaving it fluffed up encourages washboard as the cars skp across the surface.

 

[oosik]

scootr - "ideally" is what we all dream of. Reality is a totally different matter. My mile long driveway has a surface layer that is - gravel, sand, silt and volcanic ash - all mixed together. Right now I have damp sections - a last week muddy section and sections that are already dusty.

But you are correct. I wait until my muddy section ( about 150 feet ) is just damp. Then trowel it smooth and flat as a pool table. I did that three days ago.

Fortunately - the 150 foot muddy section is all that ever needs repair. The remainder - a good 'ol country road.

 

[Piston]

I'm thinking about getting a 3 point land leveler to keep the driveway smooth and level out various spots around the place. Just light duty stuff. I'm thinking about the Behlen 7' model from Tractor Supply given the good price point. I don't think I need scarifiers since I have a box blade with them for heavier work.

Any other brands I should consider? I'd like to keep it under $2k if possible.

Unless you have an extreme situation (like Oosik with his rock hard driveway) then you will rarely need the scarifiers. If you have to scarify once in a blue moon, you have your box blade.

I had a Landpride 2584 with scarifiers, I never once needed to use them. I sold it because I bent the crossbar that holds the cutting edge and it was $1,700 for a replacement blade carrier at the time.

I replaced it with a Road Boss which doesn’t have scarifiers, but I knew I would not need them. Granted, it weighs 1,100lbs so weight certainly helps. You can always add weight but it’s more likely to bend your equipment if you hit an immovable rock.

The land plane is more of a finish implement, you would do the rough work with the box blade, and finishing touches and maintenance with the land plane.

I suggest spending more money to get a heavier land plane vs the scarifiers.

 

[nyone]

I had a Landpride 2584 with scarifiers, I never once needed to use them. I sold it because I bent the crossbar that holds the cutting edge and it was $1,700 for a replacement blade carrier at the time.

looking at the one the OP posted the cross bars not having any diagonal support to help spread the load was my first concern.

I dont have a LP but but I do have a box blade with scarifiers. I finish grade my driveway with it. Typicaly the scarifiers are just at the blade level so I just adjust the top link for ripping up vs finish grading. I have even just graded it with a landscape rake but that's more of just a touch up.

Your not really going to get rid of any pot holes unless you use scarifiers.

 

[oosik]

I have a Bush Hog 720, also. It has scarifiers. I've used it to dig a trench for my trash. I have - finally - collected and disposed of most all of the remains of the old homestead buildings. This material goes in the trench.

The final part of this disposal project - collecting and disposing of all the old nails and spikes. I don't think the old homesteader ever found a nail or spike that he didn't like.

This "forbidden zone" gets smaller every year.

 

[oosik]

I can still remember the fellow who posted pics of the implement he made. It had tires and blades and was VERY heavy. Sort of a rolling LPGS. It had trays built into it - so weight could be added also. It would be an ideal implement for my situation.

My short muddy section gets tire ruts. If I try to repair when it's too wet - I create a mess. If I wait until it's dry and hard - I DO need the scarifiers to get to the bottom of these tire ruts, break up the surface material and restructure and level/smooth the surface.

This year I was most fortunate. Light rain for the two days following my "troweling" of this muddy section. This section had turned rock hard but I was able to repair w/out the scarifiers. The light rain allowed me to pack it down again.

 

[nyone]

The final part of this disposal project - collecting and disposing of all the old nails and spikes. I don't think the old homesteader ever found a nail or spike that he didn't like

We bought my 4yr old a cheap metal detector for Christmas..best investment I have ever made into keeping air in my tires. I found everything from tools I didnt know I lost, nails (all kinds of nails) to window weights.

 

[Piston]

looking at the one the OP posted the cross bars not having any diagonal support to help spread the load was my first concern.

I dont have a LP but but I do have a box blade with scarifiers. I finish grade my driveway with it. Typicaly the scarifiers are just at the blade level so I just adjust the top link for ripping up vs finish grading. I have even just graded it with a landscape rake but that's more of just a touch up.

Your not really going to get rid of any pot holes unless you use scarifiers.

After using the land planes, and box blade, I actually prefer the box blade for maintaining my road and driveway. I find I get just as good results, if not better. However, a lot of people can’t effectively use the box blade and the land plane is certainly an easier tool to use. I’ve even thought about selling my land plane.

 

[oosik]

Yes - nyone. I have a metal detector also. Initially used to find the "stuff" I drop onto the lawn when working on the tractor. AND it was always the OEM unique nut/bolt/clip that could only be purchased at the dealership. Of course - since I bought the detector I've not dropped and lost a single thing.

Since I started my cleanup of the old homestead buildings - its a real God sent device to find the nails and spikes. The old homesteader never knew a nail or spike that he didn't love.

And an apple box full of old drycell batteries. They didn't have electricity and the old drycells powered their radio. The only form of entertainment the old couple ever had.

 

[Williy]

I have an LS land plane serves me well

willy

 

[RadarTech]

Ideally you grade the road when it is wet enough to cut without scarifying and packs back down tight. Moisture content is critical in both cutting and compaction. When we have to cut our road we make sure to wheel roll it all back down. Leaving it fluffed up encourages washboard as the cars skp across the surface.

What do you use for a wheel roller?

 

[scootr]

What do you use for a wheel roller?

I use the neighbors full water truck when new material is put down, A tractor with liquid filled tires and a bucket of wet dirt works good too. Get a tire track on every square inch

 

[RadarTech]

I use the neighbors full water truck when new material is put down, A tractor with liquid filled tires and a bucket of wet dirt works good too. Get a tire track on every square inch

Ok… I was wondering if you made a home made roller for the 3PH.. someone here or on a FB group did that…
And filled it with concrete.. it had to be 1500 lbs.