Best Attachment for Parking Lot Leveling

[LawnSpecialties]

I have a lawn maintenance account that has about an acre of land that tractor trailers use. Part is a long path and the rest is the loading dock area. It was probably started as crusher run many years ago but now it's a little bit of everything. It's extremely hard packed and develops pot holes terribly. They have asked me to help maintain it. I would drag and level it out monthly just to keep things a little easier and smoother for the trucks driving through.

Although money is always an object, it's not my number one priority. I want to get the option that makes the job easier for me. In other words, I don't mind spending extra if it gets me home earlier.

I can get a 6' landscape rake for a little over $600. I can get a 6' box blade for about $1600. I can also get a 6'-7' land grader for a little over $2000. I tried using my 6' scrape blade the other day and it struggled to break through the hard pack. I'm sure that will improve as I maintain this area but I think I need something to really break through that top shell of the ground.

Tractor is a DK5310SE Kioti so it should handle these fine. But I'm not 100% sure how I'd like to proceed. Any opinions? In all honesty, I think the landscape rake would do great used on a monthly basis but I admit, I've never used a land grader. I'm just not 100% sure that's the right thing for this job though.

 

[Wolfy]

A landscape rake will pull up rocks. Not ideal for gravel. I would get a stout box blade with adjustable rippers. Adjusting your top link really changes how much cut you get.

 

[workinonit]

Landplane, hands down.

 

[jeff9366]

It's extremely hard packed and develops pot holes terribly.

You need an implement with scarifiers that will penetrate to the bottom of the potholes in order to rectify the problem.

Box blade with scarifiers is the "classic" choice. Pretty versatile implement.

Land Plane with scarifiers will be faster but somewhat of a one trick pony.

 

[thclimer]

The land plane and the box blade excel at certain tasks.

The Land plane excels at leveling with little user input because of its skid plates. With scarfiers (which it sounds like you need) it will be as effective as a box blade with scarifiers at digging/ripping down to the depth of the pot holes so that all the material can be compressed evenly, thus eliminating the pot hole. The land plane can also move material but not as efficiently as a box blade.

The box blade excels at moving material. It can also be used for leveling a surface but requires constant user input by either raising or lower the entire implement or adjusting it's top link as the box blade does not have any skid plates and will therefore not float over uneven areas to deposit material making that area level.

Do you have a hydraulic top link? If so, that will make your use of a box blade much easier.

I can imagen at some point in your business both implements would be advantages to have.

I initially purchased a box blade to maintain a 1/3 of mile driveway when I added 120 tons of stone to it. After the second day of constantly fiddling with the box blade trying to level portions of the driveway where stone had been dropped I bought a land plane. The purchase of the land plane cut my leveling time by 80%. I still used the box blade for circumstances where I needed to move a large volume of material because that's what it excels at.

I will admit that I am not an experienced box blade operator, but then you have to ask yourself what is your time worth or how long can you afford to have the driveway or parking area unusable while you learn?

Good luck and let us know what you purchase.

 

[workinonit]

Whether or not you need ripping tines depends on what's on top. If there is enough loose material to move around then a landplane is perfect. I have a crushed asphalt drive that is as hard as concrete but has loose material on top and I just landplane it level every so often. It works great. If you don't have loose material then someone needs to spring for some top dressing. I'm not a fan of ripping tines on something like that or like my drive. When it gets hard packed I don't like disturbing it.

 

[oosik]

I have a mile long driveway. Forty two years ago it was professionally constructed and finished off in crushed rock and sand. Over the years this top layer has become - summertime concrete. Volcanic ash, silt and sand have made it this way. It's hard enough that you can smoke the rear tires on your car and only leave black rubber. Little to no marks on the driveway surface.

I use my Land Pride LPGS GS2584 behind my [AFFILIATE=1, nofollow=true, newwindow=true, title="Kubota"]Kubota[/AFFILIATE] M6040 to make any driveway "corrections". With the scarifiers down it will correct any pothole, riffle or wiffle that needs fixing. It digs deep - smooths out nicely and I pack it down with the big 'ol tractor tires.

 

[hkbirdman]

Landplane, hands down.

I agree - Landplane, with scarifiers.

 

[nyone]

Since it's getting pot holes you need the ripper teeth of a box blade. Anything else and your just filling in pot holes so they can reform. A land plane, rake or rear blade is not the correct tool to do the repairs needed for what you described.

 

[i7win7]

Although money is always an object, it's not my number one priority. I want to get the option that makes the job easier for me. In other words, I don't mind spending extra if it gets me home earlier.

Something to consider

Hoelscher Commercial Products - RB Scraper

Hoelscher is a Bushton, Kansas hay baling equipment and earth moving equipment manufacturer.

www.hoelscherinc.com

Hoelscher Commercial Products - GR Grader

Hoelscher is a Bushton, Kansas hay baling equipment and earth moving equipment manufacturer.

www.hoelscherinc.com

 

[MtnViewRanch]

I am only going to make a few comments, whatever you decide to get (landplane grading scraper IMO) don't even bother with anything less than 1000lbs. Weight is your friend when it comes to this type of work, heavier is better.

If your tractor has draft control, learn how to use it and the job will simply be that much easier.

 

[JohnnyMX]

I agree completely with MtViewRanch. My driveway is crusher with lots of fines and it gets so hard the scarifiers won't touch it with my smaller 450lb box blade. The new landplane is closer to 1000lbs and it has enough weight to let the rippers start to get under the material. If it is really hardpack, think about rippers with no end that will fall off. I got to the point I was welding them on as I kept losing them in the process of ripping a half mile of driveway. Not trying to rep a brand here, but the EA shanks are drop and go. No parts to fail vs. my Landpride box blade and tool-less to adjust.

 

[crashz]

Another option is a power rake. By far the most expensive option, but will loosen and carry the material.

Have you thought of compaction after you have re-graded? I'd want to compact with a small vibratory roller (dual drum) or at least with a pull behind roller. Your graded lot will last a bit longer if compacted.

 

[scootr]

You may find you need 2 tools. 1 to reclaim it and another to maintain it. I have 3 tools for my road, Box Scraper or Gannon, Landplane, and landscape rake, Ultimately I think once you get the holes filled and the area smoothed the rake will do the monthly maintenance job of pulling gravel from the edges to center and filling potholes.

 

[JohnDeereJoey]

Well, if money is not a priority...

I use a ABI TR-3 on my crushed stone driveway. (The lesser models may not have enough weight for the scarifiers to be effective for you.)

I use the TR-3 to re-work my previously neglected driveway (pot holes, ruts, un-level, poor crown...). It also makes for great mechanical weed control.

 

[i7win7]

If your neighbors have 2wd lawn mowers with turf tires, try this prank during "spring fever" season.

They'll fill up their rollers and get stuck in the first wet spot they encounter

 

[jeff9366]

Well, if money is not a priority...

I use a ABI TR-3 on my crushed stone driveway. (The lesser models may not have enough weight for the scarifiers to be effective for you.)

I use the TR-3 to re-work my previously neglected driveway (pot holes, ruts, un-level, poor crown...). It also makes for great mechanical weed control.

Rake - ABI TR3 Rake - Multipurpose Implement - REVIEW (Version 1)

ABI TR3 Rake - Multipurpose Implement - REVIEW 1.0 I received this previously owned ABI TR3~6.5~Command~Rake December 18, 2017. Photo #1. TR3 "Command Series" is ABI's commercial model TR3 rake, with six hydraulically operated scarifiers plus tooth sections fixed on the leveling bar. While...

www.tractorbynet.com

 

[dirttoys]

Another option is a power rake. By far the most expensive option, but will loosen and carry the material.

Have you thought of compaction after you have re-graded? I'd want to compact with a small vibratory roller (dual drum) or at least with a pull behind roller. Your graded lot will last a bit longer if compacted.

If you can stand the price, nothing does what a power rake will.

Best,

ed

 

[ovrszd]

I'd need more details.

Do they tell you when to come and maintain it? Or are you free to visit the lot as often as you feel necessary?

Are you hired by the hour? Or are you "contracted" to maintain it regardless of how long it takes?

If I were at their mercy as when to come and paid by the hour I'd use a Boxblade.

If I were contracted to maintain it to a standard and the time spent was up to me, I'd go Landplane all the way. And I'd visit the lot frequently and only be there 30 minutes or so and eventually I'd have a lot to be proud of.

 

[LawnSpecialties]

I finally made my decision. I was just going to just get a 6' landscape rake but the company that has me doing this job on a monthly schedule wants me to do another business they manage on a quarterly basis. So after researching quite a bit, I found a very good deal at Titan Attachments. That's where I bought my pallet forks and they usually have really good pricing on quality stuff.

Their 8' Land Leveler with the shanks is on a killer sale right now. Normally $3069 but it's on sale for $2302. Plus I had a code for 5% off anything. That's cheaper than their 6' leveler with shanks. I suspect the 8' is not as popular a choice as the smaller models. Anyway, I hope it arrives next week. I have an additional 31 yards of crusher run being delivered so hopefully by the end of next week, we'll be done.

Thanks for everyone's input.