Best implement - dirt roads and food plots

RonR · Sep 25, 2003

Build new tool using ripper blades--

I needed to bury some electrical cable, and rather than buy a ridge buster, I built a 3PT hitch frame with a 4x4 box beam as the base for multiple tools.

To this I welded one main bracket to handle two ripper teeth together to make a wider trench. My plan is to add brackets to this implement so I can also add
four other ripper teeth spaced a foot apart and have a five foot chisel plow of sorts. This will allow the rippers to go deeper without worrying about the blade hitting the soil.

I've already built a harrow attachment for it; it's 3 rows of 3/8" x 2 strap six inches long welded on 9 inch spacing. Makes a great harrow to create rows to plant in. My new backyard grass looks great now--will be mowing it tonight for the first time.

My next implement will be an aerator or rotary hoe arrangement which will mount to this same beam.

This takes less money / time to build stuff, and it makes storage easier.

I know, I know, Pictures.... I've got to learn to do that. Maybe next month.

Best wishes,
Ron

Bowhunter · Sep 25, 2003

Re: Build new tool using ripper blades--

Ron, I like your idea. I have a similar setup on my atv. I have a receiver system on it, and have fabricated a few different things to use with it. Very handy.

RonR · Sep 25, 2003

Re: Build new tool using ripper blades--

Thanks.

I'd built this before I came across the receiver hitch idea on this site. But I like what I have since it can handle stuff 5 ft wide. An implement with a receiver hitch at that width might be cumbersome and twisty (sorry for using technical talk (grin), unless you used a hitch at each end.

Best wishes,
Ron

R_squared · Sep 25, 2003

Coyote,

If you will be planting your food plots on a regular basis, a 3-point tiller is the only way to go. A box blade is a good way to dredge up those buried treasures in a new plot, but the soil will have softball sized clumps. Box blading will save the tillers clutch and tines. There are dealers that have cheap reconditioned Yanmar tillers for sale. Other options would be to rent or borrow. My neighbor tilled a plot with a walk-behind and the clumps were smaller than box blading. At that time he needed both knees replaced (since then he had the surgery) and needed more tilling, but was not up to it. I helped him out by finishing the rest of his plots with a 3-point tiller. It was effortless and the 3-point tiller powdered the soil. We were both impressed with the results. Another plus for the 3-point tiller is that you can mix sand, straw and compose into your clay soil. Use the FEL to dump it on the top and till it in. A tiller is also good for leveling humps and weed control.

RonR · Sep 25, 2003

Lesson learned: Tiller

When I got my tiller, the skid shoes were set for max depth (maybe 4"). I put in our hard dry clay and it banged and clattered and vibrated--but it did do it's job. After the first tilling though, the tiller was digging about 8 inches deep as the skid shoes were sinking in. The ground was turning to fluf with no base--I just kept sinking in.

So on round 3 of getting ready to plant, I set the skid shoes at 2". This time, the tiller idled right through the stuff. And it left it smoother and finer. Much less effort.

I don't plan to ever change this depth setting!

Best wishes,
Ron

John_Mc · Sep 25, 2003

( I'm running a 24 HP YM 2WD. I have hunting land that has red clay logging roads with ruts, and want to put food plots in the woods... Trying to do it all with one implement)

My local NH / Kubota dealer is just about to start carrying just the thing you need. Check out:
PlotMaster an all-in-one implement designed to do exactly what you are talking about. Comes in 4, 6 or 8 ft widths. I'd GUESS you would want the 4 footer, with a 24 HP, 2WD tractor, but I may be wrong.

John Mc

GaryM · Sep 25, 2003

I've seen these units in the Cabela's catalog. At least the smaller unit.

Bowhunter · Sep 26, 2003

Not downplaying it's usefulness, but from what I've seen, a person could buy a box blade, a tiller, a bush hog, and a sprayer for what the Plotmaster costs.

Slamfire · Sep 27, 2003

Heck if a body didn't mind an antique he'd be able to get a tractor for the price of a Plotmaster. I did.

John_Mc · Sep 27, 2003

( Not downplaying it's usefulness, but from what I've seen, a person could buy a box blade, a tiller, a bush hog, and a sprayer for what the Plotmaster costs. )

I still haven't seen a price on these. I didn't ask my dealer, and never got an answer when I emailed the PlotMaster folks. I'm not really in the market for one anyway, but keep my eyes open for some folks I know who are always looking for something.

One advantage I could see for the plotmaster over individual implements is time. You can do it in one pass. Also, you can get into remote small plots more easily than with some dedicated implements on a large tractor (one trip in with the tractor, vs several trips back and forth to get the next implement). For me, I'd take the time and save the money (I own a boxblade, my neighbor owns a rake and a tiller).

John Mc