Best implement for grading?

[ctgoldwing]

I need to 'trim out' my gravel driveway. Its about 500 feet long with a significan grade and reverse turn. I don't think I would be able to do a good job with just a FEL. A friend suggested I use an adjustable 3 pt blade as I am trying to maintain a pitch for rain to run off rather than down the driveway. Any suggestions would be most welcome.

 

[RAF]

Would this suit your needs?
YouTube - www.Dura-Grader.com (Spreader/Grader)

There are a few guys on here that use this type of unit to grade.

 

[gumtree]

I use a heavy box blade to do my grading. If money is not an issue that dura-thing looks good.

 

[Opti-Mist]

I use both a box scraper and a rear blade. The blade does a good job of setting the pitch.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

What size tractor do you have? Will this be a one time thing, or are you going to be doing on going maintenance? How much $$$$ are you willing to spend?

Depending on your needs, you could use at least one or more of the following.

Landscape rake
Rear blade
Box blade
Road grader blade (Dura Grader thingy)

Give us a little more info and we can help more.

 

[FxdGrMind]

Here is your expensive solution:
Land Pride GS15 Series Grading Scrapers

If it's still managable (i.e. not completely destroyed) you can make this work:
Land Pride RBT15 Series Rear Blades

I've been drooling over the 1st option, but have the 2nd in 72" length that I use to manage our community road 16+' wide and 3/4 mile long, along with my private drive. I try and grade when it's moist not sloppy and not dry as that makes for choking dust.

As others indicate, you can make due with little or have the best equipment, it all depends on how much you want to spend and/or have to spend, vs the time and effort you are willing to put in.

I enjoy T-Time so I don't mind spending a few hours to do work a different tool might just do in an hour.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Until we find out more info, like at least tractor size, we probably should not recommend specific implements. If he has a bigger tractor, those 15 series implements are not going to hold up very well. Land Pride makes some great stuff, but it takes different series of implements for different size tractors.

Just a heads up FYI

 

[FxdGrMind]

Quote: "like at least tractor size"

You are so right. Sorry, the implements I tagged work great on A B7800.

Your needs may differ due to tractor size.

What was I thinking?
Thanks for the reminder

 

[countrybumpkin]

Any of those would be a good choice depending on you tractor size. Our local County highway dept has a drag style scraper with full tilt and angle adjustments they use on the gravel roads in the flat lands of the county, a lot faster and less expensive than a grader in those areas. Does a very nice job, you also have to consider if you have large immovable rocks that stick up in your road they can be death to some equipment and a pain to work around with some.

If it were me I would at least get something with a angle adjustment, then for the tilt you can always use the adjustment in your lift arms. I've often used a standard box blade and adjusted the arms to make a crown in the road or drive, Just takes a little longer than something with all the adjustability but a lot less expensive. Good luck on your search.

 

[have_blue]

I need to 'trim out' my gravel driveway. Its about 500 feet long with a significan grade and reverse turn. I don't think I would be able to do a good job with just a FEL. A friend suggested I use an adjustable 3 pt blade as I am trying to maintain a pitch for rain to run off rather than down the driveway. Any suggestions would be most welcome.

The most accurate way to grade is with an implement with long skids, or with a long wheelbase. That way, you don't have to fight whoop-de-doo's. That's why land levelers and road graders have a long wheelbase.