Box Blade or Drag harrow rake?????

[JeffJ]

I have saved up but can only buy one of these. Which would be better for grading a gravel driveway. The driveway is in, but gets bumps in the gravel every now and then. I need something that I can use to smooth out on a regular basis.

 

[JeffJ]

I have saved up but can only buy one of these. Which would be better for grading a gravel driveway. The driveway is in, but gets bumps in the gravel every now and then. I need something that I can use to smooth out on a regular basis.

 

[greg_g]

Kinda depends upon what you're you're going to pull them with. But generally neither will do the whole job satisfactorily, as what you want to do is often a two stage process. Together, they make the job a breeze. The chain harrow (I assume that's what you mean by drag harrow rake ) is excellent for smoothing/leveling loose gravel, but it can't break it up in the first place. That's where the box blade comes in. The box blade does the grunt work; scraping the center hump and breaking up the potholes, then level/smooth/dress with the chain harrow.

If you bought the chain harrow only, dress the gravel weekly with before traffic has a chance to compact everything. Even though my 8x9 chain harrow weighs nearly 500 pounds, there's still not enough weight there to break up a compacted gravel roadbed. If you bought the box blade only, you'll be disappointed at not ever quite getting that "finished look". But together, they're a great pair.

Or does drag harrow rake perhaps mean a landscape rake?

//greg//

 

[greg_g]

Kinda depends upon what you're you're going to pull them with. But generally neither will do the whole job satisfactorily, as what you want to do is often a two stage process. Together, they make the job a breeze. The chain harrow (I assume that's what you mean by drag harrow rake ) is excellent for smoothing/leveling loose gravel, but it can't break it up in the first place. That's where the box blade comes in. The box blade does the grunt work; scraping the center hump and breaking up the potholes, then level/smooth/dress with the chain harrow.

If you bought the chain harrow only, dress the gravel weekly with before traffic has a chance to compact everything. Even though my 8x9 chain harrow weighs nearly 500 pounds, there's still not enough weight there to break up a compacted gravel roadbed. If you bought the box blade only, you'll be disappointed at not ever quite getting that "finished look". But together, they're a great pair.

Or does drag harrow rake perhaps mean a landscape rake?

//greg//

 

[JeffJ]

Thanks, I did mean chain harrow. I was hoping the rake could do it all, guess I will have to decide which way to go for now. I was looking at a 6 or 8 foot harrow. I will be pulling with a Kubota BX-23.

 

[JeffJ]

Thanks, I did mean chain harrow. I was hoping the rake could do it all, guess I will have to decide which way to go for now. I was looking at a 6 or 8 foot harrow. I will be pulling with a Kubota BX-23.

 

[greg_g]

The fact you're using a BX23 changes the picture. If you're limiting your chain harrow use strictly to dressing gravel roads, ok. But don't expect a 1500 pound sub-CUT on turf tires to do much else with it. The box blade may have a few more uses than will a chain harrow, but you're still going to be working with significant weight and traction restrictions.

//greg//

 

[greg_g]

The fact you're using a BX23 changes the picture. If you're limiting your chain harrow use strictly to dressing gravel roads, ok. But don't expect a 1500 pound sub-CUT on turf tires to do much else with it. The box blade may have a few more uses than will a chain harrow, but you're still going to be working with significant weight and traction restrictions.

//greg//