Rake Box Blade vs. Power Rake Comparison

[Bucky4]

Besides the obvious price difference, are there any other advantages of a box blade over a power rake? As a newbie, pictures only go so far and my imagination ain't what it use to be!!

bucky4

 

[Chipperman]

Bucky4
You really can not compare them. Box blade is leveling and grading. Power rake will do leveling but is mainly used for separating rock and preparing a seed bed.
Hope that helps.
Chipperman
/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Bucky4]

Chipperman,

So, what you're saying is you should use both to do a professional type landscaping job????

First - a BB is used to grade and it produces a "rougher" finish on the soil, i.e. large clumps of dirt and visible rocks & stones.
Second - a power rake is then used to pulverize the soil & remove debris (stones, roots, etc)

Is my understanding correct?

bucky4

 

[MarkV]

Bucky,

I believe you have the right idea. A power rake will do some leveling and at some jobs you may not need a boxblade. If the site is rough it sure would help to use the boxblade first. The downside is that a power rake is such an expensive implement that most would have to be doing regular seed bed prep to justify the cost. For the occasional user a boxblade, landscape rake and drag harrow will do a pretty good job for much less of an investment.

MarkV

 

[Bucky4]

Thanks to all for the info. I really like the performance of the power rake, but, you're right, the cost doesn't justify sporadic use.

bucky4

 

[Kioti3054]

Take a look at the TR3 rake. I have a box blade and rake I also have a sub contractor that has a Harley P/R that works for me. I bought a TR3 and I don't use the box blade, rake or the subs Harley any more no need to. The TR3 does a fine job for all three.

Dave

 

[dougzdog]

will the tr3 rake dig up hard packed soil as good as a boxblade? how much is it?

thanks,
doug

 

[art]

THe pro 6 is the best by far. With tilt you can do so much work and quickly without having to hook and unhook equipment. With the hydraulic front teeth it will loosen the top three inches before the rolls. No shields to adjust as the machine uses two rollers to seperate. If you don't feel you have the constant work for it then you really don't need it as it is fast.

 

[RonR]

Art,

Is there any option to acquire a power rake for a CUT in the low 20HP range, say with a width of 5 or 6 feet? While I've not seen a power rake work, they appear to me to be a great tool. Cost appears to be the BIG stumbling block!

I did not find a cost for the TR3, but I just can't believe a drag type implement would work nearly as well as a PTO driven one.

I can understand how someone would choose the TR3 for price alone though--I can REALLY relate to that! (what does a TR3 run pricewise anyway?)

Thanks.

 

[Bucky4]

OK, here's another implement to add to the mix. Does anyone know anything about them? Pros/Cons? Reliability? Cost? How do they compare to the other power rakes?

Rotadairon Soil Renovators

http://mge-dairon.com/sous_type_produit.php?id=1#

Thanks,
bucky4

 

[EquipmentJunkie]

Pros: Very well built. Buries the rocks.
Cons: Pricey. Slow. Mixes the topsoils into the top 6-inches of soil, resulting in lower quality soil. Makes the soil very fluffy.
Definitely get a demo before committing to it. When I saw it run, the resulting seedbed was so fluffy that I would sink into the soil about 2-3 inches. Just not well suited to the North American way of doing things.

 

[gray]

TR# rake? Could anyone dicribe how it is used?

Does it dig in much?
How does it handle rocks and roots?
How smooth and level is the bed afterwards?
What ground speed is used?
How many passes are needed?
Will it resurface potholed drives?
Will it tear up old sod and prep for seeding?
Any use information would help.

Thanks
Gray.

 

[Kioti3054]

Do a search for the TR3 and go to their web site you can request a video to watch. Every tool has it's place and is not fitted for every job. With that said where I live it is very boney. I use a TR3 commercialy for lawn renovations and new construction lawn installations the TR3 levels, loosens and rakes at the same time or one function at a time their is no changing of implements like a box blade, rake and grader blade. Like my earlier post mentioned I have a sub that has a Harley rake on a skid steer and where it is boney the rake and the operator take a beating. The Harley also lacks in pulling or pushing dirt around. It does rake fresh top soil very well and leave a fine seed bed. The Harley cost about $4000. more than a TR3 and for the extra cost and maint. it's not worth it for me. The Harley is faster in about half the uses but it all depends on the conditions. Wiyh all said I know it sounds like I'm againts a Harley but I'm not it is a fine peice of equipment it just doesn't fit me. My only advice is to look at all options out there and choose one that fits your needs.

 

[gray]

Kioti3054,

I am getting a picture here of this tool, but I still have questions that only an operator would be able to answer.

Have you renovated an existong laun with it? How did you do it and what results were there?

Have you graded a rough gravel drive with it? How did that work?

What happens to the rocks and roots and clumps this would kick up? Are they wind rowed off to one side?d

I am leaning toward this tool because I would not use it that often but would like good results when needed.

Thanks for any information you may provide.

PS- I did go to their site and request a vedio but often companies only show the up side to a product or over simplify its function or use.

 

[Rowski]

I'm a little curious as to your comments about the Harley rake, maybe its because its on a skid steer.

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( The Harley also lacks in pulling or pushing dirt around. )</font>

I find I can pull quite a bit of dirt around especially if the end plates are installed. Usually at least 2 or 3 (sometimes 4) buckets full of material. Also being able to windrow debris side to side you can work an area back and forth wind rowing the material.

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( The Harley is faster in about half the uses but it all depends on the conditions. )</font>

The Harley rake is very versatile piece of equipment. I have used it to prep a lawn sites, chewed up packed dirt driveways and roads, smoothed out fields that are rough for brush cutting, add a layer of fresh top soil to a site, spread fresh gravel on parking areas and roads. I have heard of a ski area that has one that uses it for cutting down the ice build up in there parking lots.


As you mentioned they are very pricey but worth the price if you can use it.

Just my $.02.

 

[gray]

Rosky
I have heard all this in other threads and I believe you. Many of us are just looking for something that may not quite do as good a job as the power rake but that given a bit more passes may do an adequate job.
I don't see anything doing better than a power rake. It is a great tool.
I think it is time to start another entry to ferret out more experiences form the TBNr's.

 

[Kioti3054]

Gray
When you get the video it will answer all of your questions. I use mine for lawn renovations and new lawn installs. It does a good job on grading and raking it will loosen the soil as deep as you set the rippers for the roots,stone and vegatation get raked off. If you push with it in revers you can take all of the roots, stones and veg. and place it into one pile. Or if raking you just pull it all into one pile. No need to windrow. The design of it the last function it does is rake as you make a pass. You can also call the company and talk direct they are good people.

 

[Bucky4]

I just received the TR3 video yesterday and viewed it last night. As I suspected, the video didn't impress me. Yes, I did get to see the implement in operation, which gives me a very good understanding of the product in use; however, the demo on flat, bone dry, noncompacted soil leaves me suspicious of it's abilities.

Call me a "doubting Thomas," but I want to see a product perform in the worst case scenarios. Then, and only then, will I be prepared to make an educated decision on the product. (Guess it's the engineer in me!)

So, to those that use one in the real world...

How do they REALLY perform on renovating old lawns with compacted clay-like soil?
Does it take multiple passes to get a good finish? If so, how many is typical? (the video shows a golf course green type finish in one pass. yea right, only in my dreams!!! if every job was that perfect, we'd all be millionaire$!)

Also, does anyone have any experience with the Double Duty (two scarifying rows) or the hydraulic scarifier models? How do they perform compared to the standard version?

Thanks,

bucky4

 

[RonR]

Hi Bucky,

I also ordered and watched the video. If my ground was as sandy as was shown, I could use a drag harrow and get good results.

My ground is clay to gumbo, hard as concrete when it's dry. My guess is the ripper blades would do an ok job in my soil, but don't think the blade would level much without many, many passes.

And as fast as the guy was running it, it looked like your teeth would be jarred out!

The heavyness of the unit and the design looked good to me, based on the photos in the pacakge.

From my youth, we didn't have these fancy tools, so we'd pull a springtooth across the ground once, wait a week, then hit it again and again. A few trips like that and you could get good results.

Best wishes, and I'm hoping to read more from a real user here also.

Ron

 

[utahmule]

Ron,

I've got a 6 ft TR3 and have used it a good bit over the last two years. Most of what I use it for is gravel roads / driveways, dressing horse corrals, and footing work in horse arenas.

I've been really happy with it. It's quite versatile. The rippers will dig in enough to stop my JD 4600 w/ R4s dead in its' tracks.

I haven't renovated an existing lawn, but i have used it to prepare seed beds in previously weedy, or brush hogged acreage. It takes more than one pass, depending on conditions, but it collects the vegetation in a pile that you can drop where you want. It won't windrow, but I haven't had a need.

After usually no more than threeish passes the site looks pretty good.

Disclaimer: I have no financial stake in TR3, just a satisfied customer.

Hope this helps a little,