Rake Box Blade vs. Power Rake Comparison

EquipmentJunkie · Feb 27, 2004

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 · Feb 27, 2004

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 · Feb 27, 2004

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 · Feb 28, 2004

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 · Feb 29, 2004

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

( The Harley also lacks in pulling or pushing dirt around. )

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.

( The Harley is faster in about half the uses but it all depends on the conditions. )

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 · Feb 29, 2004

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 · Mar 2, 2004

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 · Mar 3, 2004

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 · Mar 3, 2004

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 · Mar 4, 2004

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,