DR Grader

[sarti]

I was looking into the Dr grader for working on my lane. My question is would a box blade do the same thing? And I could also use for other things...Has anyone bought or used the Dr grader? How do you rate them? thanks

 

[hudr]

I havent' used the DR, but I have a 3pt grader I pull behind my tractor. I have tried the box blade and I just end up "rub boarding" my drive. The grader has 2 angled blades that work to alleviate that effect. I think the DR is basically the same thing, just in a smaller, draw bar type.
Pretty much the grader can be used anywhere you want to smooth material out. It will clog up w/ grass pretty easily though.

 

[dmccarty]

I think the DR might be good for someone who does not have a tractor. Someone with an ATV or a lawn tractor. I use a box blade to maintain 1800 feet of gravel road. Put the teeth down and rip the road to pieces. Go at least as deep as the depth of the potholes. Put the teeth up and then grade smooth.

A rear blade that I could angle would be nice but what I have works good enough.

Later,
Dan

 

[RonMar]

I built a 2 blade grader like Hudr describes. It is similar to how a DR looks, but without the scarifier teeth up front. It runs on side rails, and the front blade digs 3/4" below the bottom of the rails. The blades are only about 6" high and a little material builds up in front, then goes up and over that blade and into the box. There is a second blade at the back that the material also stacks up in front of and also ultimately goes up and over so the box only carries a little material along with it. The second blade does not dig below the side rails.

Any low spots that the built up material is drug over are filled and scraped level with that rear blade. The side rails act as a reference and hold the blades at an average height, so a smooth surface results. A box scraper with gauge wheels could probably give similar results with a little tinkering, with the gauge wheels providing that reference to smoothly take the high spots into the low spots.

I agree that the DR loooks like a lighter duty version of one of the two blade duragrader type(duragrader, Bad boy grader), with some remote power adjustments. I would say it is geared for someone who dosn't have a 3PH equiped tractor.

 

[MossRoad]

One good thing I have heard about all DR products... if you don't like them you can return them and get your money back (most of it, at least).

Here's a link to their 6 month power equipment trial (30 days for commercial use). Pretty generous, if you ask me.

 

[shvl73]

One good thing I have heard about all DR products... if you don't like them you can return them and get your money back (most of it, at least).

Here's a link to their 6 month power equipment trial (30 days for commercial use). Pretty generous, if you ask me.

I'll bet the freight to Illinois (or from) can be significant.
A boxblade is a pretty handy tool w/o moving parts, so leaving it outside (if needed) for the bulk of the year when you not using it doesn't hurt it. Cheaper too!

 

[weldingisfun]

I was looking into the Dr grader for working on my lane. My question is would a box blade do the same thing? And I could also use for other things...Has anyone bought or used the Dr grader? How do you rate them? thanks

I've got one for sale. http://www.tractorbynet.com/classifieds/ViewItem.php?ItemNum=211367881 They are good but, it was just too small for my needs.

 

[dhawken]

I'm also looking at these things. Got the DVD in the mail, and to be honest, the 6 month thing is kinda hooking me. One poster raised a very good question - is there any way to do a crown or to do "ditches" beside your driveway?

I've got about a 300 yard driveway, built up a little bit. I also have a compact tractor with 3PH. Would a box blade be sufficient? Would one of these things save time?

Oh ya - what does "rub boarding" mean?

 

[jinman]

Oh ya - what does "rub boarding" mean?

Another way of saying washboarding, ripples, whoopie-doos, waves, or ridges (^-^-^-^-^-^). At least that is how I take it.

 

[Western]

Another way of saying washboarding, ripples, whoopie-doos, waves, or ridges (^-^-^-^-^-^). At least that is how I take it.

Yeah you know, like our stomach muscles! I have mine hidden under 45 years of living..LOL

 

[dhawken]

Another way of saying washboarding, ripples, whoopie-doos, waves, or ridges (^-^-^-^-^-^). At least that is how I take it.

I took the blade up and down a few times - made a bunch of washboard, so i figured that might be it! So the blade didn't work too good. Do i need a box blade or is there something I can do with a scraper?

Kinda glad I did not go with the DR blade. The price is more than a scraper AND box blade and I too am not sure how it will perform being towed like that.

thanks

 

[jinman]

I took the blade up and down a few times - made a bunch of washboard, so i figured that might be it! So the blade didn't work too good. Do i need a box blade or is there something I can do with a scraper?

Kinda glad I did not go with the DR blade. The price is more than a scraper AND box blade and I too am not sure how it will perform being towed like that.

thanks

Sometimes trying to correct for ripples with the lift lever will end up causing more. I'd suggest you try to lower your blade until it just digs in slightly and go in reverse to correct minor washboarding. That way, the blade cuts the dirt and makes it smooth before the tractor goes over it. Good luck.

 

[dhawken]

Sometimes trying to correct for ripples with the lift lever will end up causing more. I'd suggest you try to lower your blade until it just digs in slightly and go in reverse to correct minor washboarding. That way, the blade cuts the dirt and makes it smooth before the tractor goes over it. Good luck.

Good idea - i'll try that. I've been going up and down a few more times and it appears to be getting a tiny bit better. The road is very hard packed, so the amount the blade digs is not great at the moment.