DR lawn vac

jgarfield · Sep 15, 2006

Anyone have any experience with the 6 or 7hp DRs? I have a BX23 and want something to tow and pick up leaves. I'm looking at Cyclone Rake and DR, but haven't found a review comparing the two.

Jim

milkman · Sep 15, 2006

I've been where you are, I looked at a lot of vacs and eliminated them one by one, the tow behind like Agri-fab which has a trailer were too long to suite me and hard to back around if in a tight spot so I eliminated the trailer types. I was down to the Cyclone Rake and the DR with the caster wheels, I liked them both, but not sure about the durability of the softsided CR, and then with all them there was the extra engine and the added noise. I looked at the Trac-Vac http://www.trac-vac.com/index_files/662.jpg and really liked that unit, the one with two large garbage cans for collecting the clippings and leaves, it had the engine and is really expensive I thought. I wound up with the Kubota bagger that is driven off the PTO, a lot quieter than one with a gasoline engine, a lot less $'s than the Trac-Vac, and slightly less than DR or the about the same as the CR. I have the Pats Easy Change on my Kubota and I found a way to make the Kubota bagger work with that and I am happy with the performance. I haven't used it to pick up leaves yet, that will be coming up in a few weeks. Here's a link if you want to take a look. These baggers are a lot of money and there are a lot of things to consider, hope you find the right one for you.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/87494-bagger-install.html

Volfandt · Sep 15, 2006

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...af-pickup-what-do.html?highlight=Cyclone+Rake

Volfandt

jgarfield · Sep 16, 2006

Thanks for the replies. I was considering the Kubota PTO bagger, but it looks like it's a pain to put on and take off, plus pricey. The reason I asked about the DR is that they are having a sale right now, $1260 for the 6hp unit w/free shipping, extended warranty, and no payments/interest till June '07. Seems like a good deal...

Quite a few seem to have the CR, and being able to fold it up is appealing, but I was hoping to hear first hand experience about the hard sided DR unit and how it holds up.

jgarfield · Sep 16, 2006

Here's a link to the sale, and I just read that the plastic box does fold up for storage.

http://www.drpower.com/TwoStepDualM...WBModels&SiteEntryMode=0&BC=0:Home&LinkType=3

tchixarro · Sep 16, 2006

jgarfield,

I have the Trac-Vac 662 and this thing is great. I went through the same thing as you are now. This may be a good choice for you as well. As far as taking it on and off, it takes me about a minute. Do yourself a favor and try not to let the cost sway your decision. I know it's a huge factor to anyone, but you get what you pay for.

Lockport · Sep 17, 2006

As yet undecided, myself, I love the chipper feature on the DR. Lawn Vac. In fact, I emailed CR last season and suggested they incorporate it on the high end unit. Time will tell, I suppose!

wickedinhere · Sep 17, 2006

I have the dr 6 horse unit they are well made and work very well . I would suggest the dr over one of those canvas bag types.

ABE56 · Sep 17, 2006

jgarfield said:
Anyone have any experience with the 6 or 7hp DRs? I have a BX23 and want something to tow and pick up leaves. I'm looking at Cyclone Rake and DR, but haven't found a review comparing the two.

Jim

I have a cyclone that runs off my L120 husqua. lawn tractor. I and the wife are pleased w/ it, as she uses it mostly. Haven't had a problem w/ it in 4 yrs

jgarfield · Nov 3, 2006

Well, I went ahead and bought the DR vac. It arrived this week and I set it up and gave it a test run yesterday.... Wow, what a great machine! I got it with the optional 17' vac hose and what used to take me half a day with a blower to get the leaves out of the Vinca beds I was able to vac up in an hour.

What used to be a 5 or 6 step labor intensive process is now done in one easy sweep with the leaves shredded into a tenth of their volume and sent into the 245 gal. trailer which dumps. The trailer comes apart in 5 mins and is able to be stored flat, and the engine comes off with 4 thumb screws and is on wheels so that it can be removed and stored out of the weather. It is a well thought out, designed, and executed machine that works great. With the free shipping, 6mo. free financing, and 4yr extended warranty I don't think you can go wrong with this machine.