DURA-GRADER Problems

[RFB]

FYI, I am the person Wayne referred to as speaking directly to them. I called yesterday, to the number posted on the website
(228) 255-3458)

I spoke with a person who identified herself as Mr. Seal's wife. She said that they were back in business. I also spoke to a man who identified himself as Mr. Seal's son. We discussed a Duragrader, configuration, price and shipping costs. He said that his "stepmother" (the person who answered the phone) would research shipping costs and return my call. It is apparent that they are actively back in business.

Also, this was not a fishing expedition. I am sincerely in the market for a grader product like the Duragrader. The history of Mr. Freeman's order gives me great pause.

RFB

 

[PAB_OH]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I am sincerely in the market for a grader product like the Duragrader. The history of Mr. Freeman's order gives me great pause.

RFB )</font>

As it does me too. I like the product but I have serious reservations about dealing with them. I tried to send an email this morning but our servers have been off and on today. I plan to resend it ASAP.

I will not deal with him until there is a resolution to past problems. That's like sticking a gun in your mouth and hoping there is nothing in the chamber when you pull the trigger.

 

[LetsRoll]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( As it does me too. I like the product but I have serious reservations about dealing with them. I tried to send an email this morning but our servers have been off and on today. I plan to resend it ASAP.

I will not deal with him until there is a resolution to past problems. That's like sticking a gun in your mouth and hoping there is nothing in the chamber when you pull the trigger. )</font>

I called today and got nowhere what I thought I would be paying for one of these units. He said they raised there price 15% to help pay for the cost of high price of steel. The quote I got for a model 700 industrial, was $450 dollars more than what was said here on TBN from last fall. The member SonnieP, said he paid $1020 shipped (model 800). There prices have gone up more than 15%. They wanted $300 to $400 just for shipping. So, I'm not going to order one from them. I just ordered two 7 ft cutting edge blades from my tractor dealer, so I'll be building me one. If I play my cards right, I should be able to keep the cost down somewhere around $300, hopefully no more than $400 total. I have some steel 3" tubing, but I'm not sure how I will be doing the skids. I have some I beams that I might be using for the skids. I think I can gain some weight by filling the 3" tubing with concrete. I'm going to check at work tonight and see what they got in there scrap bin for steel. That will help to drop my cost even more.

Before I forget, the owners son said COD would add 3/4 of the cost to the total. For example, a unit cost $1000, they will add $750 just for the COD. Total cost just for the unit would be $1750 if you go the COD route. That is BS in my book. I have never had to add 3/4 cost of the unit to the total before. I have paid a COD charge before but not that much (thats 75%). That right there tells allot about there business ethics in my opinion. I almost hung up when he told me the COD charge would be 3/4 of the cost of the unit. Then the shipping cost blew me away.

 

[LetsRoll]

Here is a unit just like the duragrader for you guys that are still looking. The place where there built at is in Memphis, Tenneesse. They might have a better price on the units and the price for shipping might be even better than the duragrader shipping price. These units are called the Super-Grader. From the looks of these units, it looks just like the duragrader. Maybe a alternate route for some of you guys to consider.

Super-Grader

 

[Wayne_Freeman]

Here is another reputable dealer that carries a road grader: http://www.sweettractors.com/index.html

 

[LetsRoll]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Here is another reputable dealer that carries a road grader: Soil Leveler 801 )</font>

Soil Leveler 801 Unit

I've called them as well. They said the smaller units sell pretty fast and they don't keep the larger units in stock. I think they had one left. And if I didn't buy it, it would sell pretty quick. But it just wasn't what I wanted. He said it would be mid-April before they would be getting any more of them in. He said the front blade doesn't hang down on there unit. That was one of the reasons why I didn't buy one from them. If the blade would have hung down below the skids, I would have bought one since there about a hour drive from me. O well, I'll be building one anyways.

 

[jgh]

20060218

I can recommend this product as I own one and have used a smaller version on demo:

Terrabond Spreader Grader

Mine is a 7 foot with high sides, cost about $2200 plus frt back in 2004 I believe.

Now be advised I ordered mine via my Bobcat dealer so they bore the risk of any financial problems with Terrabond (and included it in my low rate financing even though they did not mark it up), who is a little unusual to deal with (may be a family operation, and very Louisiana). Not dishonest or unpleasant by any means, just a little different to a Virginia country boy like me /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif.

It works very well, but keep some facts in mind:
1- Dust: if you don't have a cab tractor (or ssl if you want that version), forget it. And if things are wet it will not do well (clogs).
2- Heavy. This doll is HEAVY, but that is what makes it work well. It somehow avoids doing windrows as a road grader does. Mine weighs 1300+#
3- It is expensive, but very well made. And the wearing parts, the 2 blades are std items available from equipment dealers. The skid shoes are welded but can be replaced by pieces of metal.
4- Pick the right size and be sure your tractor has hydraulic links for ease of tilting it. I found the 6 footer I first tried out was easier to set and I used it pretty well before I had adj links. But the big one I wound up with would be a bear without my hydraulic links.

And it does a good job--puts the fines under the gravel and makes your road look freshly graveled a lot longer than with just a regular blade. If you are careless it will make your road ever wider by spreading the gravel more and more. But by watching things you can prevent it.

Terrabond is located in Louisiana but I don't think they were affected much by Katrina.

One weird thing: the Terrabond company got its name from its chemical products (Dust cap, etc) that were designed to control gravel road dust. But they have been out of that business for over a year but have not changed their www site to eliminate references to that original product.

Terrabond bought this product from its designer who then worked for but soon fell out with them. That mess delayed my original demo for a while several years ago.

I'd pay a small premium to a good dealer to order something like this. In my case I actually got a better deal that way.

I have several files which I can make available if anyone wants them:
a- Price list from when I bought (was unchanged at least since 2002: now who knows?)
[I went ahead and posted that as an attachment here]
b- Picture of the 6 footer I tried out on demo
c- Instructions for my unit (about 2 pp)

For some reason, I have not taken pics of it in operation yet, that I can find. It is at our farm, and the road there is chipped tar, so I am not sure how much we will be using it there.

I have no stake in the company but my sense is this product is head and shoulders above what you folks are talking about here. It also costs more so you decide.

If anyone wants to ask any other questions of me on my experience, I'll be glad to answer.

Jim

 

[JSeal]

Hopefully someone in Mississippi can help me out. I ordered a duragrader back in August and regrettably paid by check. Richard Seal the owner talked to me several times and was very helpful. The day Katrina hit was the day my implement was supposed to ship. I knew how bad things probably were and waited a month to call Richard. At first he would answer the phone and promised to ship my order. Time passed and he has gotten very hard to reach. The last time we spoke was before Thanksgiving and he was paying someone returning to my area to deliver my implement. That time came and gone. Now all I can get is his answering machine but no return calls. I certainly don't want to go after a man when he is down but I sure would like my $700 plus back or my implement. Do any of you know Richard in Kiln, Mississippi or can you suggest an appropriate course of action in this case? I don't want to hurt this man or his business. Any help is gratefully appreciated.
DURA-GRADER
6044 CUEVAS TOWN RD.
KILN, MS. 39556
PHONE (228) 255-3458

My name is Joseph Seal from Dura-grader.
this matter has been resovled and the unit has
been delivered with extra cutting edges for the time delay.
Thank you Joseph seal

 

[blueriver]

So, would you mind telling us what the issue was?

 

[Ductape]

Not bad....... only two years to straighten things out.