Duragrader vs. ????

SonnieP · Aug 10, 2005

I'm looking for something that will keep my 1270' rock driveway level. I've found this Duragrader that is manufactured by a small mom and pop operation over in south Mississippi. The owner is Richard Seal. They make what you want and deliver it to your house.

This unit is a Duragrader Utility 4 in 1...

See picture attached...

I guess I'm not doing something right... I've got image tags inline in the post and have it as an attachment, but neither seem to work. Here's the link to the picture...

http://www.snapbug.ws/images/duragrader4in1.jpg

It weighs about 680lbs and cost $875 delivered for the 7' model.

They want me to send them the money first, then they will build it and have it to me in about a week.

Here's their website.

Supposedly this is much better than a boxblade for leveling... it is adjustable to straight level or crown level along with two other adjustments for something. It is not intended to replace the boxblade for what it does but supposedly grades and levels much better than a boxblade.

Anyone ever heard of these folks or used this brand or is there anything similar that I should consider?

Thanks!

wushaw · Aug 10, 2005

There are several manufactures of this implement.

I seen a guy using one of these types (didn't see the manufactures name) on the ft. part of his property and it was very nice and smooth the next time I drove by and his gravel drive looked great also.
Here is another manufacture.

Grademaster

Bob_Skurka · Aug 10, 2005

I've not seen the Duragrader, but one of my dealers sells the Grademaster.

Lots of people are happy with box blades for their driveways, I have a box blade but my drive is asphalt so I don't have a lot of experience in grading drives. You may want to check out this thead that compares different brands.

Photo Comparision BOX BLADES

SonnieP · Aug 10, 2005

Yeah Bob... I read that entire thread you posted on boxblades. Very interesting. I spoke with one distribution center who manufactures the United boxblades today and he will sell me his heavy duty United 7' for $464. Not bad IMO.

Those Grademaster's look identical to the Duragrader brand. Again I'm able to buy directly from the manufacturer and save. His retail pricing is very similar to the Grademaster retail prices in that link. Duragrader also offers the industrial model which are super heavy for such as maintaining county dirt roads, etc. Again the prices are almost identical. That $875 for the 7' is sounding pretty good right now.

I will probably end up buying a boxblade and a Duragrader just to have both.

gabby · Aug 11, 2005

I have a similar unit and it works well.
gabby

SonnieP · Aug 11, 2005

I checked with Grademaster today and I can buy straight from the distributor... the 7' is $700. I think I'll be safer going this route than sending my money off to someone's house and makin' the check payable to an individual. The Grademaster distributor is not too terribly far from me so I'll just drive and pick it up.

I also think I'll probably go with the Monroe Tufline TB284 box blade. It weighs in at 805lbs w/ 1/4" sides and 877'lbs if I opt for 1/2" sides. Prices $700 and $800 respectively.

That should wind me up with implements.

Brown 484 7' cutter
Grademaster 7'
Tufline 7' box blade

Then again... I may change my mind. Neverending decisions and research.

SonnieP · Aug 13, 2005

Now even another to throw on the pile of considerations... the Road Boss... this thing looks impressive with their before and after pics on their before and after pictures on their website.

Haven't gotten price yet.

Another consideration is getting a grader that will cover my entire driveway instead of having to make 2 passes with a partial overlap. That would also mean the grader would be even more heavy duty and weighted for the dirt road. Our normal county grader that grades our road about once a month does a terrible job leaving washboards and debris everywhere. I might end up being the new road maintenance grader. Obviously the unpaid one... but if it improves our 3/4 mile to the paved road... that'll be okie dokie.

em14 · Aug 13, 2005

Sonnie,
I'm planning to buy this type drag grader in the coming year. I have a lot of "farm" road to grade at my place in Alabama. The last one you posted has an interesting blade. When I was in the Army we use to make these things using heavy timber and old grader blades. We used most anything that would pull one from trucks to tractors as the tow. They worked great. I have seen a Grade Master in use here in this county and it worked great. They just don't use it often enough. I am watching to see how this works out for you.
Leo

have_blue · Aug 13, 2005

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Lots of people are happy with box blades for their driveways, )</font>

Hmmmm... makes me wonder what would happen if you bolted a couple of 4' long skids on the box blade ends. I think it would do the same thing.