HELP - piece of fence for smoothing yard

wksinatl · May 1, 2006

Guys I need an answer quick!

I am about ready to lay sod. I need to put the finishing touch on my yard. I want to use the chainlink fence drag behind the 4-wheeler. Can you explain (pics would be great) how to make it. I have done a search and haven't really got the info I was looking for. What I have found is a piece of fence with a small log perpendicular to the 4-wheeler. Would the log (or landscape timber) be at the end or up near the 4-wheeler? A friend offered to make a frame for the piece of fence and then weighting it accordingly for the best results.

Any help is appreciated!!!
Keith

RonMar · May 1, 2006

The way I have made them in the past is to use a piece of pipe. I wrap the chain link around the pipe and attach it to itself using bits of wire twisted, or by weaving in a single strand of the fence material the same way ends of rolls are joined to make a continous fence. I then attach chain to each end of the pipe and run it to the vehicle hitch point. The chain keeps the fence material from sliding off the pipe. You want the weight up front to hold the leading edge of the mat on the ground and the rest of the material will follow smoothly as you drag it. Otherwise the leading edge will lift off the ground as you move due to the drag of the fence mesh on the ground. By wraping the front edge around the pipe, you keep the leading edge from snagging on anything and bending down parts of the chain link material(leaves a rut).

Gatorboy · May 1, 2006

Here is a picture of something similar for use on a baseball field. Looks like you could just use rope.

wksinatl · May 1, 2006

thanks guys!

Keith

Pooh_Bear · May 1, 2006

If you got an old wooden pallet then throw it on top of the fence.
Secure it at the corners. Can't beat that setup for dragging.

Pooh Bear

RonMar · May 1, 2006

I like that drag Dave and yes, rope and landscape timbers would work fine. You can also tie on additional timbers or cinder blocks for additional weight if needed. The only drawback to using chainlink is that because of the way the individual strands are weaved together, the material lines up at a 45 degree angle to the direction of drag and only one diagonal is in contact with the ground. This causes the drag to move out to one side of your path or the other(depending on which side is against the ground) instead of following along right behind you as you drag. The amount it slides off to the side is also dependant on the speed you are dragging it. It still works well, you just have to realize that it isn't following right behind you. A drag like the one dave pictured would follow right behind you as you drag it.