Front-End Loader How does a FEL rate for grading a driveway?

[GPintheMitten]

Funny you mention the ratchet rake. I've been eyeballing them for clearing up the woods here at the compound. For $300, I might see if I can round up some HD angle iron and have another welding project.

Somebody else built something similar. Keep in mind, the steel is pretty thick. Maybe 1/2 ".

 

[SPYDERLK]

Yeah, driveway is 1/3 mile long. I had a dozer in here a year ago to get it angled so water runs off into a ditch along the side of the mountain. I've had a few loads of (base) gravel spread on it since but now we are getting a bit of a crown between the tracks and water runs down the tracks. I welded up a 4' x 4' drag with steel tubing and rebar and I can put two 25lb weight plates on it and pull it behind my ATV. It helps, but I really can't direct the gravel very well. My Pop has a small Kubota that came with a 4' blade that he's rarely used. I think it's a 3 point setup, so it may be compatible with whatever I ultimately buy. I don't have a lot of room here and no outbuilding, so I'm trying to avoid ending up with a collection of implements sitting behind my house that I may only use once a year. I think my local Kubota dealer has a lot of stuff I could rent. Thanks!

There should be no specific tire tracks in a driveway. The driveway should be wide enuf that you can get a wheel to run anywhere on it you choose. That way the driveway can be 99% maintained by driving on it intelligently. A FEL and a field drag can easily handle the 1%.
larry

 

[Lumberdink]

Agreed! But I have to deal with what the developer left me and certain geographic limitations. It's tight in some spots.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

It may just be me but a FEL sucks for road grading.

 

[Lumberdink]

Actually, I did a pretty good job on it a couple weeks ago with the borrowed rear blade and a rented landscape rake. It shaped it up and rearranged the stones pretty well. :thumbsup:

 

[PILOON]

The fact of the matter is to do a good grading job your 4 wheels need to drive on a flat surface otherwise you will have all kinds of 'ups and downs'.
That being said, driving backwards while grading (small cuts) is better than pulling a back blade.
Foreward with bucket using the heel also is efficient but wears out the bucked heel. I added a re-enforcement wear strip on my bucket heel just for grading and it works well.
A friend welded a HD 3 x 3" angle to his bucket and that is really efficient.