MrJoe,
I investigated options to build one as I had a cart, and was going to purchase a used vac unit. However adding up the costs $600 for the vac, modifications needed to the cart etc, and leaves were falling I purchased the Trac Vac 580 Model with 5.5 HP B&S 2 yrs ago $1600 to pull behind my 18 HP Cub Cadet. w/44" deck
Pros of the Trac Vac - Large capacity cart with metal construction, packs materials tightly in from front to back based on the design, fast and easy unload, sucks materials from wet grass and leaves to small sticks, and large tires dont mar lawn.
Cons, overall size 7' long with hitch takes some storage space, also you need to watch pulling around obstacles like walls, borders, trees etc.
We have oaks, with acorns and pine trees, and landscaping to manuever around and it has done a great job so far. I only use it in the fall leaf and spring cleanup after thaching the yard. I also do clean up for a small fee at three other neighbors yards giving a small ROI.
Every fall we end up with a large pile of mulched leaves and grass 15x30' x6' high that I spread some fertilizer on and by mid summer 10-12 yards of great compost to use.
I got the wand attachment that has never been used as it is much faster to simply blow the leaves from the beds then vac off the lawn. I looked at the Cyclone Rake as an alternative, and they were $1300 range, howver soft sides could clog over time, are not as easy to unload, but are lighter, and easily stored.
The only problems I have had are sticks getting stuck in the input chute which I think would be an issue with any vac, then acorns dented the output pipe (galv flex steel) from the impeller, and the fasteners holding the bin together loosened after the first 10 hrs, but are fine since tightening.
Having any lawn vac in my opinion beats raking so good luck in your mission.
Carl
