Mid mount grader blade ??

[Jchonline]

I thinking it would be an option for my gravel driveway to keep it maintained.

Why not just get a 3 PT rear blade

 

[LouNY]

You will notice that most tractors with mid mount blades have;
1) very shallow blades and very little ground clearance with them on.
2) unless they are lengthened most are 2wd, and many of the lengthened are 2 wd.
They are a nice idea but the implementation will leave a lot to be desired.

 

[Dwellonroof]

I'm thinking I might like the land plane idea.
wonder if any have adjustable blades?

 

[workinonit]

Not easily adjustable. I think the store bought ones the blades can move up or back but you can't angle them because that changes the length of the blade.

 

[workinonit]

My blades are set 1" below the frame. I made that adjustable and I think it can be adjusted on most of them.

 

[Dwellonroof]

Not easily adjustable. I think the store bought ones the blades can move up or back but you can't angle them because that changes the length of the blade.

That makes sense

 

[KennyG]

Land planes are wonderful at leveling. However for a driveway, you usually want it crowned. This is better done with a rear angle blade.

Land planes have the angled blades so it pulls in one direction and then the other to level out all the low spots. I built my own out of angle iron and, while not very heavy duty, has done very well for leveling loose material.

 

[Dwellonroof]

My drive isn't crowned since it drains to one side.

 

[Cycledude]

Tilmor makes a tractor based on the A-C model G that carries the tools in the middle of the tractor. Tilmor - Tilmor Tractor

You could buy the tool bar and attach the blade to the tool bar. There is also a tractor called the Oggun you could look at. Both are light weight garden crop tractors.

Tilmor likes to claim easy maintenance, I just watched the 19 minute video about battery maintenance on the very bottom of their page wow it’s crazy difficult , seems like one of the most difficult to access tractor batteries I’ve ever seen !

 

[piper184]

The problem with a 3Pt blade is there is no down pressure available. Also it is close to the rear axle and is subject to "cutting or dropping" material every time your front tires go over a bump or into a dip. If you run back and forth over the same spots pretty soon you have a roller coaster driveway. I maintain 400' of gravel drive with one and there are tricks and techniques you develop to compensate but it is not a perfect solution.

The best thing is to have a an 8-way blade centered between the axles and the farther apart the better, but I can't fit a CAT 140H into my budget or yard... I built my own land plane since I don't have a box blade and it is very useful in some situations but is no substitute for the back blade, especially for clearing snow.

I have been contemplating adding some wheels that will trail the blade as far back as possible so that the 3Pt blade is in the middle of two axles to smooth out the ups and downs. The rear wheels would probably need to caster for turning and should be at least as far behind the blade as the blade is behind the rear tractor axle. Early road graders were implements that were towed behind tractors and will serve as examples of the geometries needed.

 

[LouNY]

Towable graders;

Tow Behind Road Grader | RoadGrada | Stronga Transport Equipment

SAVANNAH ROAD GRADER

https://www.bonnell.com/inventory/?...&accountcrmid=17780564&settingscrmid=17780564


TP Series Grader - DomorHygrade Graders

 

[Gee Ray]

Take a look at this thread for a box blade with wheels.

Box blade vs draw bar scraper

Considering purchasing a box blade and found a draw bar scraper listed also. Trying to decide if it is worth the extra cost to go with the drawbar implement? My intended use would be to remove grass and level an area for a horse arena. After that initial use I'm not certain how much I would use...

www.tractorbynet.com

 

[RancherGuy]

I'm thinking I might like the land plane idea.
wonder if any have adjustable blades?

25 years ago, I bought my first tractor (used) and the dealer sold me a new Rhino rear blade. With the blade, he convinced me to include side plates and a rear gauge wheel. I can't tell you how many times I have thanked him under my breath when I have used it. I think you understand that the problem with a box blade, and sometimes a wheel-less land plane, is that they can dig and gouge. The solution is a set of wheels on both front and back of the blade. This is what a 'gauge wheel' does for a rear blade. Below is a small image of what I have (couldn't find a bigger picture). This is from Rhino:

The benefit of such a blade is all of the possible movements: blade material left/right, blade angle up/down, adjust gauge wheel height. Mine can also swing the entire setup left or right, but that feature really isn't all that useful.

Here is another Rhino product that might help because of it's adjustable gauge wheels:

 

[redman135]

I have seen 2 late model (3 years old) tractors with midmounted blades. Both are 2wd and stretched to fit the blade.
I think you will need to find a low volume tractor modifier to get the tractor you want.
SHOW STOPPER, what are the regulations involved?

 

[Sonny580]

Allis model D roadgrader works good--not too big dont use much gas, already made, does a fair job,! lol
Old Farmall cub will smooth out loose dirt but wont work on packed gravel at all. No small tractor will do hard gravel drives unless you rip up the hard stuff first.

 

[Jwill396]

Yep they are real custom made machines this is a 2021 model

 

[RancherGuy]

You will notice that most tractors with mid mount blades have;
1) very shallow blades and very little ground clearance with them on.
2) unless they are lengthened most are 2wd, and many of the lengthened are 2 wd.
They are a nice idea but the implementation will leave a lot to be desired.

They are extremely useful for finishing. You don't need a tall blade or high ground clearance. If the plan is to move large amounts or cover a large area, more capacity is needed. But for working a driveway or parking lot, they are great. A front or rear blade must have extra wheels in order to do a quality job.

 

[3 Horse Ranch]

I'm thinking I might like the land plane idea.
wonder if any have adjustable blades?

I have one and the depth of cut is adjustable, I think mine will cut about 1 to 1-1/2 inches which is pretty aggressive. I have mine adjusted to cut 1/2 inch deeper on the right. Up one side, turn around and do the other side; it helps keep the crown in the road.