Opinions about a utility grader attachment...

[Redbug]

Just rolling around the idea of getting a utility grader attachment. The one I am looking at is made by Leinbach.
Utility grader

A question or three...I have a box blade, but was wondering if these graders can do a better job smoothing out a road than the box blade. Do any of you own one or used one and give an opinion? How well do they really work? With the angled blades, how well do they work to move soil/clay towards the middle of the road to build a crown or slope on the road bed? Or is a box blade as good?

 

[john_bud]

Those are made for roads. Express intent and purpose was for roads and they do a great job. Better than a box blade, by far. But they are spendy. If you got the green and the need, it's a good deal. The ones in the link are fairly light duty, but should still be good.

jb

 

[Wingone]

I have one of these land levelers from Town and County(division of Unverth) and like it for working the driveway. A little pricey but sure does a good job and you can also attach a scarifirer to it.

http://www.towncountryltd.com/Literature/Freedom brochure.pdf

 

[Wingone]

Landpride makes one too. I have seen them used at the county fairs at the tractor pulls for leveling. Nice that it has the scairifer built in.

Land Pride GS15 Series Grading Scrapers

 

[Wayne_Freeman]

My duragrader is a specialty attachment and does a far better job maintaining a road surface then a box blade. It depends on the type of surface and takes some practice. Grass or weeds will clog the blades. I don't use mine a lot but when it comes time to smooth the road it is without question the best thing out there for a CUT.

 

[Redbug]

More questions, before I spring...
Suppose your road has a lot of deep ruts. Can the grader move soil to help fill in those ruts...or would you need a box blade to move soil into the ruts first and then use the leveler to do the crowning and smoothing? Just thinking out loud...the blades are not very high on a leveler...so I would guess the dirt moved by a leveler would not be very much?

With the angled blades...would a couple passes add dirt towards the road center enough to add a crown or slope? I have been doing it with my box blade, (with some effort, sometimes). Start low on the shoulder and drag soil towards the center while slowly lifting the box blade. Then make a pass or two going down the road to smooth it all out.

What are the limitations with a leveler?...

 

[Wayne_Freeman]

The way you say deep ruts makes me think you would need to fill them some first. The grader does a great job filling potholes etc but probably would not be carrying enough material to fill deep ruts. I have the dual angled blades and have experimented to the point of realizing it does not build a natural crown either way. If anyone has figured out how to do this please pass it along! You can build crown by dropping one side of the grader a couple of inches lower then the other side and run the lower side on the outside of your road. For a wider road you can do multiple passes to work the crown to center. I am picky about my road and probably make a lot more passes then necessary but the finished product works good and last a year or so.

 

[john_bud]

Dave,

You won't ever find a one shot single pass do it all gizmo for anything. If you have deep ruts, you have to properly fill them. After you determine why they are rutting out and fix that. Once all the rough stuff is done, you can finish with a grader and then keep on top of conditions with the grader alone.

 

[Redbug]

Thanks Wayne, John and Wing. I will see if I can borrow one and try it out first before buying one. A box blade will leave humps, although a set of wheels may help with that. I suspect the grader does not. However, you are right John...no implement will do it all...although I am hopeful.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

These grader blades work very well. Keep in mind that the heaver that one is, the better it will work for you. Just don't get one that is too big or too heavy for your tractor.

A lot of how well these blades work has to do with what type of ground that you have and the moisture content of the ground while you are working it. I typically will grade my roads when the ground is damp, like maybe a day or so after a good rain. My roads are decomposed granite (DG) and are fairly easy to maintain.

I too have not really had much luck relying on the angle of the blades to build up a crown on the road. Seems to maintain them fine, but does not build them up any higher. When I need to add dirt to raise the crown of the road, I will usually use my hydraulic side link to raise one side and deposit most of the material down the center of the road.

You can move a lot of dirt with one if all is right. I have pulled well over a cubic yard at a time with mine.

I own a landscape rake, a rear blade, Gannon box blade and a road grading type blade. Don't get me wrong, they all have their purpose and I have and do use each and everyone of them to maintain my roads, but if I could only have one of them for my road use, it would be my road grader blade.

Good luck with your decision.