Pull behind leaf vacuum

[windcatcher]

I'm sure this post is probably long over, but just wondering if you've checked if there are any of these machines available at a rental company in your area, just to try them out, or even to see how easy they are to start up. For that matter, maybe there is one at a school in your area.

It is an older thread, but I'm still looking. So far, there just aren't many used units (of any quality at all) around here. The closest town I live near has a population of around 2,500 people, and since the mills have shut down many years ago, most people don't have the spare cash to purchase one of these units. I am in touch with Cyclone Rake about purchasing a new unit, and they've also forwarded me a couple of numbers of customers who have said they would demo their units for prospective buyers. I hope to get started with that process very soon. Too much grass already starting to grow for me to cut loose for very long.

 

[yankeerider]

Thank you for chiming in. So far, I've yet to hear from anyone who owns a Dr Power leaf vacuum. That concerns me a lot. Why aren't there any owners chiming in here or other places?

It's still about 7 1/2 (=/-) months until the leaves fall again. I hope to have plenty of time to make a good educated decision on what to purchase by then.

I don’t spend near as much time on this forum as I used to, and just saw this thread. I purchased the top of the line DR over a CR about 5 years ago. It’s used behind my Deere 755 with 60 deck. Previously I had an 8 hp Giant Vac which I got for free but was just too small for my deck. The DR has been awesome. Deciding factors for me was I didn’t like the rigid mount of the CR, and I saw too many complaints about the CR’s bag and zipper issues.

My DR is the newer style with the fabric top over the plastic trailer, not the older all plastic collector.

I’d be happy to answer any specific questions you might have.

 

[gstrom99]

I have a bunch of walnut trees on my 3 acres. How are any of these at picking up walnuts? They are a mess, and the critters leave many of them, and their shells. Any advice is welcomed.

 

[ChuckT]

We had a Cyclone Rake. Based on my experience (oak trees and acorns) nothing's going to pickup _all_ the fallen walnuts on your property, will pickup the loose ones tho.

 

[DJ54]

I went to a community consignment auction a week ago Saturday. They had 2 Agri-Fab Mow & Vacs. One was like new, and this one in pretty decent shape. I usually go and see what they have on Friday evening, so I know if there is anything specific I'd like to see sell. I saw these two, and decided I needed to be there. I watched a fellow start it, and it started on the second pull, and ran well. It was raining pretty good when this one sold, but I was prepared with wearing my water proof duster. There were very few bidders standing around,and getting bids on this was like pulling teeth. I let the two bidders go at it, until it got to $80. I jumped on, and nearly got it for $90, when another bidder got in. I had the last bid of $145.00. Well worth it to me, as I use the grass off the lawn to mulch my garden plants. It's pretty much like making hay. I mow it, then let it dry. Most times, I can pick it up later in the evening, after it's dried.

I bought a used one last year,and it worked great, but, this is a newer model,so I'll upgrade, and sell the other one. By the way, the other one, was in like new condition, and only brought $400.00. Doubt it was used more than one season, and someone too great care of it. They had 4 auction rings going, because of the rain, and I missed the other one by 5 minutes. Not sure what the other guy would have bid, but, I had a limit of half the cost of a new one, due to it's condition, plus it had the hand wand pick-up tube with it. All that new is a $1600.00 machine. We both did well.