quad ruts

[spitter]

I have 2 kids with quads needless 2 say i dont have a lawn anymore . basicaly a rutted up field about 4 acres. Dont realy care but makes cutting grass less than fun.worst off keep spilling frosty beverage in cup holder Just purchased new holland tc29d for this and many other spring time jobs.What is best for getting it back to somewhat smooth ?Imthinking large lawn roller when grass is wet or box blade.NOt looking for perfection because its going to happen again.THanks for input

 

[diggerd]

The box blade will work for sure. Not sure about the roller though. I guess it depends how deep they are. If you have an unlimited budget I'd say a harley rake. In my opinion nothing works better but they are expensive. Around here not many places rent pto attachments but maybe an option to rent one around you.

 

[s219]

Two shovels, two rakes, two wheelbarrows, and get a load of topsoil delivered. Put those punks to work!

Are the ruts from sinking down into the mud, and pushing mud out to the side? If so, the compaction is not too bad. I'd say box blade used gently is the best tool, with some additional topsoil shoveled into the box before you go over the ruts. The box will distribute the topsoil into the ruts as it cuts down the rut sides.

If the ruts are just compacted into dry soil, that is tougher to handle. A pro lawn expert or landscaper would tell you that the soil is permanently compacted, so the only good options is to dig way down and loosen up with a tiller. Either that, or just add topsoil over the top and level, but realize the grass won't grow too good.

 

[CobyRupert]

Get a mower that tows behind the quad

 

[kevin37b]

I cannot imagine mowing being an issue ?

 

[spitter]

Mowing is an issue because ruts are so deep that deck gets banged up and down winds up plowing throw high spots.Needless to say what it does to my back .Dont think simplicity designed there decks to work as a plow . Blades in dirt no beauno.

 

[rasorbackq]

I have the same issue with ruts. Last summer I filled the ruts with dirt I drove over with the tractor to compact but the next rain the water just sat and settled in so that area is always soft now Its in an area that I have to travel through with atv or tractor so now its a mess again.

 

[Egon]

You got two choices. No quads or rough mowing!

 

[lilranch2001]

agreed

 

[LD1]

Not sure what is best. As s219 said, it depends on what kind of ruts. Compacted earth, or displaced earth.

Either way, a roller isnt going to cut it. At least not one you can buy. They just arent heavy enough. And if it is soft enough to kinda work, your tractor is going to make a bigger mess than the roller can fix.

 

[pmsmechanic]

When we bought our acreage I started mowing areas that hadn't been mowed for years. Several areas were quite rough from playing with a plow and planting trees with a backhoe. I didn't want to work up the lawn so I took two old worn out (3 " teeth) diamond tooth harrows and welded them together so that I could mount them on my 3 point hitch. I threw on an old 3 ton truck tire for weight and every spring I "harrow" my lawn. The lawn isn't perfect but it's a lot smoother than it used to be. Something like this would work for your grass. I also use the harrows for leveling out my driveway. We've had problems with ice and when the ice is soft after a warm day the harrows do a nice job of making the ice rough enough so that there is some traction for walking. All in all I use my harrows for a lot more than I had originally planned.

 

[Code54]

Check out an attachment called a land plane. It is made to level and it pretty darn good at it. Not super cheap but not huge money

 

[CNC Dan]

If the kids can drive a quad, they can drive a mower. Have them mow the grass, and they won't be so eager to mess it up.

 

[radioman]

ratchet rake is what you need. When soil is dry enough to play, you can scratch it smooth in no time. goes on the FEL of your tractor.

 

[dieselcrawler]

If the kids can drive a quad, they can drive a mower. Have them mow the grass, and they won't be so eager to mess it up.

X2

But that doesn't answer/solve the rough ground beating up your equipment issue. Lightly dragging a box blade set properly should knock off the high spots and drag the shaved off material into the low spots. If perfect grass isn't required that would be my option... grass grows back surprisingly well/quickly!

Involving the atv riders in the upkeep of the area they ride in would be good experience for them... helps to see the effects of their fun times and the work it takes to maintain property... good life experiance. Gotta pay if ya wanna play. Been workin on that idea with our oldest who seems to think the gas is free and we can go riding anytime all the time.

 

[JohninCT]

I say forget about the grass. Get yourself several truckloads of gravel and build a quad track with your tractor and box blade. Have the kids help too. Fun tractor time for you and fun for the kids too. When the kids grow up you can disk it all up, plant seed and enjoy mowing the grass. Right now enjoy doing things with your kids.

 

[RDrancher]

I say forget about the grass. Get yourself several truckloads of gravel and build a quad track with your tractor and box blade. Have the kids help too. Fun tractor time for you and fun for the kids too. When the kids grow up you can disk it all up, plant seed and enjoy mowing the grass. Right now enjoy doing things with your kids.

I wouldn't use gravel, but I'm in agreement. At this very moment there's a pit bike and a 250 4-stroke running around our back five. The horses see them heading out the gate and make their way over to the other pasture.

 

[crazyal]

Personally I don't see this as a bad thing. Kids get to play with the atvs and then dad gets to play with the tractor. Sounds like a win win to me. Do you have any rental places near you that carry attachments for tractors? A Harley rake will work wonders but they are too expensive to buy just for an occasional project. If you're just looking for cheap simple then do you have any steel suppliers around? I have a 4' section of a 21" I beam. I put a couple of holes in it and I would drag it behind my UTV (before I got my tractor). Steel suppliers usually have them kicking around since most i beams come in multiples of 5'. If a guy needs a 31' I beam he has to buy a 35' one and then pay to have it cut down. Lots of time the guy doesn't take the cut off so and they are worth scrap price to the steel supplier.

 

[ishiboo]

The reason you have water sitting is not just because it's a low spot, but because that ground has been compacted. I'd use a sub-soiled through the ruts to loosen that soil, and then just about anything to smooth it out level again. You'll still probably have to add some topsoil. Use a right angle bracket and buy two skis from Goodwill and bolt them to the blade/box blade/landplane/etc., so it skips over the grass on both sides of the rut.

Create a trail for them with some free wood chips and it'll look a lot nicer.

 

[the whispering oaks farm]

I have 35 acres and drive our quad all over the place and it does the same thing so I use my tractor and a landscape rake, it does a pretty good job of equalizing the high and low spots but sometimes you need to make a few passes and criss-cross it.