Rake Ratchet Rake?

[Tractor Shopper]

Hello everyone,

I sent an email to ratchet rack not that long ago to try and order a new rake for my new tractor. From watching their video to closely following the threads here on TBN this was an attachment that I really wanted and I have a tonne of use for.

When I send my email about a week later i got the response that their company was in a transition period and I should contact them in 4 to 6 weeks time. Just wondering if anyone knows what is going on? I have to say I love their product and from the reviews here it seems to be a good product. Any info is much appreciated, the email I recieved was quite vague and has left me pondering?

 

[bstrom]

So according to the Ratchet Rake website you can buy one at certain Tractor Supply stores in certain states. I actually want to get one to clear some low growing pine brush and birch saplings on my property that can't be brush hogged because of all the rocks and rough ground. But I have to drive about 3 or 4 states away to buy one. This seems pretty stupid to me.

Does anyone have any info on what is going on with these things? Why advertise a product when you can't deliver on it except in a few locations in a few states? Is this Tractor Supply place a reliable outfit?

 

[wploetz]

Here is my take on it.

I just ordered one. I have been trying to make one, cost me $100 for a used 5/8" grader blade, $30 for 2 chop saw blades to cut the teeth, 3 hours of work I will only have one edge not 2 like the ratchet rake and I still have not made the apparatus to attach it to my bucket. I think you need the cable and binder to keep the torque on the teeth from twisting your bucket all to crap.

Did you know you can have one of these contraptions transferred from a stocking tractor supply store to your local store? That is what I am doing and not shipping cost! I will let you know how it works. I will be grading our 3/4 mile hard packed gravel private road.

I don't know what all the hype about them being obscure is all about. I was able to find out all kind of info, including phone and address. The are not John Deere or New Holland so you got to expect them to be a little obscure, especially just getting started. I think it is smart for them to not over-extend themselves by trying to be too big too soon. I am sure they already have quite a chunk of money into it.

Call ratchet rake Mon-Fri 9 am-5 pm at 888-850-6070 and they will tell you what TSC is stocking closest to you. Their address is posted on the spec sheet http://www.ratchetrake.com/images/ratchet_rake_brochure.pdf

Ratchet Rake LLC
405 N. East Street
Carlisle, PA 17013

Call that TSC, get the SKU, call your local TSC and tell them you would like to do a store to store transfer of that SKU.

Note: the 72" rake is made of thicker 5/8" steel while the other models at of 1/2"

I think they do not want to get into individual order fulfilment. I think they are home builders that had a great idea, took it to production and are looking for someone like TSC to distribute it. Sounds like a good plan to me, hope it works out for them.

 

[6dog]

So according to the Ratchet Rake website you can buy one at certain Tractor Supply stores in certain states. I actually want to get one to clear some low growing pine brush and birch saplings on my property that can't be brush hogged because of all the rocks and rough ground. But I have to drive about 3 or 4 states away to buy one. This seems pretty stupid to me.

Does anyone have any info on what is going on with these things? Why advertise a product when you can't deliver on it except in a few locations in a few states? Is this Tractor Supply place a reliable outfit?

I just bought one from the TSC in York PA. My guess is that TSC is doing a test run on the RR to see how well it sells, but my experience buying one from them makes me think it won't go well. They have them tucked away outside and had a cardboard poster advertising them that had "wilted" from the rain and was unreadable. The employees had no idea how to ring them up, as they had no assigned SKU number yet. After 30 minutes, they finally entered it under some generic code. It also took them an additional 15 minutes to find the attaching hardware, and I'm not sure I would have gotten it if i did not ask where it was. :confused2:

It is a great product though, and I wouldn't give mine up now that I have used it a bit. I guess if someone really wanted one and was having trouble getting it transferred to a store, let me know and we can see if we can work something out.

 

[Luremaker]

...I will be grading our 3/4 mile hard packed gravel private road. ...

I would think a box blade would be more efficient for grading a 3/4 mile road than a ratchet rake.

 

[amigauser]

I just emailed them and Barbara sent the SKU info.

------------------------------------------------------------------

Some of the TSC stores will ship the product to you or to your closest TSC. The store that you contact can determine the shipping charges for you. Our website lists the TSC store locations that currently are selling the Ratchet Rakes.

52" Ratchet Rake SKU 1125015 Weight 65 lbs

68" Ratchet Rake SKU 1125023 Weight 88 lbs

72" Ratchet Rake SKU 1125031 Weight 116 lbs

Also, they would ship you the box of hardware which weighs an additional 15 lbs.

Please let me know how you make out. Most of the stores will ship to customers.

Thank you,


Barbara Kostyak
Ratchet Rake LLC

Ratchet Rake, LLC - Tractor attachment, Bucket attachment, Loader, Skid loader, Kubota, Skid steer, Landscape rake, Brush remover, York Rake, Harley Rake, Rock Rake, Tractor rake attachment, Construction attachment, New Holland, Bobcat, Fire safety,

 

[Grut]

Hey guys what is TSC charging for them? I would imagine TSC would get some middle man commish. I have been looking at them and still trying to justify. I have a 62" front bucket with a tooth bar, a 66" roll-over box blade, and a 7.5' back hoe. I can do a good job of tearing up stuff without even trying sometimes. Any one in my situation have one? or know someone? Worth adding to the list of attachments?

 

[Ken45101]

Messicks is also listed on the RR website. They are a good TBN member and could be another source to have it shipped to you.

Ken

 

[wploetz]

Box blade does not touch it unless I use the scarifer teeth and they are 12 inches apart so it takes forever to looses up the gravel the full width of the road. I am thinking all those teeth on the Ratchet Rake shoud be quicker, especially on the Front end loader where I can put some down pressure. Time will tell if I am right.

 

[Grut]

wploetz,
Let us know how it works on the driveway after you use it.

 

[Ken45101]

Box blade does not touch it unless I use the scarifer teeth and they are 12 inches apart so it takes forever to looses up the gravel the full width of the road. I am thinking all those teeth on the Ratchet Rake shoud be quicker, especially on the Front end loader where I can put some down pressure. Time will tell if I am right.

PART of the theory of a box blade is that the teeth hold the blade down so that the scraper digs in too. With properly adjusted tooth depth and blade angle, the bb is more effective than when improperly adjusted. How well that works will depend on the rock size and how hard it is compacted.

I doubt that the RR will be effective on a really hard packed gravel drive with big sized rock. OTOH, if you have that situation, it might be a lot better to keep the current surface undisturbed and solid and just put a top dressing of finer stone on the top.

Ken

 

[wploetz]

Thanks, we are trying to rework what we have, packed bank run gravel. At 3/4 of a mile, 16' wide, even 1" top dressing is 260 yards of material or many thousands of dollars. I have an adjustable hydrallic top link and I have played with teh tooth angle but can not get them to do more than gouge five ruts and the blade will not follow at that depth so that has not worked out too well. Maybe I need to pile weights onto the box blade? Anybody ever tried that?

 

[wploetz]

OK, got my 72" HD Ratchet Rake from Tractor Supply. Let's get the bad stuff out of the way. Ordered it on a tuesday, did not come in until following tuesday. Should have been a one day transaction, 2 at most but someone went on vacation and did not take care of my order. TSC said they did not get the parts box but after a couple hours, they found it.

Now for the low-down.

Instructions - simple, straight forward and accurate. I actually slipped it onto bucket rather than driving into it. Fastened cables and straps easily and ready to rumble.

Function - for all you nay-sayers - this thing WORKS! Super hard packed bank run gravel full of pot holes. I dug back and forth about 3 times each direction over the potholes, a couple more times for the deeper ones, then used the box blade to spread everything out neatly. Quick and effective. I did the whole 3/4 mile in 2 hours and it turned out beautifully. Now it will be interesting to see how quickly the potholes come back!

Highly recommended. The Ratchet Rake rocks!

 

[Ken45101]

FWIW, the local TSC store only gets one supply truck per week, on Tuesdays.

Ken

 

[wploetz]

In Dunkirk NY, they do not get a weekly transfer truck, they shipped this UPS so that excuse won't give them a break.

 

[magicheater]

So how is this different enough from a "ratchet rake" to warrant a patent? Only difference I see is fine and course teeth arrangements.

 

[wjb-49]

The Ratchet Rake was a hot topic on TBN for quite a while; I even read all of the thread with 223 posts and became interested in this device. However, I have not seen much discussion in several weeks. Is everyone who bought one still happy with their purchase? I am very close to buying one (72" model) for my Ford 340B with a 67" bucket? Any opinions on the effectiveness of the 72" model on my tractor?


Thanks in advance for any opinions!