Ratchet Rake

[texbaylea]

Has anyone used one of these? I did a search but did not get a hit.

Vernon

 

[teg]

I got 139 hits for Ratchet Rake. It's been talked about several times on TBN...

 

[mrmikey]

I made one for mine and I wasn't impressed, it doesn't clear as well as I thought I don't think there's any major difference from what I made to what you can buy.....MIke

 

[Don87]

Has anyone used one of these? I did a search but did not get a hit.

Vernon

Everyone that has one(except for mrmikey), seems to like theirs.

They have their limitations of course, but to clear 'field edges', IE: brambles, and such........they seem to be the 'cat's meow'.

Just remember you will be working soil with them, you'll need to remember to hit it just right..........too wet, ya got a muddy mess.............too dry.............watch tv and save fuel.


EDIT: I personally don't have one(no need for one at my place), but I've watched countless videos of them, and read most of the 139 posts.

 

[KU Gator]

I bought one in hopes that I could use it to remove some sumac. They are thin whippy saplings that spread through the root systems. My trial with it was limited, but not an overwhelming success. It did not want to grab the root system and the saplings tended to slide through it.

But the tool itself seems very well built and it is nice that it comes with everything necessary to attach it to the bucket. I think it is best suited to removing vines, brambles and vegitation that it can really grab. If your tractor supply doesn't have one, have them check at their distribution center and they can probably get it.

 

[babypp2]

Not often

 

[nuffer460]

I got one a few weeks ago. I love it. The biggest problem will be your neighbors. When they see it work, they will find more for it to do. It has cleaned out a treeline, Removed a hedge fence, and leveled out a driveway, and leveled topsoil for a new lawn.

 

[phiferpharm]

I put the RatchRake on the front and the box blade on the back and am relatively happy with it. I tried it on totally dry ground last week, then used it after a good rain storm. It did seem to work better with the ground moist.

 

[IslandTractor]

I have one. Works pretty much as advertized but don't think you will be as efficient as the well practiced inventor driving his skidsteer in the video.:laughing: It is well made and installation is a snap.

I would imagine that there are some tasks for which it is perfect but more realistic is to consider it one type of implement that will be useful along with others in clearing land. It does overlap somewhat in function with a standard "York" 3PT rake and also with a FEL bucket especially with toothbar. It does a nice job on smallish vines/briar etc. Not so sure I'd try to use it to prepare a large area for seeding grass though, more of a 100-300 sq ft type implment than something you'd use for half a acre.

 

[northwind318]

Has anyone used one of these? I did a search but did not get a hit.

Vernon

You can prob do just as good a job with your FEL down right at the ground level.Most of the times that all it takes to remove a sapling up to about 2.5"

 

[IslandTractor]

You can prob do just as good a job with your FEL down right at the ground level.Most of the times that all it takes to remove a sapling up to about 2.5"

The ratchet rake will do a much better job on briar and small roots as it snags and rips them out while a standard bucket just slides over. For larger saplings a standard bucket is pretty good but the RR will grip them better and make it easier to get the roots out rather than just amputating the main trunk.

 

[KIOTI D]

I just purchased a ratchet rake and find it a great tool for fixing up my roads on the acreage, fixing low spots, removing new grow on sides of roads.

 

[texbaylea]

Well I have decided to buy a ratchet rake. Just waiting for a TSC sale to reduce the cost a little.

Vernon

 

[johnrex62]

LOL, get comfortable then. Let us all know when you see a sale. :thumbsup:

 

[texbaylea]

John

Oh I am comfortable about that. I figure the way our economy is going there will be a lot more sales out there. Vernon

 

[IslandTractor]

John

Oh I am comfortable about that. I figure the way our economy is going there will be a lot more sales out there. Vernon

TSC is not exactly stocking these things in quantity. I believe they stock one of each size and reorder when it sells. Not every store even stocks even one. Of the four or five stores within two hours drive for me, only one stocked any. I doubt we'll see any sale.

 

[teg]

It would be like trying to buy a used one... But shoot I got a toothbar that way :thumbsup:

 

[texbaylea]

Well I can hope can't I.

Vernon

 

[texbaylea]

I am also hoping that August 2 turns out like Jan 1 ,2000 did.

Vernon

 

[hill]

I don't have one because of the ratchet strap attaching method. I'm pretty sure that where I'd need something like that would make short work of those straps.

I've got a 200 yard ditch seperating two fields that is a magnet for thick tangled blackberry growth. My practice has been to back the brushhog into the stuff, letting it loose to go off level downward into the ditch and pull up and out cutting and snagging great big messes of the stuff. In a rainy year the brush/berries are so thick that I can't see the brushhog, and if I tried that going forward with the ratchet rake I'd be nosediving into the ditch. If I DID get back out I'd bet the rake would be left in the ditch.

Maybe if they redesigned it to mount with heavy bolts like my toothbar does