RatchetRake or Pirinha for my current needs?

JOHNTHOMAS · Jul 28, 2018

I bought one of the early produced RatchetRakes about 12 years ago. Hard choice since almost no one had bought one to give owner report. I sold that 1st one since it was for a big bucket and traded tractors for a smaller bucket. I've kept and been using the 2nd one for many years and it stayed on my tractor bucket most of the time. I loved it for many reasons. It was easy one person (Me) on and off if needed off. It finish leveled my yard landscaping fantastic which I was doing lots of for years. Things change and I've changed tractors a few times

:laughing::cool2: but not my 2nd RatchetRake. I've broken lots of implements and attachments with my heavy use but only scrapped the paint off the RatchetRake. I've gone from 3 acres to 32 acres (Mostly wooded) and have mostly finished my home yard landscaping. I will still do earth manipulation on a regular basis but not necessarily to grass seeding level of final finish. I now use my front bucket more for moving dirt and materials and have lots of special use implements. I now have a big bucket and the RatchetRake was for a small bucket and looked really strange and had some limitations because of not knowing exactly where the edge of the RR was since I couldn't actually see it from the drivers seat. I guess I could have slid the RR to one edge but the attachment system prevented that, I think. OK, I sold my small RR to my nephew yesterday and now need to order a larger one and am facing the choice of RR or Piriniha with both being about the same price. Anyone ever heard of any Piriniha Veterans discount, sale prices, discount days, membership coupons giving discounts or any way to tip the scale toward the Piriniha which is an unknown for my not having owned and used one vs my ole standby RR which I've owned and used for over 10 years and loved it. Again, my needs/wants/desires have changed or I wouldn't even be facing a choice.
I had a bolt on tooth bar with bolt on teeth at the beginning of my tractor ownership and wasn't impressed with it in the least. Didn't like it being bolted on and it had very limited use for me and wouldn't buy one now with my current needs. I'll still do ground scraping and scooping and near finish grading/leveling so I am keeping that up front and do have more grass/weeds/small trees growing a foot a day after I clear some edge of woods areas.
I expect Piriniha lovers to reply with how they love their Piriniha but love isn't really a help without specifics of its use and benefit to you so I can see if that relates to my current/future needs. Sometimes some one has a used one for sale for a 72", I think, bucket on a Kubota L3901. Bought a Rip and Dig that way.

check · Jul 28, 2018

John, the biggest thing I noticed with my PTB was that it is MUCH easier to dig in to a dirt pile that has rocks in it.

onionfmr · Jul 28, 2018

I recently purchased and installed a Piranha Bar (PB) on my 72" bucket. I've used it for a couple hours. I'm clearing trails thru my woods (37 acres) and cleaning up hedgerow areas. So, I'm digging up roots, leveling, pulling small saplings (3" and smaller) and clearing brush. Works really well, so far. As an example, I had a 4" root that was sticking about 3" above ground. Couldn't budge it with a standard bucket. Couldn't get under it. Used the PB and ripped it out in one pass. For digging, the PB works pretty good. I levelled a 20' x 20' foot area of 8" tire tractor ruts using the PB in probably 10 minutes. Scooped the dirt and backdragged it. For saplings, I push them over and then grab the root ball with the teeth and rip them out. Hope this helps.

MoArk Willy · Jul 28, 2018

I bought a 4' Piranha tooth bar for m B2320. I expected it to help greatly with digging and moving pile of dirt that had settled. Much to my surprise it also allowed me to dig up small sapling and trees, 2 to 4" with ease.
The teeth allow me to get into the ground at the root level and pup them out. This wasn't possible with a smooth bucket. I think you will find it to be a great help for most things. Just keep it flat on the ground when you park the tractor. Those teeth can tear up an ankle quickly.

YLee Kioti · Jul 28, 2018

MoArk Willy said:
I bought a 4' Piranha tooth bar for m B2320. I expected it to help greatly with digging and moving pile of dirt that had settled. Much to my surprise it also allowed me to dig up small sapling and trees, 2 to 4" with ease.
The teeth allow me to get into the ground at the root level and pup them out. This wasn't possible with a smooth bucket. I think you will find it to be a great help for most things. Just keep it flat on the ground when you park the tractor. Those teeth can tear up an ankle quickly.

AMEN to that! I keep tractor parked in the shop and when wife walks near it I cringe.
She gets annoyed of my constant warnings but I'll pay that price over a visit to ER.
Now the NX does not have one but plan on it in the future.
Probably when the house gets built and we no longer live in the shop.
Other then human error those sharp teeth are just flippn awesome in tearing it up! enjoy the PTB!

Byrdnyrd · Jul 28, 2018

I have Both an RR and a PTB, I use them both-today in fact! The PTB stays on the bucket all the time, I love that thing, but today I had to do some grading, leveling so I swapped them out.

In the end, I think it’s best to have both!

Cheers,
BN

atsah · Jul 28, 2018

I had a PTB and I really didn’t care for it, I just bought a new RR and love this thing, the only advantage to the PTB is it’s good for digging but nowhere near as good for ripping brush out or fixing a driveway that’s for sure.

jerrybob · Jul 29, 2018

I have a PTB on my bucket and love it. I never take it off. Have done a lot of work with it...even dug out several sidehills with it. I have cleared several acres of blackberry bushes with it over the years...works great. I bought mine about 6 years ago...very good product.

JOHNTHOMAS · Jul 29, 2018

Thanks for all the responses. Mostly on point and explained how you utilized it. Loved the get them both response but not today.

I do lots of digging and lots of saplings need cleared. I have a JD Grapple that wraps around them and then I push and lift to get them out and have two big brush piles of them. I also have trouble filling a bucket when scooping and believe the PTB will assist in that endeavor. I keep a big boxblade on my L3901 for grading and leveling and rear weight. I recently purchased a front SSQA grader blade with hyd angle assist but haven't tried it yet.
Again, thanks for the replies.:drink:

MoArk Willy · Jul 29, 2018

I don't want to steal this thread but I do have a question. If you have a Piranha bar do you have to remove it to put on a ratchet rake?
I would like the rake for my driveway maintenance. I actually have wanted to take a ratchet rake fabricate it into a 3 point attachment.