Rear Roller

[scott_vt]

I have an old 100lb propane tank that I was thinking about converting into a rear roller to pull behind the tractor, probablly just rig up something to the drawbar. I believe its about 12 to 14" in dia and about 5ft long maybe slightly more.
Have any of you guys used one of these like that or does someone have a better suggestion? Thought I could put a pipe through it and fill it with water. Any ideas? Any pictures?

scotty

scotty

 

[beenthere]

I did something similar to that, but filled it with concrete. Then built a steel rack above to add 400 more pounds so have about a pretty heavy roller. It is non too heavey for doing a decent job of rolling. Mine is 48" long, and I wouldn't want it any longer. I roll in the spring when the frost is out, but before the ground settles and dries. I don't think water alone will give you enough weight to do much rolling. But it is handier to move around without the water.
Getting about 10" of snow now, so no pics as of the moment.

 

[Farwell]

Not sure where the thread is, but someone on TBN used a propane tank to make a roller. I thought it was a great idea. If I remember correctly the propane tank was much bigger than a 100 pounder. The person gave quite a bit of information on how he put it together as well.
Let us know how it goes and take a few photos.
Farwell

 

[scott_vt]

Thanks Beenthere,
Just curious, did you rig yours up to the 3pt hitch or do you just tow it with the drawbar?

The concrete and extra weight sounds like a good day. I think I could find a fair amount of work for it, including rolling the drive after grading.

Thanks Again,

scotty

 

[Farwell]

I found the thread on the propane tank roller:
Re: Underground propane tank [Re: Junkman]
#691281 - 07/12/05
Not sure if I did this right in cutting an pasting the information but if you can't get to the thread easily, just go to the search box and add Underground Propane Tank.
Farwell

 

[scott_vt]

Thanks Farwell,
Everyonce in awhile I have brain fade and forget about our search engine /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

scotty /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Nasty135]

HI Scotty, I think if you use concrete it will be quiet rolling on the drive if its full of water it will make lots of noise rolling on the gravel... One way to find out for sure is try the water first, then just add the sakrete and take it for another ride /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif sand also works...

 

[Farwell]

Living in Vermont you may want to add a little anti-freeze to your roller if you go the water route for weight or drain it during the cold season. Had a plastic roller and found out the hard way that water expands when frozen. Very dumb on my part.
Good luck.
Farwell

 

[Arbo]

Whatever you do, be really careful if you are going to cut and weld on that propane tank. No matter how empty they are, there can be residual flamables inside. The best thing you can do to prep one for welding is remove the valve assembly completely. Then, get a good brush pile fire going and throw the tank in the fire. This will burn off any residuals, and make ti safe to work on. Good luck, and be careful.

 

[beenthere]

Scott
This is just a roller, and has a Y for a hitch (pulled it originally with my 8hp wheelhorse). It covers the width of the lawn tractor tracks.

I too thought it would work packing the driveway down, but my neighbor who worked for the county said that it wouldn't work (and he was right, it didn't). Much better packing to drive the car or truck on the freshly laid/spread gravel to pack it good. More psi than the roller can give. One stone in the gravel will raise the entire roller because the stone wont break nor will it push into the gravel below, thus it doesn't pack anything that is below the height of that one stone. But you can learn that by trying it, as that is what I did. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif Then I believed it. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif