Rake ROCK RAKE

[CadizHunter]

I am considering purchasing a 3pt rock rake for my 1/4 mile gravel driveway. I think I can use the type without wheels, but would like a "beefy" one. Not too many auctions SE Ohio, so I went to the internet. I found a red girly looking italian rake for about $300 from a dealer in GA. That one doesn't look very heavy duty. Do I want a heavy duty for this driveway or will this one work? If not, where can I find a good used one and what should I look for?

 

[Barnboy]

I have a Land pride LR1572 rake which is considered light duty and it works good with my drive. I didnt have much luck without the wheels. My gravel is fairly loose so the wheels help control the depth. If your drive is hard packed you should be ok without wheels. I and other TBN members have made their own wheels. Those OEM wheels are $$$.

 

[AndyMA]

I've been using them for about 40 years. For the last 20 years I've run a Ford 8 foot heavy duty rake. Prior to that heavy duty true York Rakes ona 8N. I use it virtually alal the time without wheels for all tasks from raking out driveways to finish grading of lawns. I have the $500 wheel set but I just find it gets in the way more than it helps. Light duty rakes like the Landprode 15 series (and lighter) bounce to much and maybe the wheels help then. Besides weight, the heavy duty rakes have much better tines. A rake like I have cost $1500 20 years ago and I haven't
priced one since. I drag it across bolders, roots, stumps, brush etc. and have never had to replace a tine. Even though I usually don't run the cylinders it is set up for hydraulic offset and rotate. And BTW I run it turned 180 degrees quite often.

Andy

 

[CadizHunter]

Ya, I should have mentioned that this driveway has been established for 20+ years and gets plenty of traffic. Very little loose or freshly added. I'm trying to reduce the crown alittle but , smooth out and try to fill some of the minor potholes. Just maintenance.

 

[Solo]

See if there are any Leinbach dealers in your area. These rakes are fairly inexpensive and solidly built. I also have the wheels for mine, they are expensive but work very well. You can see them in my photo gallery.

Solo

 

[dirtworksequip]

CadizHunter, Tractor Supply has the KK rakes for $300 or $400. I've owned one for about 12 years and use it probably 50 hours a year for snow removal and maintainence on about 3000 feet of slag road. The Landpride,Fronteer and York Rakes are probably built heavier than the KK, but are also somewhat pricer. The KK has given me good service and I don't have any complaints. You may find one at a farm auction or maybe a landscaping company auction. Pick up a copy of Farm & Dairy at TSC and check out the sales and auctions in there. Once you get the rake be sure to try it out on snow removal. You will find that is is the best implement there is for removing snow on a stone road.

Here's a couple of pics of my rake and tractor, just added hydraulic angle to the rake this week, but have not put it to work yet.

Sincerely, Dirt