Soil prep tools for new construction lawns?

[Investorguy]

I had really old sod that I needed to rip up for a playfield instalation. I found that tilling did nothing as the tiller wouldn't get down far enough. I eventually had to get the thing plowed. It was the ONLY way to get below the roots.

And I just did part of my field. I'm going to be doing more, probably in the spring. I think that I will plow, till, and then grade w/ the harley rake. I'm hoping the rake will allow me to skip rolling and dragging. I guess we'll see.

I'm thinking about one of these things, but I have a lead on a used Harley rake and I think this would do a better job of overall grading. Some of the areas may only require the rake. Or I may be able to skip tilling altogether; depends on the sod clumps, which the plow tends to flop over in long, big runs.

 

[RobertN]

Ya, I have only 72" of lift on my loader. It is a Bushhog; I got my tractor used without the loader and added later. I'm not sure how high the factory loader lifted. My B8200 is the same size and configuration as the B2150 and B2910.

I wonder bout the bush hoggin with an RC30 or other all-terrain machine or skidsteer. They have the mowers for them, flail and rotary. But, again, as a "commercial" type machine, the hydraulic powered mowers are expensive.

Curiously, what truck do you have? I have loaded a Ford F450 flatbed with my Kuboats and a Bobcat S185. I loaded the Dumptruck, a Freightliner 8 yard, with the RC30(made a little ramp) and an Bobcat S185.

 

[Agentiron]

Robert

I have a Dodge 3500 4x4 which sits up pretty high. The dump bed itself is 65" to the top of the side. My side rails take it up to 75". I am suprised you made it into the freightliner. Sounds like it must have been a low-pro. I also have to think getting in and out of the RC-30 has got to get old when compared to mounting an open decked Tractor. The cockpit on the RC-30 does not look overly spacious, although I am sure it fits like a glove once your in. The S-185's I have rented are interesting enough getting into and out of when you have to do it a bunch of times, but you sure can get alot of work done with one!

 

[RobertN]

The RC30 had plenty of room; I'm 6-2.

The one that got a little tight, but still doable, was using a Bobcat 463. That is a smidgen under 36" wide. I had a gate that was 36-1/4" I SQUEEZED through /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Did it though. I made a couple dozen runs through there moving material and excavating.

Not sure about the dumptruck. I know it is a Freightliner, 8-yard, with a manual and non-turbo CAT3208... Charlie runs a Bobcat 763 with the dumptruck(he is a local independant with dumptruck, Bobcat skidsteer, and a smaller Bobcat excavator)

The one thng I noted after using the RC30, and a CAT247(about the same as an ASV-RC60), is I really liked the joystick electric over hydraulic. The various Bobcat's I have used all had the hand/foot controls. They worked just fine, but it was nice not to have to push those handles around all day.