Using heavy pipes for field leveling

[EdwardB]

I recently came into possession of some long, heavy galvanized steel tubing. One is 6 in diameter and one is 4 in diameter; both 20 long. I was hoping to make a field leveler/smoother/drag out of them. My tractor is 35hp 4WD and I have sandy soil. I was thinking 10 wide so I could get four pieces out of the material. I have a ridged field from years of the previous owner discing between orchard rows, hence I have ridges. Any ideas for the best use/design using these pipes?

 

[CincyFlyer]

I'd probably save them for some other project. A roller would need to be quite heavy to be effective. Your tractor could likely pull one that weighs a ton or so, which may do the trick, if the moisture level is just right.

 

[EdwardB]

I was hoping to use them as a drag or make a frame, not as a roller. I agree a roller would be ineffective.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Dragging almost anything flat works. I too would save the tubing for something else. Also, a round edge isn't great for leveling.

 

[countrybumpkin]

What size field are you talking about leveling?

 

[EdwardB]

About 20 acres, fairly rolling. Smoothing might be a better description than leveling

 

[YLee Kioti]

how bout two railroad ties attached to chain link fence section?
The weight is good and the fence material will break up small clods.

 

[EdwardB]

The ridges are as much as 2 higher than the area between and about 4 wise so I need to move a fair bit of dirt. Clods aren稚 an issue.

 

[EddieWalker]

I recently came into possession of some long, heavy galvanized steel tubing. One is 6 in diameter and one is 4 in diameter; both 20 long...

I've had some good success dragging oak logs around behind my tractor, so I don't think a drag has to be square to work. Having said that, the one I built after the log rotted away is out of angle iron and it holds solid cement blocks for weight. It cuts of high spots and it pushes the loose dirt to fill in low areas.

If I had the six inch pipe, I might give it a try. First I would cut it down to 12 feet and then drill two half inch holes all the way through it at 4 and 8 feet. I would get a half inch bolt that's 8 inches long and run it through the pipe and into a link at the end of a chain. Then do the same thing with the other end of the chain. Find center on the chain and run another bolt through the links to create a loop that you can put over a 2 inch ball for pulling it.

My guess is that it's going to be too light to do anything, but I would try it like that first just to be sure.

If it's too light, I would fill it with concrete.

 

[countrybumpkin]

That’s a pretty good amount of dirt and area, your going to need a pull type kilfer blade, like a box blade but with wheels, at least. The wider the better but with your tractor your going to be limited. You may consider contacting a local excavating company to see about getting it roughed in and then you could finish it up. It would all depend on how quick, and just how accurate you need it finished.

 

[ns_in_tex]

We have used 4" pipe behind disk harrow, chain link fence wrapped around mounted truck tires, but I think the best experience we have had, was using a 15' long section of 16" I-beam. We have used it behind a 6' disk harrow and also behind a box blade. We hooked it up in such a fashion that it could be lifted, if desired when the equipment was raised.

 

[bcp]

If I had those pipes and wanted to use them for a field smoother, I would cut them in half lengthways, then make a rigid hitch at least a couple of feet long to keep them with open face down when pulled, sort of like a long eye-bolt.

Several in line behind should do far more than just pulling a round pipe.

Bruce

 

[kevinwak]

We have used a section of old cat track without the pads and then a ten foot section of pipe as the spreader to attach each end of the track to. Worked well. Without a sharp edge I think your pipe won’t be very effective

 

[WranglerX]

THink "harrow".... I have a 6 foot wide 15 foot length of chain link fencing the is folded over on its self and a "T" stake at fold and attached with chain to tow eye on rear of tractor, it will smooth most anything, if it won't I throw a couple of big rocks on it....

As example...

(image lifted unscrupulous from google images)

(image purloined off ebay)

Dale

 

[EddieWalker]

This is what I built. It's a little heavy for my 35hp tractor, and if I get into some soft soil, I stop moving and my tires dig into the ground. But my 80 hp 2wd backhoe can pull it easily no matter how soft the soil is.