What implement to use?

[RAD10]

I am wondering if there is an implement I can use on my tractor that would be better to maintain a gravel road and drive way than a box blade with gripper teeth?

It is a private road and drive way that in all is about 1 to 1.5 miles of gravel road. I'm a newbie to tractors and all the implements and just looking to see if there is something out there that would make the job of maintaining the roads easier.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Take a look at a Grademaster or Road Boss Grader One of these will work good for your application. I have a Road Boss to maintain almost 2 miles of roads.

 

[Thomas]

Maybe rake w/fold down grader blade...2 in 1 setup.

 

[GaryM]

I bought a "driveway groomer" and it works pretty well as long as the rock is not set like concrete. If there's some loose rock it will redistribute it and move it from the high spots to the low spots. I use it on our subdivision road about every two weeks or so. You know how rock tends to move to the middle and edges of the road? You can move it from those spots and put it where you need it.

Is it as good as the Duragrader type units? Not if the road needs major work. Do I want to spend lots of money when I don't need to? OK, sometimes.

Depending on your conditions, the Driveway Groomer might be the right tool.

Driveway Groomer for Do-It-Yourself Gravel Driveway Repair

 

[Woody_NH]

I am wondering if there is an implement I can use on my tractor that would be better to maintain a gravel road and drive way than a box blade with gripper teeth?

It is a private road and drive way that in all is about 1 to 1.5 miles of gravel road. I'm a newbie to tractors and all the implements and just looking to see if there is something out there that would make the job of maintaining the roads easier.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

For maintenance I use a landscape rake with gauge wheels. Easy to pull material back in after winter plowing and easy to reset the crown. Also works for spreading gravel used to fill rough spots. For the ditch line I use a rear tilt blade. I also use the blade for making water bars to channel the run-off away from the road.

 

[JerryG]

It's hard to believe that they can actually sell something like that for that amount of money. I am in the wrong business. Or the pictures don't do it justice and I am missing something.

I bought a "driveway groomer" and it works pretty well as long as the rock is not set like concrete. If there's some loose rock it will redistribute it and move it from the high spots to the low spots. I use it on our subdivision road about every two weeks or so. You know how rock tends to move to the middle and edges of the road? You can move it from those spots and put it where you need it.

Is it as good as the Duragrader type units? Not if the road needs major work. Do I want to spend lots of money when I don't need to? OK, sometimes.

Depending on your conditions, the Driveway Groomer might be the right tool.

Driveway Groomer for Do-It-Yourself Gravel Driveway Repair

 

[GaryM]

It's hard to believe that they can actually sell something like that for that amount of money. I am in the wrong business. Or the pictures don't do it justice and I am missing something.

Maybe both!

The cutting blades are laser or plasma cut. Nice clean construction. All powder coated and fits together well. The cutting blades are 1/4" or slightly more in thickness. The angle and tube are nothing special I guess, but it seems to work well and does what I expected it to do. I've bought lots of stuff in the past that didn't.

I guess you could go into competition.

 

[Jaybr]

I second the Grademaster, I purchased one 2 weeks ago to maintain my driveway and love it.

 

[RAD10]

For maintenance I use a landscape rake with gauge wheels. Easy to pull material back in after winter plowing and easy to reset the crown. Also works for spreading gravel used to fill rough spots. For the ditch line I use a rear tilt blade. I also use the blade for making water bars to channel the run-off away from the road.

I can see this working with moving the gravel around where needed but how do you rework the pot holes? I would think you almost need to cut them out some how then smooth back out rather than just add gravel back in the holes.

 

[jacobweaver32]

I am not sure what works best but I have used my 5' box blade to do it a couple of times and it works great. I have one really bad spot where it eats gravel like my wife does chocolate (I need a swale put in). Whats nice about the BB is it can relocate quite a bit of gravel at once.

BTW I have a 1/4 mile drive so my application may be different then yours with over a mile.

 

[LoneCowboy]

Another vote for roadboss (Road Boss Grader - Road and Landscape Grading, Surfacing and Leveling, and Material Spreading and Reclamation)
removes the potholes, sets everything nice and tight
sets your grade and very quick.
not cheap, but worth it, IMO

 

[weldingisfun]

Take a look at a Grademaster or Road Boss Grader One of these will work good for your application. I have a Road Boss to maintain almost 2 miles of roads.

If you don't want to buy a Road Boss Grader then don't contact them. I read MtnViewRanch's posting and went to the Road Boss Road Boss Grader - Road and Landscape Grading, Surfacing and Leveling, and Material Spreading and Reclamation Website. Next day, I was contacted by Don Krause who said he was coming down my way and would be happy to drop by and show me how the Road Boss works. He came by today and ran it over my road one way and let me run it back. I bought it! It is great! Those things sell themselves. I bought a 7 footer to pull behind my 42 HP Mahindra.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

If you don't want to buy a Road Boss Grader then don't contact them. I read MtnViewRanch's posting and went to the Road Boss Road Boss Grader - Road and Landscape Grading, Surfacing and Leveling, and Material Spreading and Reclamation Website. Next day, I was contacted by Don Krause who said he was coming down my way and would be happy to drop by and show me how the Road Boss works. He came by today and ran it over my road one way and let me run it back. I bought it! It is great! Those things sell themselves. I bought a 7 footer to pull behind my 42 HP Mahindra.

Weldingisfun, I like your post. Would it be ok if I quote(If you don't want to buy a Road Boss Grader then don't contact them) you from now on whenever I recommend the Road Boss? After all I don't want to inflect financial difficulty upon anybody unexpectedly. Isn't it amazing how good this implement works? I hope that you get as much use from your grader as I do mine.

 

[RAD10]

if you guys don't mind me asking, what price range are we talking about for the road boss?

 

[dtd24]

I use alittle of all listed implements. Box blade for tough spots, landscape for moving top material around, and blade for all of the above.

 

[weldingisfun]

if you guys don't mind me asking, what price range are we talking about for the road boss?

I don't mind, but sit down first. I don't want you to get hurt.
Are you sitting?


The retail price for the one I bought, 7 feet wide, was $2800. But, Don knocked off $150 because I took his Demo.


RAD10,,,,,are you OK? Somebody call a doctor!

 

[VABlue]

I think that $2800 for a 7' grader is a good price, especially if it works as advertised. That's a large chunk of metal that - apparently - makes road maintenance time effiecient and user friendly. Seems like it would be worth it...

Of course, my little 2305 couldn't drag it, let alone lift it. So what do I know about big implements?

 

[RichardGD]

I have the 6ft Grademaster version. It is the best implement that I have ever bought, works exactly how you would want it to. Saves a lot of time and effort one my 1 mile driveway. I paid about $900 3 years ago. Grademaster Blade

 

[RAD10]

I don't mind, but sit down first. I don't want you to get hurt.
Are you sitting?


The retail price for the one I bought, 7 feet wide, was $2800. But, Don knocked off $150 because I took his Demo.


RAD10,,,,,are you OK? Somebody call a doctor!

Ouch, the price and my head!

$2800 is probably not bad, however after moving up in price on my tractor I'm not sure the wife will be happy if I told her that was next. At least not until I finish some of her projects first.

Thanks for the info, I will have to compare products listed here and prices and see what fits my needs and budget. Might just get new shovels and rakes for the kids!

 

[vrman]

Might just get new shovels and rakes for the kids!

Whoa! You never mentioned kids! What better way to "build character"?!
Lol, I can remember so many times while growing up my parents had us doing things the "hard way". Then we'd be driving somewhere and we'd see someone doing the same work from a tractor. Heyyyyy, what the?!