Which 3pt attachment to use to smooth this out?

[JimMorrissey]

CK,

The dozer sounds good for tightening up the soil. If stumps were dug and large rocks removed they're likely reveil their prior location when the soil sinks in year or two. The dozer will firm it up.

After the dozer is done, this is a perfect use for a "harley rake". You can do some reseach on that implement. It'll clean up all the rocks and roots and make for a perfect seedbed for grass. It's just a matter of how nice you want the final result. My opinion is that it's worth the extra $800 or so it get the soils prepared correctly.

 

[BruceNorthEast]

Before I got my tractor I was faced with smoothing a large yard that had new topsoil. The dozer operator was good, but left lots to be improved upon...

I took a couple of 4x4 posts and wrapped some old fence around each - with a six or eight foot gap between (almost looking like I knocked over an old fence and used it).

Hooked some cable to each end of one of the posts and connected it to an ATV. Just dragged it around and around, varying my path a little each time. Worked for me.

Bruce.

 

[curt1]

You could also consider renting a small rubber track skid steer loader with a power rake (Harley type rake)and bucket. Something like the Bobcat T180 or T190 would do a fine job. Windrow all the debris then use the bucket to move it out of the yard. The power rake will leave a very nice, smooth seedbed.

Curt

 

[skeetman]

I think Curt is right on the money. I am in the middle of this same senerio right now clearing 12 acres of over grown christmas trees. The pics look like the ground is filled with sticks, roots etc. these will drive your rake crazy sticking in the tines and the same with a rototiller, drags etc. A bobcat rents cheap friday to monday morning. I would see if they have a root grapple to comb the soil and get rid of the wood products, roots, rocks etc once these are gone the rest is a piece of cake. A harley rake should work to but have no experience with one ...yet...Another attachment is a eliminator, that most rental companys have, its like a big rake and will move dirt around also. Cheaper to rent than most powered attachments but wood does get caught in the tines some. You can do alot of work in a day with a bobcat and the right attachments.
My 2 cents.

 

[JimMorrissey]

My reason for the dozer is that it compacts the earth and helps to keep depessions from showing up in two years time. A skidsteer doesn't have the forces to firm up the ground. He also has a tractor, so why pay for skidsteer if he already has a powerplant. A Bobcat will work well for site prep for grass....no doubt. From my experience even a dozer doesn't firm up the soil enough to keep depressions away. You need to spend some time packing the hole with a backhoe (or rolling over with tractor tire) prior to finish grade. This is IF a person has one or more large cavities from stump removal. If the holes are not packed well they will show up in the future, unless you're in sand or close to sand conditions. It's nice to have a smooth yard so you can mow quickly and evenly.

If you find a harley rake for 3pt hitch, make sure your tractor can handle it. They are very heavy....25hp tractor would be borderline I think, but worth asking around.

 

[Investorguy]

I bought a harly rake for my 36HP Kubota and it is really heavy. I can barely lift it out of my truck. I actually can lift it up out of the bed, but then I have to drive the truck away before I lower it. I would say 25 hp is not enough unless it's a little HR.

 

[Birdhunter1]

if it were me I'd get ahold of a guy with a BobCat and a dump truck and get the stuff done and out of there, or get someone with a BobCat and a backhoe, and pile all the debris up and bury it and smooth over the top.