Rake Will a landscrap rake grade my driveway?

mx125 · Jun 22, 2008

I've seen a lot of posts that seem to point to a landscape rake being a great implement for a gravel driveway. I'm trying to minimize my implement expense. I need to groom and maintain some rain ruts and undulations in a new gravel driveway. My first thought was a rear blade, and although some have success there, others thought box blade. However, rake seemed to come up regularly.

My question is . .will a rake really help revive and level undulations and dips or is it more for a "final" loose gravel finishing sweep? They look pretty delicate for hard packed material . . but I'm new to this.

blagg · Jun 22, 2008

If you have a lot of loose material to play with, then the answer is yes. You will not go wrong with a rake.

greg_g · Jun 22, 2008

Like BLAGG says, you can move the loose stuff around with one. But don't count on it to actually do much "cutting" for you. I do that with the boxblade - dropping the scarifiers for the tough stuff - then mount the rake to tidy it all up.

//greg//

Charlesaf3 · Jun 23, 2008

The rake does a surprising amount of earth moving.

I've been really pleased with the spread/contour with the box blade, than finish with the rake approach. Just did my drive and was amazed how well it turned out (mainly due to much good advice found on TBN)

Getting a hydraulic top link will make your life MUCH easier.

mx125 · Jun 23, 2008

Thanks guys. So it seems like I will probably need a box blade if I want to do any real grading/rut filling and the rake would be a "nice to have" for a finish coat. I've pretty much put aside my rear blade ideas . . as although some have success it migth require too much skill and/or doesn't really do either task really well.

zzvyb6 · Jun 23, 2008

I use an 8' rake to level my gravel driveway. To get it to dig up some material, set it at an angle and put 300# of tractor weight on it. There will be plenty of loose gravel. A roto-tiller will loosen things up a bit, too. Wait for a rain if you are worried that you will scratch the paint on it. I run the tiller backwards (back into the material) to keep it digging. Otherwise it may bounce too much.

mx125 · Jun 23, 2008

zzvyb6 said:
I use an 8' rake to level my gravel driveway. To get it to dig up some material, set it at an angle and put 300# of tractor weight on it. There will be plenty of loose gravel. A roto-tiller will loosen things up a bit, too. Wait for a rain if you are worried that you will scratch the paint on it. I run the tiller backwards (back into the material) to keep it digging. Otherwise it may bounce too much.

That's interesting. Rakes look so delicate (relative to blades etc.) that I wouldn't have expected they could handle extra weight. But again . . . I'm new to these implements. And the tiller idea is also new to me. i would have thought running tiller blades in the gravel would really tear them up and stress the transmission. . but maybe on a very shallow cut it would not.

easygo · Jun 23, 2008

I bought a rear blade to do the driveway work. It only needs to be done once every year or two and I have the patience for that. The rear blade is great for moving snow tho, and I have to do that a lots and lots more. That is my $.02

Farmwithjunk · Jun 23, 2008

Never owned a landscape rake, most likely won't. But I DO own about 700' of gravel driveway. I used to use a box blade, on occasion I've used a regular rear blade. A few years ago, I took advantage of a state grant to improve waterways and filter strips on my farm. After grading, I needed a soil pulverizer to ready the ground for seeding. So i went out and bought a Leinbach "yard tool". (model 61, 6' wide, 537lbs) About the time I got it home, the 'dozer operator loaded up and left. He wasted my driveway turning his lowboy around. So I hit the gravel drive with the pulverizer. Without question, it's the best thing for grading a gravel road I've ever got my hands on.

Leinbach Pulverizer 72" LYT61