Do I Need A Box Blade and Landscape Rake For My Use

[blb078]

So I've got just over 13 acres. It is all except 1 acre fairly thick woods. The 1 acre was all woods too but we cleared out and are building a house. We in the home stretch of the house build. The 1 acre is about 80% graded. I plan on buying a tiller because we will probably making a garden so I will use that for some grading work. My question is should I also get a box blade landscape rake for the final grading? The rake would be pretty much to just clear up some debris, branches, twigs, etc.

I thought about getting a ratchet rake instead as I can probably get more use out of that later on. The box blade would just be to do some final grading work. However I don't see my self needing that anymore. I do not have a rock driveway so I'm wonder if it's worth the money to get one or just finish off my grade with FEL and a ratchet rake. Any thoughts for those who may have been through this scenario before? I don't want to spend 2-3-4k+ on two implements I will only use once but at the same time if some use for them ever comes up down the road I'd like to have them.

Would also be open to any other suggestions instead of spending the money on a tiller and getting something else that may help with my grading and still be ok to use for a garden.

 

[jeff9366]

Should I get a box blade and landscape rake for final grading? The rake would be pretty much to just clear up some debris, branches, twigs, etc.
The box blade would be for some final grading work.
I'm wonder if I can finish off my grade with FEL and a ratchet rake.
Any thoughts for those who may have been through this scenario before?

You need to revise your TBN profile to show what tractor you purchased. Obviously, the tractor you have is relevant to your questions. Information on your soil type would also be useful. Missouri has a lot of tough clay.

For one acre, less the area occupied by a house, a Ratchet Rake will do every task you have listed. The Ratchet Rake has two other advantages, a short learning curve and minimal storage space. It takes many hours to learn how to finish grade with a Box Blade.

A Ratchet Rake easily clears sod in an area for a new garden. A Ratchet Rake will scarify the surface down to 2", which will make hand spading relatively easy. So, if your desire is to start with a small kitchen garden, possibly to be expanded, the Ratchet Rake will assist, but you will have to spade.


6/09/2016

This post concerns Ratchet Rakes Vs. light Box Blades, such as the 60" Land Pride BB1260/346 pounds/69 pounds per foot.

I searched for the weight of kubota L3301 bucket but could not find a number. I presume L3301 bucket weighs approximately 240 pounds, extrapolating from other kubota specs. 68" Ratchet Rake weighs 88 pounds. Adding 240 + 88 = 328 pounds, pretty close to 346 pounds of BB1260 Box Blade.

In addition, the (operator controlled) weight of the FEL frame bears on the Ratchet Rake. Likewise, weight of the Three Point Hitch bears on the Box Blade. FEL frames weigh much more than ( 3X? 4X?) Three Point Hitch components. So, including some FEL weight, I guesstimate that ground contact pressure on Ratchet Rake and BB1260 would be at least equal, perhaps greater pressure on the Ratchet Rake.

Further in Ratchet Rake's favor you have articulation of bucket/RR combination in two planes from the operator's station and 1-1/2" serrated teeth on the Ratchet Rake.

Box Blade can be raised and lowered hydraulically from the operator's station. Box Blade angle of attack is adjustable via the Three Point Hitch Top Link, but not from the operator's station. Standard Box Blade does not have rippers, standard is a smooth cutting edge.

Ratchet Rake is capable of tearing up sod with its serrated teeth, the initial operation in much grading. The Ratchet Rake will not pull as large a load as a Box Blade but it may pull 40% of capacity of BB1260 per pass, with faster cycles. Ratchet Rake is more intuitive in operation than a Box Blade, which requires considerable experience to operate efficiently.

This is why I feel the Ratchet Rake is superior to light Box Blades for LIGHT grading.

I own both a Ratchet Rake and a Rollover Box Blade.

When I have heavy grading to do, I mount my 60"/625 pound (125 pounds per foot) Bush Hog (brand) Rollover Box Blade on the tractor's Three Point Hitch AND the Ratchet Rake on my FEL bucket.

 

[blb078]

I have an LS 4150hc. The actual land is an acre that includes counting for the house. Yes it is clay. Basically my priority right now is finishing up the remainder of the grading and getting it ready for seeding. If a ratchet rake will do that and help do a small family garden then I'm for it. If I don't have to spend the money on a tiller and box blade even better. The box blade I can't see needing it for anything else, the tiller I guess would be a once a year thing for the garden plus the final grading. But as stated if the ratchet rake will get me through with what I need then I'll plop down the money for one. I just want to make sure it will do what I need it to do.

 

[jeff9366]

I have an LS 4150hc.

You will never be "SURE" from info posted here. You know your conditions better than anyone posting here.

 

[blb078]

Here is a pic of the back yard.


This the only hill on the property that I will somehow need to seed and eventually cut. Not sure what the slope is.
First pic is looking at it from the side of the house, so there is a hill going up the side and then further back you see it going in another direction


This is of the top looking down


And this is at the top looking down the other side

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

I would get a Ratchet Rake and grade it with that. And then I'd get a 6' or 8' chain link fence gate, wire a few old tires to it to provide some weight, and make a drag out of it. Then I'd pull that drag all over the place several times, which would level out the dips, hills and valleys left from rough grading it with the Ratchet Rake. You will wind up with a nice smooth surface.

 

[jeff9366]

The 1 acre was woods too but we cleared out and are building a house.

In six to eight years your lawn will develop depressions 3-4" deep where stumps, roots and decaying tree trunks used to be. This is inevitable. You will need to fill these depressions with good quality top soil. Usually the existing grass will spread into the fill top soil.

 

[Creamer]

I have never used a ratchet rake but just thinking about the ups and downs of bucket movement and trying to control it I would much prefer a landscape rake. The float you get will make things much easier to get smooth.

 

[jeff9366]

If you have NEVER USED a Ratchet Rake how do you know you would MUCH PREFER a Landscape Rake?

 

[CADplans]

If you have NEVER USED a Ratchet Rake how do you know you would MUCH PREFER a Landscape Rake?

The way the 3 point hitch allows the landscape rake to "float" makes the Landscape rake more versatile compared to teeth on a bucket.
I raked this in a few passes with a landscape rake,,,

I have teeth on my bucket,, it would never do this job,,,
because the bucket is rigidly connected to the rear axle.

The spring-like motion of the teeth on the landscape rake also allow nicer results,,
compared to a ratchet rake.

The bucket tool will "dig" more,, the landscape rake will finish nicer.

Just my opinion,,,

 

[jeff9366]

I have an ETA Landscape Rake. I have a Ratchet Rake. Do YOU have a Ratchet Rake?

It is an unfortunate circumstance that people comment on equipment in forums, either POSITIVE or NEGATIVE, without experience with the equipment.

Without experience, better to withhold comment than muddy the water for newbies.

The Ratchet Rake is on my bucket at least five times the hours the hours the Landscape Rake is on my Three Point Hitch. Nothing wrong with a Landscape Rake, I have one. But the Ratchet Rake is the more versatile, more maneuverable, less expensive, less delicate tool.

Here is a photo of how a Ratchet Rake grades, though I was just scratching in a game food plot along woodland edge.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I have both landscape rake and box blade and after some initial use pulling down a hill and levelling it to build my shop, I haven't used either. The box blade for me is just for dragging a lot of dirt from a high spot to a lower one and it works good for that. I really cant see buying one for your small amount of dirt work. You should be able to use the FEL to move what little dirt that you need moved. Back dragging the area will smooth it out without any need for equipment. I got the box blade with my first tractor because I had a major hill to pull down (I ended up just hiring a dozer to level the hill for my house site). I got the landscape rake with my LS. I use the landscape rake to spread the gravel on my golf cart trail for a while but found that I could do just as well by back dragging with my FEL and no wasted time hooking and unhooking the rake. I tried using the landscape rake to level some grassy areas that I had disked up but the sod just stopped up the rake so I ended up using the FEL to smooth the humps.
SO, my thoughts are that in your case, I would invest in a land plane. IT moves a bit of dirt and drops the excess in the low spots. I think what you have to do, it would really work well and you could use it to grade your driveway (if you have dirt or gravel that is).

 

[SandburRanch]

It looks to me all you need is a drag to knock high spots down, smooth and at the same time fill low areas .

To move, level and smooth dirt, the box scraper will beat a box blade 7 days / week 24hrs. / day. It's a shame not too many are available for smaller tractors.

I suggest getting a fast growing something planted as soon as possible or you will have serious soil erosion.

 

[Creamer]

It looks to me all you need is a drag to knock high spots down, smooth and at the same time fill low areas .

To move, level and smooth dirt, the box scraper will beat a box blade 7 days / week 24hrs. / day. It's a shame not too many are available for smaller tractors.

I suggest getting a fast growing something planted as soon as possible or you will have serious soil erosion.

What is the difference between a box blade and a box scraper? I looked at Landpride's website and what they call a box scraper looks just like a box blade.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

I was in similar situation after building my house. I ended up renting a landscape rake to pull out the rocks, then pulling an old pallet as a drag to smooth out the yard even more. Worked well.

later bought a box blade at tsc, but when I got it home I noticed broken welds, so returned it. Never felt the need to get one since.
Just got a ratchet rake, and am getting pretty good with it. I like it, been using it to clear multiflora rose and grape vines from my woods.

 

[blb078]

I was in similar situation after building my house. I ended up renting a landscape rake to pull out the rocks, then pulling an old pallet as a drag to smooth out the yard even more. Worked well.

later bought a box blade at tsc, but when I got it home I noticed broken welds, so returned it. Never felt the need to get one since.
Just got a ratchet rake, and am getting pretty good with it. I like it, been using it to clear multiflora rose and grape vines from my woods.

View attachment 500048

How did the pallet work out? I have a few of those laying around, did you put weight on them? I don't have any rocks to worry about that has been taken care of when we did the initial clearing and grading, wasn't a lot to begin with. Really all if have are small twigs and stuff. I put in an order for a ratchet rake so hopefully I get it this week. I can see it being useful in some weedy areas too.

 

[blb078]

I have both landscape rake and box blade and after some initial use pulling down a hill and levelling it to build my shop, I haven't used either. The box blade for me is just for dragging a lot of dirt from a high spot to a lower one and it works good for that. I really cant see buying one for your small amount of dirt work. You should be able to use the FEL to move what little dirt that you need moved. Back dragging the area will smooth it out without any need for equipment. I got the box blade with my first tractor because I had a major hill to pull down (I ended up just hiring a dozer to level the hill for my house site). I got the landscape rake with my LS. I use the landscape rake to spread the gravel on my golf cart trail for a while but found that I could do just as well by back dragging with my FEL and no wasted time hooking and unhooking the rake. I tried using the landscape rake to level some grassy areas that I had disked up but the sod just stopped up the rake so I ended up using the FEL to smooth the humps.
SO, my thoughts are that in your case, I would invest in a land plane. IT moves a bit of dirt and drops the excess in the low spots. I think what you have to do, it would really work well and you could use it to grade your driveway (if you have dirt or gravel that is).

Thanks for the info. This is kind of what I was worried about buying a few things and then not really putting them to use afterwards. My driveway will be concrete so no rocks and stuff to worry about. Gonna see how the rachet rake and a chain fence or pallet work out. Getting close to seeding time so I need to get it taken care of within the next couple weeks.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

My excavation company spread the topsoil, so was still pretty rough and Rocky. Then used landscape rake to remove rocks, that left it almost ready for seed. Then drug a pallet, maybe used one concrete block on it. Don't want it to dig much, but rather smooth out the soil. I pulled it with my riding mower. Then seed and straw. Couldn't find any pictures, that was 20 yrs ago.
I've been adding dirt over my geothermal pipes where it settled. Been just backblading with the bucket. Now I can use my ratchet rake.
For pulling multiflora roses it's better to go over them about a foot high, then drop it down and pull back to pull the roots out. Same with very small trees.

 

[Code54]

I currently have a landscape rake, ratchet rake, straight blade and I bought a new box blade today. Each has its uses and what they excel at. My ratchet rake gets used the least but I don't have any plans on getting rid of it. Now and then it is the perfect tool. I use my landscape rake a LOT - mainly keeping up about 3/4 miles of gravel driveway. Just depends on what you want to invest. I always look at this stuff as a long term thing. Pay 1000 now, keep it for 10 years and use it a bunch then sell it for say 750-800. Didn't really cost me much over the years at that rate. (remember as your depreciates the cost of new mostly goes up so if you keep it nice you don't really do all that bad in the long run)

 

[blb078]

I currently have a landscape rake, ratchet rake, straight blade and I bought a new box blade today. Each has its uses and what they excel at. My ratchet rake gets used the least but I don't have any plans on getting rid of it. Now and then it is the perfect tool. I use my landscape rake a LOT - mainly keeping up about 3/4 miles of gravel driveway. Just depends on what you want to invest. I always look at this stuff as a long term thing. Pay 1000 now, keep it for 10 years and use it a bunch then sell it for say 750-800. Didn't really cost me much over the years at that rate. (remember as your depreciates the cost of new mostly goes up so if you keep it nice you don't really do all that bad in the long run)

That's the thing. I don't have a use for a box blade, landscape rake, etc except this one time. A ratchet rake I can see using a bit more as I have some overgrown areas I can use it on. But since my ground is 80% or so graded I'm just looking for something for one time use that I can use later on and I think a ratchet rake might fit the bill and either a chain fence gate or as someone mentioned a pallet.