Cheap Land smoother

[john_bud]

Hi,

Had a dozer guy out and to help, I did the final smoothing. Used two 12' long I-beams chained together and then to a grab hook on the draw bar. Worked pretty slick. By changing the chain attachment points you can angle the I-beams and windrow rocks off to one side (sort of). I works pretty good when you spiral in around the target dump spot and have a low area so they can drop.

Once the beams fill up with heavy wet soil, they double in weight and do a better job. Not bad at all. I did find that you NEED 2. Or else some rear weight to help keep the lead beam down. I had a fastener failure on the rear beam and a single is about worthless.

A combination of rough and smooth grading can get done pretty quick by lowering the box blade to a point just above the grade. It will nip off any high spots.

By the way, it also can pop out rocks that are hiding. Many were popped up. Up to 2' across. I stopped counting at 100 loader buckets filled with rocks, by hand. Oh, my aching back!@!!!

 

[Egon]

That is a nice drag.

 

[EddieWalker]

I've always been a very big fan of a drag. I have two. One is an oak log with cyclone fence wrapped around it that trails behind the lond when I pull it. My small 35hp tractor pulls it like it's nothing. My other drag is a pair of forklift forks for something massive. They are too big to use on my backoe, but they are great for dragging through the dirt. If it's wet or soft out, I have to use the backhoe. My small tractor will just spin it's wheels!!!! If I ever get some I beams, that's just what I'll use them for.

Thanks,
Eddie

 

[3RRL]

Great idea John.
I wish I had a couple of those big beams lying around the scrap pile.
It would sure make short work out of some the large areas I have.

 

[Dave in NC]

My first introduction to the basic drag was 25 years ago when I worked as a ranch hand in NW Colorado. We had 10 miles of dirt road between the county highway and the ranch. The county would grade it a couple times a year but that was not nearly enough to keep it reasonably smooth. We used a 6' lenth of railroad track behind an old JD model A to drag the road between visits from the county maintainer. Sure wish I had that mass of iron and the JD A now!

 

[Lindy]

Used two 12' long I-beams chained together

Very cool. Low tech, and effective.

Where do you get ahold of I-beams like that? Where could I buy something like that?

Lindy

 

[Charlesaf3]

out of curiosity - have you tried a york rake? How does it compare?

 

[LBrown59]

It must take a 40 acre field to turn this thing around !

Hi,

I rigged my drag so I could pick it up with the 3 point to turn around .
Makes turning around much easier and takes a lot less room to turn around.

 

[john_bud]

Hi,

Have not tried a York rake, no idea. I would hope a purpose built tool would be better!

Turning radius? Not bad actually. You can even back over it with little fear of damage to it (or the tractor - no sharp edges). When chained up to drop off rocks and stuff to the right, it turns to the left easy.

I got them used and unloved for cheap. Been sitting on my shop floor as a trip hazard for 12-14 years. I have seen various sized beams at the used iron place. 20-40 cents a pound is about the going rate for used steel. If you buy rusty, they will be shiny pretty quick!

If I were to change it (and I will) it would be in how they are connected. Will be welding on some loops. High edge in the front and low edge on the inside 2. That way the tractor will tend to pick up the leading edge allowing it to trap and distribute dirt while the back on runs on the 2 edges for smoothing.

Then again, I may just weld some 3/4 rod between the two and add some baskets for rock weight. Still thinking about it, and open to ideas (hint hint)

jb

 

[Egon]

Consider offsetting the two drags and have them angled in opposite directions. The second drag will pick up stuff from the first one and carry it back into the center.

Pretty sure I've seen pictures of drags set up that way.

I surely like that drag but put one like it behind my tractor and I' afraid it would not move far.

 

[LBrown59]

.

I surely like that drag but put one like it behind my tractor and I'm afraid it would not move far.

Yeah it woild be a real drag for my BX
Pun intended

 

[john_bud]

Yeah, it's a drag all right.... punny very punny.

Actually, the kubota pulled it very easily, you might be surprised. And if it doesn't work, you can always ship the beams to me...

Hopefully, the land can be productive so that the little deer get some better food and grow up to be big and strong. Here's a picture of one of the half starved little beasties now....

 

[3RRL]

Awesome photos of the same buck in and out of velvet John.
I presume it's the same buck because of the brow tine?

 

[john_bud]

Yeah, same poor little half starved critter. I think he's part unicorn...
My buddy thinks he will be in the 350 live weight / 275 cleaned region with 165-170 green score.

jb

 

[Jimbrown]

My Drag. It is very hard to see but there is actually a cutting edge off of some kind of grader bolted to the bottom of the railroad track. I did not build it it was given to me. I use it to drag about a mile of road.

 

[john_bud]

FYI-

I added some loops to the beams for an easier connection. Used Rebar, seems to work ok. It's "rev 2" as my first thought wasn't well thought out.

Also found out that when dragged thru the apple trees, it does a really good job of collecting apples.

And, a kawasaki mule can pull it with little effort.


Gotta head out shortly to the land and smooth the trails and the dozered area, then plant. Cerial Rye - 5 bu and 50 pounds of clover mix and 2 lb of chicory blend in the "honey hole"

Here's some pictures of the same place at various times during the dozer work

 

[KML]

"It's "rev 2" as my first thought wasn't well thought out"

That's the story of my life!

Looking great John_Bud!
I wish I had that soil instead of the concrete-like clay down here. I do have a dump trailer come to think of it.......You wouldn't miss a couple of tons would you?

As far as your little friend, have your neighbors plant a couple thousand acres of corn, that fattens em' right up. Works for me anyway!

 

[RobJ]

Nice drag, BIL had one that I think grew legs and walked off!! We used it around the house and it did work great.

Not sure about cheap. If that is S6x17.25 (HD 6"tall x about 3.5" wide), it's 17.5# per foot, time 24 equals 414#, around here the scrap is about $.50 a pound (last time I bought!!). So that's $207 plus tax and $30 for the chain. Man that steel is out of sight. At least that wet dirt is free...not counting the taxes we pay.

If it's 8" then its 23# per foot
7" 20# per foot.

 

[john_bud]

Nice drag, BIL had one that I think grew legs and walked off!! We used it around the house and it did work great.

Not sure about cheap. If that is S6x17.25 (HD 6"tall x about 3.5" wide), it's 17.5# per foot, time 24 equals 414#, around here the scrap is about $.50 a pound (last time I bought!!). So that's $207 plus tax and $30 for the chain. Man that steel is out of sight. At least that wet dirt is free...not counting the taxes we pay.

If it's 8" then its 23# per foot
7" 20# per foot.

It's 6" tall and I think 4" wide


The beam was cheap (cast off and collected for free), the chain was bought. The things some people get rid of! Still pretty cheap.

Check out the pics. I put a game cam out and got me leaving dragging out the drag and then a couple hours later a bear. Was up this weekend and had bears every day. Very annoying. I think we have identified 15 different bears on the property. 3 sows with 2,3, and 4 cubs the rest lone bears.

jb

 

[3RRL]

What, you can't "bear it"? hahaha
I've only seen one this season and he was scrawny. Looks like you've got some nice property with a lot of wildlife on it John.