DR Grader

Bedlam · May 4, 2009

Just wondered if anyone has experience with this device

DR Power Equipment - DR® Power Grader - DR Powergrader, A Driveway Grader pulled behind your lawn mower, utility tractor or as a ATV, UTV attachment.

My uncle was asking my opinion.THANKS

Strappeej · May 4, 2009

Picked one up last year, works better then expected. Only have a quad to pull with right now, not sure if I would even want to try it with a lawn tractor. Need to use low range and four wheel drive to drag along. Smoothed out my stone driveway with ease and even leveled a washed out area full of ruts.

Bedlam · May 4, 2009

I think the electric raise part is optional? Can you give a ballpark cost . thanks for replying.
I guess by your thinking it would be difficult wqith a lawn tractor, that it can take a good bite..H might be considering pulling with the s 10 I think

Charlesaf3 · May 4, 2009

you might have a look on the various grader threads on here. DR is pretty light duty from looking at it

Strappeej · May 4, 2009

Electric is standard, the remote use to be optional. Did find the battery will drain so make sure you disconnect and or recharge battery. Was not cheap if I remember right($1,000 or so), but still less expensive then a tractor if you do not have one. If you drop it down all the way the teeth do dig quite well.
As for being light duty, I would not say that. Actually very surpirsed by how well built it is. I bought it planning on returning with their 6 months trial if I did no like it, but decided to keep it.

Charlesaf3 · May 7, 2009

light duty is a matter of perspective. If you aren't using it with a tractor, I wouldn't worry. From the looks, I'd say either of my tractors could pretzel it. By general rating medium duty tractor equipment seems to weigh around a third of a ton at least...

Strappeej · May 7, 2009

This is one of the reasons I stay away from posting on forums. Opinions are all over. Everyone has their own, some just enjoy them more. I am sure "either" of your tractors could pretzel it, but the question was "Just wondered if anyone has experience with this device". I actually own one, it is works great, heck if I had a tractor, no matter how big, if used properly it would and should not "pretzel it". Please remember we all are not equal and some may only have access to lesser "quality" items. Sorry for the rant, guess I should just really keep lurking and not try helping.

ChuckinNH · May 7, 2009

Hang in there, be thankful you have something to grade, and something to do it with. I'm sure lots of folks are curious about the equipment you have, and can use your input in their decisions. Some don't, and that's OK too.

Coyote machine · May 7, 2009

I have a bunch of Dr's equipment and it is definitely light grade product- perfect for the weekend warrior but not suited to high use/commercial use. It is for the most part a middle ground between homeowner use equipment and commercial grade.
For instance, I've had two of their walk behind brush cutters that I bought primarily to cut my lawn with additional very occasional use with the brush cutter attachment. First model had a plastic beck with a serpentine belt that looked like a Disney ride. Belt broke, pulleys went south with low hours.
Exchanged entire unit for a newer model with a smaller metal deck and a quicker attach brush cutter. Went from 12.5 Tecumseh to the 15HP Kawasaki and it has been in my pond twice, once my son- once my wife. Second time rendered the carb useless and replaced it; after hauling it out of pond with neighbor's orange tractor.
tried the snowblower attachment and it would not do my field's dog paths even though I asked extensive questions about its capability before purchase.
In fact it broke the transmission- instead of the shear pin!
This time my other neighbor's orange tractor hauled it out of a snowdrift in my field. Took it back to Dr's factory store- got my money back and they repaired the trans no charge.
I don't beat on the equipment but I do put it through its paces.
Light duty and use, yes. For the same money (or some more) there are lots of choices out there...but their trial basis program is great to see if it meets your needs. You could also see if anyone rents the equipment to try it out with less hassle.

Charlesaf3 · May 7, 2009

Strappeej said:
This is one of the reasons I stay away from posting on forums. Opinions are all over. Everyone has their own, some just enjoy them more. I am sure "either" of your tractors could pretzel it, but the question was "Just wondered if anyone has experience with this device". I actually own one, it is works great, heck if I had a tractor, no matter how big, if used properly it would and should not "pretzel it". Please remember we all are not equal and some may only have access to lesser "quality" items. Sorry for the rant, guess I should just really keep lurking and not try helping.

Your defensiveness is completely unwarranted. "light grade" is not the insult you seem to take it to be. It's merely a description. And relevant. You posted this generally, on a tractor site, so an idea of how one might perform behind a tractor is relevant. There have been numerous discussions on here, concluding that weight matters in graders. I therefore think its appropriate to mention that when I've handled one, I found it "light duty" and unlikely to work well with tractors. Feel free to peruse any of the multitude of grader threads for more information.

If you are hypersensitive to the extent that accurate descriptions bother you, the internet might be a rough place.