Duragrader vs. ????

[SonnieP]

I'm looking for something that will keep my 1270' rock driveway level. I've found this Duragrader that is manufactured by a small mom and pop operation over in south Mississippi. The owner is Richard Seal. They make what you want and deliver it to your house.

This unit is a Duragrader Utility 4 in 1...

See picture attached...

I guess I'm not doing something right... I've got image tags inline in the post and have it as an attachment, but neither seem to work. Here's the link to the picture...

http://www.snapbug.ws/images/duragrader4in1.jpg

It weighs about 680lbs and cost $875 delivered for the 7' model.

They want me to send them the money first, then they will build it and have it to me in about a week.

Here's their website.

Supposedly this is much better than a boxblade for leveling... it is adjustable to straight level or crown level along with two other adjustments for something. It is not intended to replace the boxblade for what it does but supposedly grades and levels much better than a boxblade.

Anyone ever heard of these folks or used this brand or is there anything similar that I should consider?

Thanks!

 

[wushaw]

There are several manufactures of this implement.

I seen a guy using one of these types (didn't see the manufactures name) on the ft. part of his property and it was very nice and smooth the next time I drove by and his gravel drive looked great also.
Here is another manufacture.

Grademaster

 

[Bob_Skurka]

I've not seen the Duragrader, but one of my dealers sells the Grademaster.

Lots of people are happy with box blades for their driveways, I have a box blade but my drive is asphalt so I don't have a lot of experience in grading drives. You may want to check out this thead that compares different brands.

Photo Comparision BOX BLADES

 

[SonnieP]

Yeah Bob... I read that entire thread you posted on boxblades. Very interesting. I spoke with one distribution center who manufactures the United boxblades today and he will sell me his heavy duty United 7' for $464. Not bad IMO.

Those Grademaster's look identical to the Duragrader brand. Again I'm able to buy directly from the manufacturer and save. His retail pricing is very similar to the Grademaster retail prices in that link. Duragrader also offers the industrial model which are super heavy for such as maintaining county dirt roads, etc. Again the prices are almost identical. That $875 for the 7' is sounding pretty good right now.

I will probably end up buying a boxblade and a Duragrader just to have both.

 

[gabby]

I have a similar unit and it works well.
gabby

 

[SonnieP]

I checked with Grademaster today and I can buy straight from the distributor... the 7' is $700. I think I'll be safer going this route than sending my money off to someone's house and makin' the check payable to an individual. The Grademaster distributor is not too terribly far from me so I'll just drive and pick it up.

I also think I'll probably go with the Monroe Tufline TB284 box blade. It weighs in at 805lbs w/ 1/4" sides and 877'lbs if I opt for 1/2" sides. Prices $700 and $800 respectively.

That should wind me up with implements.

Brown 484 7' cutter
Grademaster 7'
Tufline 7' box blade

Then again... I may change my mind. Neverending decisions and research.

 

[SonnieP]

Now even another to throw on the pile of considerations... the Road Boss... this thing looks impressive with their before and after pics on their before and after pictures on their website.

Haven't gotten price yet.

Another consideration is getting a grader that will cover my entire driveway instead of having to make 2 passes with a partial overlap. That would also mean the grader would be even more heavy duty and weighted for the dirt road. Our normal county grader that grades our road about once a month does a terrible job leaving washboards and debris everywhere. I might end up being the new road maintenance grader. Obviously the unpaid one... but if it improves our 3/4 mile to the paved road... that'll be okie dokie.

 

[em14]

Sonnie,
I'm planning to buy this type drag grader in the coming year. I have a lot of "farm" road to grade at my place in Alabama. The last one you posted has an interesting blade. When I was in the Army we use to make these things using heavy timber and old grader blades. We used most anything that would pull one from trucks to tractors as the tow. They worked great. I have seen a Grade Master in use here in this county and it worked great. They just don't use it often enough. I am watching to see how this works out for you.
Leo

 

[have_blue]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Lots of people are happy with box blades for their driveways, )</font>

Hmmmm... makes me wonder what would happen if you bolted a couple of 4' long skids on the box blade ends. I think it would do the same thing.

 

[pekabu]

This looks very similar to the drag we pull on our snowmobile trails. It does a good job.

Mogul Master drag

 

[sweettractors]

Here is the one we sell from DHE in Red Bay,Al. 10 ft $1195 FOB Red Bay--Ken Sweet

Email sweet@scrtc.com
Phone 280-528-3323-Mon-Fri-8-5 and Sat-8-12 CST

 

[SonnieP]

You could bolt some skids to a box blade but then you are going to collect... it's not going to pass over the blade like it will with the grader types.

Ken... I measured my driveway and it appears I'll end up needing only an 8' wide unit. Will you price that for me. Our dirt road is right at 17' wide so an 8' will work out well with it too... I'll just cover 16'.

I want the commercial or industrial unit too... at least 18" sides... some have 24" sides. The industrial Duragrader is 18" high X 5' deep X 8' wide. I'm not sure on the Grademaster or Road Boss... I know the Road Boss commercial models are 24" high but not sure on depth.

The Road Boss page claims their cutting blades are replaceable with such as Catepillar blades found most anywhere.... BUT, I notice they have teeth. It appears most of these units have replaceable blades. This makes me curious if I could just buy one like Ken sells and pick up some of those teeth type blades that Road Boss uses on theirs at a local Cat or similar dealer?

Anyone know?

Thanks!

 

[SonnieP]

em14... where's your land in bama and where do you live in Florida?

 

[pekabu]

The front serrated teeth on the Road Boss looks like the blades we use for our snow groomers. There are a few equipment delears that carry them in our area.

 

[SonnieP]

I probably need to check with some of the local large equipment dealers.

I just realized I have a price on the Grademaster 10' model that weighs 1400lbs... $1100.

Correction on the 7' model that weighs 620lbs... $750 (great price because they retail for $1195).

I just need to check on the 8' model with cat. II 3pt hitch. I believe that 7' is cat. I 3pt.

Sold by Gamble's Bedliners In Birmingham, Alabama 205-631-4867

I spoke with Dennis Gamble... I believe they will sell to anyone but not sure if they ship. These prices are me pickin' them up.

 

[em14]

My land is in Macon County and I live in Alachua Fl. which is about 15 miles north of Gainesville.
Leo

 

[SonnieP]

Your bama place is a little north of us but you probably come right up Hwy 231 on your way to Macon County... if so, you pass right through Troy, Alabama (20 miles from our home in Luverne). My wife and I work in Troy. I was born and raised in Troy. We've lived in Luverne for 6 years now. Lucky me... my wife's parents gave us our land.

 

[Dickey]

Just from looking at pictures of them it looks like it would be easy to build your own. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[SonnieP]

Yeah... I guess you could.

I'm anxious to speak with the folks at Road Boss. I'm wondering how well those teeth hold up... seems like they would break off easy.

 

[SonnieP]

Update... price on Duragrader 18" high X 5' deep X 8' wide, standard replaceable motor grader cutting edge and replaceable skid shoes, 1120lbs, cost delivered from the manufacturer in Kiln, Mississippi to my house in Luverne, Alabama is $1025. They have agreed to a 50% deposit vs. full payment up front.

More research to do before final decision.