Rake Harley Rake vs. Rockhound

Buckeyeman · May 11, 2009

Can anyone tell me which is better for removing rocks golf ball size and smaller. I have 3 acres and I had my yard put in last Sept. by a landscape company (slit seeded) and it never took off due to no rain. Now I am out $$K

and have nothing but weeds and rocks. The landscaper used a Harley rake to prep for seeding but it didn't work worth a darn. Now that it is spring a lot more stones/rock surfaced. Before I reseed I want to remove as much rock as possible. Are Rockhound's better for removing rock or is there something else that works better? I also have clay soil if that helps.

Thanks in advance!

amigauser · May 11, 2009

A harley rake will just pulverize/level the soil and windrow the rocks in piles. You would still need to remove them.

A rock hound (as its name implies) will level the ground and will scoop the rocks up into its bucket were you can dump them were you want them. Between the two, if you mainly want to remove rocks, use the rock hound.

I watched a skid steer mounted rock hound prepare my neighbors property for a new lawn and it was very impressive. The soil in our area is loaded with rocks from pebble size up to and beyond bowling ball size. When the operator finished it was a perfectly groomed area ready for seeding. The one bad thing about it was the operator had to run the skid steer in reverse (backing up) to use it. At least with tractor mounted implements you drive forward

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kennyd · May 11, 2009

I personally like the RockHound better because it collects the rocks in the bucket rather than windrowing them off to the side like the Harley does-but either will do a credible job of removing rocks down to 3/4" or so. Possibly the teeth on his rake where worn?

Buckeyeman · May 12, 2009

I had a landscape co. come out to the house today to look over the property and he agreed I had a lot of rock. He said he would look into seeing if Rockhound had different size screens to filter out the rock and get back with me on a quote.