Land Pride Aerator

Anonymous Poster · Jan 11, 2003

<font color=red>Has Anyone used a LandPride aerator? I would like to know as I am contemplating purchasing one for my Kubota BX2200 . <font color=red>

hazmat · Jan 11, 2003

Have you priced it yet? Big bucks! $1,800 if I remember correctly.

I've got a Very happy with it. Cost me <$700 including shipping from <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.sweettractors.com/>sweet tractors

I'd recommend the 48" unit for the BX due to lift capacity (you'll want to add weight for maximum penetration) Do a search here for midwest aerator or first choice aerator for more info.

Happy Shopping

bigpete · Jan 11, 2003

I bought a Turfco TM42 3-point hitch model last year. It looks like their prices went up a bit since then to about $1,000, $1,500 for the tow-behind model. I liked it because it's the right size for the subcompact and comes with the water tank ballast system built in. It's 225 pounds dry and 465 pounds loaded. If the ground is soft and you don't need to stress the tranny, it will easily pull 3" plugs still. You can add up to 200 pounds more in weight if you need to. It'll be a perfect fit for my 2210 and for your BX as well. Make sure you compare the number of holes per square feet, size of spoons, and total ballasted weight across the width. 465 pounds across 42" working width is about as good as it gets for tractors our size. Most aerators are set up so you have to throw sand bags on, etc. The water cans are great for adjusting to different soil conditions.

You can buy direct. See more at <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.turfco.com/turfcodirect/html/tm_42.html>Turfco Direct</A>.

It's a very high-quality professional unit with greasable bearing, replaceable 3/4" spoons, etc. I don't have any pics of mine but if there's something you really wanted to see about the unit, I could grab my camera and run to the shed for a couple of shots.

Attached is the stock pic from their site.

TresCrows · Jan 11, 2003

If First Choice is still available they make a great unit. It is extremely heavy duty compared to the light duty units and it was very reasonably priced. Do a search for aerator threads. J

bigpete · Jan 11, 2003

Bad math...the TM42 with fully loaded tanks is 665 pounds. I agree with J... Stay away from anything not heavy enough to drive those spoons into clay, hardpan, etc. You should be able to pull at least 3"-4" plugs for the kind of money you are looking at spending. Make sure the spoons are easily replaceable and the axle is solid steel with greasable bronze bearings/bushings.

The Turfco unit is very popular with home lawn services, pro landscapers, and grounds maintenance people taking care of sports fields. Golf courses spend thousands on their hydraulic powered units, which just aren't practical for estate or small business use.

The aerating pattern is important as well. I don't know what the pattern is for the other units mentioned here, but the pros look for more holes per square foot or square yard, and calculate weight across the width of the unit. Fully loaded the TM42 has a gravity of 15.8333 pounds per inch of width. The spoons are staggered so of the eight spoon wheels, only four spoons are penetrating the soil at any instant and this happens every 5" of travel. This means that each spoon enters the soil under 166.25 pounds of pressure. Turfco was the only company I spoke with that provided a technical discussion on the product. They also rate the TM42 and TM60 at 5 MPH, which you wouldn't want to try with any of the cheapie stuff.

Hopefully this will help you to get your questions listed. When you are spending $700 to $1,800 for an implement, the selling company should be able to address those specs.

BobinCols · Jan 11, 2003

I have a 48" Landpride 3pt aerator used behind a 3010 and soon to be 3130. I bought the Landpride over the Woods (Gill) as it was heavier. I still have a couple of diesel cyl heads on top for extra weight. It does a fine job plugging especially when the soil is moist. It is well made and I would buy one again.

TresCrows · Jan 11, 2003

Several people here on TBN have the First Choice unit. It is available as a 48 inch and a 60 inch. It has removable heavy duty spoons and bronze bearings with grease zerks. You can custom order it to match your tractor color. I think I may have been the first to get a First Choice--hmmmmmm?----I got the 48 inch and I believe a couple of other guys got the 60 inch. The things are very well built and quite heavy and do have a tray area for increasing the weight. I have the 3 point version but I think they can be had as a pull type also. The 3 -point type must be lifted to turn the tractor--with it down the tractor just goes straight! Not a problem really and it is easy to lift over walkways and drives etc. The BX can handle the 60 inch but I got the 48 so I could manuver between objects, if I had it to do again I would probably get the 60 inch. The 60 is a tad big for the BX and the 48 is a tad small for the 2410 but either would do well actually with either size machine. The best part is the First Choice units were running 500 to 700 dollars if I remember correctly plus shipping. The density of the pattern can be increased by making more passes. I usually go across and then at 90 degrees. Next time I go 30 and then 90 to that.
Here is the best part, I was driving along one day and saw a few new homes near me. I saw a poor fellow hacking at the ground trying to loosen it up. I, being a nosey sort, turned around and drove into his drive and introduced myself. I said " looks like a bit of work you have going on there"--he said "it was killing him and he would pay someone to do it for him"--I said--"how about 500 dollars"---I was surprised when he said "yes". So home I went and grabbed the 'bota, harrow and aerator and seed spreader. By night fall I had done his primary yard, and 3 of his neighbors all paying me 500 dollars each. I decided that I felt very bad about taking their money so this past Fall I did their yards again for free--not part of the bargain-- and raked/smoothed their gravel drives for free. I am not in the landscaping buisness and really don't need the money but dang--I could not help myself--one short days work minus some fertilizer and seeds netted me a nice profit but since I did their yards a second time on the house I am about even money. Beats a lemonade stand any old day where we usually gave the stuff away. Good luck. J

bigpete · Jan 12, 2003

Careful, Tres J... The local landscaping and groundscare entrpreneurs will TeePee your house and release feral cats on your property for diminishing their rightful and provincial revenue stream! /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif Worse yet, they'll get back at you by adding you to their snail-spam-mail list and clog your USPS box with flyers for package deals on weekly cuts, mulching and trimming services. Those flyers look like He!! blowing around the neighborhood after the local high school hoods run down a few mail boxes with their tricked out Honda Sibbix'es every weekend.

In all seriousness, I wouldn't take bread from another man's table, especially in groundscare or a business with such tight margins. Plumbing and electricity, though..../w3tcompact/icons/hmm.gif

However, with our drought in the Mid-Atlantic last year, there was more than enough re-juv work to be done that it wasn't even noticed that I took care of six, 4-6 acre building lots in our local "Hundred." Dethatching, aerating, fertilizing, seeding, and incorporating broadcast seed with the dethatcher was the typical ticket. Two of the six neighbors didn't think it was necessary to run the tines over the seed after broadcast to ensure good seed to soil contact Their lots don't show the recovery the rest of us do.

As you said, it's better than a lemonade stand but everybody in the neighborhood pays in their own way and it's all seat time as far as Uncle Sam and I are concerned /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif. I enjoy a few beers each month and I've got enough in the garage for a couple of years. My TM42 will probably pay for itself by next Fall.

Anonymous Poster · Jan 12, 2003

I want to Thank You for your reply .All the information is very much appreciated guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous Poster · Jan 12, 2003

Thanks Jr.........I really did enjoy the story, This is the reason I am considering buying one and probably will as the cost of having a "Pro" do things like this is quite expensive here!!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous Poster · Jan 12, 2003

Thanks One and All!.I have trolled here for a long time and saw what a great Place this is to obtain first-hand advice

rmorgan · Jan 12, 2003

Tom--

For what it's worth, I rented an extremely heavy three-point aerator for about $65, Saturday afternoon to Monday morning, which did a fine job on about five acres of grass over a Sunday afternoon. Don't know how much land you have to cover or how often you plan to do it, but it takes a lot of $65's to add up to $1,800 . . .

Anonymous Poster · Jan 12, 2003

Thanks for the reply Rick,
I only have one acre but i am one of these types that likes to have everything sitting right there in my garage..I checked about renting one and all I could find was a pull type.had to go 14 miles to haul it back everytime so I figured rather than be hassled with all that I would just buy one and be done with it!

Thanks Again for Your input...........It helps me make a wise decision.

JimMc · Jan 12, 2003

"If First Choice is still available they make a great unit."

I'm not sure whether First Choice has any remaining inventory or not, but the units are shipping faster than ever under the "Midwest" label. They are also now available in Charcoal Gray which looks very smart with the "K" tractors as well as many others with gray chassis.

Anonymous Poster · Jan 12, 2003

We do have in stock several of the Orange FC Core Aeriators in the 4-5-6 ft sizes, I am pleased that many of you have been happy with your purchases from us--Thanks-Ken Sweet

TresCrows · Jan 12, 2003

Bigpete, here is the even better part, the so called local landscaping entrepeneurs wanted something like 3,000 dollars so I was told after the fact. I saw some of their work, mine is better. I guess if they want work they are going to have to actually do something but complain about the lack of work and swill beer /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif and scratch their large rears and even larger bellies. They would not want me to sick the crows on them so I doubt they release feral cats and paper my scrawny trees such as they are. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif . I cannot wait for Spring when things turn green. J

Anonymous Poster · Jan 12, 2003

Pete,
What order did You use in this reseeding Project?

JimMc · Jan 13, 2003

Ken,
Glad to see you were able to secure the remaining FC stock. Let me know should you need any parts.

JohnMiller3 · Jan 13, 2003

<font color=blue>...the remaining FC stock...</font color=blue>

Hi Jim,

Maybe I missed one of the thousands of posts... /w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif, but is First Choice still in business...?

It appeared one day things were going like gang busters and now somewhat helter skelter and multiple names and addresses...

I'm just an ole' Farmboy... so you may have to go slow and explain... /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

HayDR · Jan 13, 2003

John,
I had to laugh FC is still around they are a marketing lable but not a manufacturer. The powder coated landscape implements were always Midwest Fab's work. Now FC does not have a MFG for any of its landscaping implements. FC is becoming a pot luck marketing name. You never really know what will be delivered and who the MFG is.