Ratchet Rake - better than a box blade for me

Bdavis · 2025-07-22T15:32:23-0400

A tornado hit my property when all the trees were cleared, I was left with huge ruts from all the electrical trucks. I don’t have a box blade anymore, but decided to try grading with the ratchet rake. It worked terrifically well, at least for smoothing out those ruts. I am sure box blade would be better at certain things but in this case ratchet rake was definitely easier. Back dragging the rake in float mode enables you to see what you’re doing. Also, I installed a large rearview mirror so I wouldn’t have to worry about backing over something. Just wanted to pass it along really wasn’t sure it would work.

Mtsoxfan · 2025-07-22T17:31:24-0400

Did you cover up all the ruts by just back dragging? Looks nice, however you did it...

Bdavis · 2025-07-22T20:54:35-0400

Yes, I did it all by backdragging the ratchet rake with the small times pretty much at 90° angle to the ground. You have to put the bucket in float mode for it to work well. I had to make several passes, but it’s so easy because you can see what you’re doing. Sometimes I would go across the rut sometimes I would go with the rut . It just depending on how deep some of the holes were also, I found out weed eating some of the grass out of the hole before I started made it easier to see exactly what I was doing. I pretty much have taken care of the ruts however I’m not 50% finished with the grading work that I have to do that tornado really messed up my drainage. I’ve gotta make some swells. I think the ratchet rake will do a great job on that too