right implement for smoothing frozen ground

[CurtC]

With the weather extremes, I've got some paddocks that got mushy, are all chopped up and now frozen hard.

I've been cleaning them up some with a back blade, but it's not particularly effective, and it's beating the snot out of the blade.

I figure someone on here has this same problem, looking for comments on what works for you for maintaining frozen paddocks.

Thanks!

 

[KiotiJohn]

Well, I'll probably never have that problem here in FL, but I think the answer is, wait until spring when it's thawed!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif John

 

[CurtC]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Well, I'll probably never have that problem here in FL, but I think the answer is, wait until spring when it's thawed!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif John )</font>

Unfortunately that's simply not an option with 13 horses hobbling around. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[JackIL]

I would look into the Arena Rascal or the TR3 Rake Arena Rascal. Give them a call to inquire about using these tools on frozen ground.

JackIL

 

[gabby]

You need something with lotsa beef like a rollover blade or a pulverizer.
Gabby

 

[kensfarm]

I have the same problem.. when it freezes.. the steers have a hard time walking on it.. probably is not too good for their hooves either.

I use my FEL w/ out the toothbar... curl it back.. go backwards and slice the frozen bumps off. This is suppose to be a no-no w/ the FEL.. but I go slow.. it works good.

I would try it at the warmest part of the day.. even though it is still freezing.. the sun will soften some. I could tell the steers were a lot happier w/ better footing.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Curt, I don't have horses but my daughter rides at a stable near us. This is obviously a serious issue because you don't want a horse to break a leg on that uneven ground. They have a similar problem and they seems to use multiple implements. A heavy box blade with scarifiers followed by some sort of pulvariser or heavy harrow may do the trick for you. The stable my daughter rides at tries to groom the ground at the doors as the temperature drops rather than getting it after it is frozen solid.

 

[AndyMA]

I'm not sure how hard you other guys bumps get, but when the temp is around zero for a few days, nothing that I have that scrapes, including an 8'box blade on a TN and a bucket will even touch the bumps. The only thing I have found that will is the carbide teeth on a Harley rake.

Andy

 

[mikim]

<font color="blue"> what works for you for maintaining frozen paddocks. </font>
sorry bout this answer .... just feel like I gotta .... <font color="red">A Moving Van headed south! </font> /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[JJT]

Around here nothing short of a D6 is going to flatten the frozen ground. We're in a cold spell, with lows below zero and the highs not getting out of the single digits.

I'd bring in a few loads of sand and get it spread before in freezes up.

 

[Egon]

A narrow pad D6 pulling a set of sheepfoot rollers may allow you to come up with a semblance of smoothness when the ground is frozen.

Think Mike may have the best solution.

Egon /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[keeney]

Similar to the sand idea, buit maybe cheaper and easier to obtain, you could pump a bunch of water on top of the lumpy ground and it will fill-in the low spots with ice. When it melts, though, it will be muddier than before.

- Rick

 

[Larry_T]

I take the fel and knock the tops off going forward. I also have 4 horses. hard to do more than that once you have heavy frost without a big machine.

 

[Rowski]

When I bought my Harley Rake the dealer told me they sold one to a ski area. They used it in the winter time to remove pot holes (both of ice and dirt) in the parking lots. They were running it on skid loaders.