Rake Still wondering about a landscape rake

[Mosey]

I'm trying to justify the purchase of a landscape rake with gauge/guide wheels. The uses of a landscape rake has been discussed in other posts, but I'm still not certain it will be worth the expense for me. I already have a grader blade and a tiller, and have access to box blade that I can borrow, but none have guide wheels. Will a landscape rake work better than either a grader blade or box blade for leveling? Or, will just adding guide wheels to my grader blade make it as good or a better leveling tool? What can I do with a landscape rake that I can't do with a grader blade, tiller, or box blade?

 

[JohnMiller3]

<font color=blue>… What can I do with a landscape rake…</font color=blue>

imagine a “super-duper king size” rake for leaves, twigs, branches, field debris, loose rocks (not boulders)… and leaving your top soil behind and intact…

also used as a “poor-man’s” tiller if you previously broke/opened the surface with a one/two bottom plow…

a quick down and dirty cheap aerator to massage the field turf and open its pores…

one of the best soil disbursement tools for finished lawns

to dress up gravel driveways nicely, especially after a long winter of plowing snow and leaving your driveway parts on the side… /w3tcompact/icons/eyes.gif

just a few things off the top of my head...
etc. etc. etc…
/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[RobS]

I've found the landscape rake to be one of my favorite, and most forgiving implements. I've been using it lately to keep the new gravel drive in line. It does a nice job of grading without gouging. The action of the tines keeps the gravel and fines mixed up for better packing. I've got a lot of landscaping to do and it's great for that. Again, grades without as much gouging as a grader blade. Once I get an area contoured I just rotate the rake around and use it "backwards" for a nice final finish. So far, I haven't needed gage wheels. The grooves that the rake leaves are great for holding grass seed as it germinates. Anything that you would do with your standard, hand operated garden rake, the tph equivalent will do much faster. The only thing I haven't tried, and can't imagine working well is using it like a leaf rake for leaves, dead grass and such. It seems to me it would be a bit aggressive for that (just like raking leaves with a garden rake). BTW, for the most forgiving operation, I set my tph arms to a "lateral float" position. On my tractor that allows the tph implement to pivot a bit side-to-side independant of the tractor. Virtually eliminates gouging for those last few passes /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[Mosey]

Thanks guys. JohnMiller3, What exactly is "soil disbursement"?

 

[JohnMiller3]

<font color=blue>...What exactly is "soil disbursement"? ...</font color=blue>

When you're putting in a brand new lawn... and spreading "top soil" evenly... /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Or take the word "soil" out and just put in a substitute for any kind of even and equal disbursement... nothing can come close to the rake for those duties...

I was somewhat /w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif tongue-in-cheek kidding about the "leaves raking"... not on your front lawn anyways... but it will do it...! /w3tcompact/icons/eyes.gif /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[AndyMA]

I have a 8' HD Ford landscape rake for my 2120. I have used it for 13 years to spread loam, gravel. Move rocks, logs and brush, as well as pick up leaves and rubbish. Of all the attachments I have it is one that I use the most. Mine offsets and you can set the blade tilt angle relative to the horizontal. Useful to make berms and ditches. I have guide wheels for mine but rarely use them. They work well for final grading before putting in a lawn, but I find that my experience and a hand on the remote works almost as well. BTW, the Ford also spins 180 degrees so you can rack in reverse, helpful in finishing off confined areas.

Andy

 

[MajMac392]

Mosey, I too was trying to decide about the use and benefits fo a LR. I finally bought one, a 60" First Choice in Wilson, NC from Pieter and it has worked out well, what little I have used it. I have lots of trees and for maneuverability I settled on a 60" instead of the 72". I didn't buy wheels and quite frankly for hilly, uneven ground I don't know the advantage. I have used/rented two other rakes with wheels and it seems to work just as well with out them for my needs.

 

[HayDR]

Buy Smart Selling Direct?

MAJMAC392,
I'm sure that stocking dealers are not so happy to find out Pieter is selling direct to the public. Why should dealers stock implements of FC if a wholesaler under cut their prices on the same stuff?

 

[erich]

Definitely get the gage wheels. With the wheels you can level really well. Without them when the tractor wheels hit a dip or a bump it can be transmitted to the rake. I wish I had gotten the ripper attachment like the York rake brand has. There are times when having the ripper in front of the rake tines would speed things up and redistribute the solids and fines better.

Eric

 

[Boondox]

<font color=blue>I was somewhat tongue-in-cheek kidding about the "leaves raking"...</font color=blue>

Wow, John...that's one of my primary uses! Can't imagine raking or blowing 7 acres of lawn any other way, and if I don't get those leaves up I have no lawn till the middle of summer. Just mud!

Danny -- If you have any obstructions like walls or trees to get around, go for the rakes with the gage wheels set in from the ends a bit. The wheels on my Woods rake are mounted right at the end, so if I angle the rake even a little bit I can't get close to walls, ditches, etc. It's a real bummer!

Pete