GirlWhoWantsTractor
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What else to buy?
- Thread starter RandyinTN
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MtnViewRanch
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Again, easy for him to say, he's not the one that has to do the work. Can maintaining a drive with a box blade work? Absolutely, but the time involved will be cut by half with a LPGS.
Actually ETA has the best unit of this type in the 60" size range IMO. :thumbsup:
(Prolly 'cuz he doesn't have one in stock.:laughing:
True. Probably better off getting top and tilt from Fit-Rite Hydraulics as long as u can wait 3-4 months (He is a 1 man shop). U just need at least 2 rear remotes to run them. If I get T&T I'll have 3rd remote added.
Any other Kioti dealers around? Get another price or 2 and see if they are less. If they are less see if this guy will price match. My local NH guy sent me a desperation "oh poop" e-mail when he realized he was losing the sale but he dallied too long and I went to Case.
You people are nuts, lol. Noticed the driveway was a little wash boarded and while we out walking our neighbor pulled up to talk. Asked him if he could swing by with his box blade and he did. Two passes on one side, two on the other with the flat end and it is level and will last another 6 months. He didnt even use the "hooks"or diggers, or what ever they are called.
jeff9366
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shooterdon
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Well Randy, I feel for you.
I have a newly acquired 30 year old tractor and it is easy to follow the advice here and spend a lot of money. Most of the advice is good but you need to couch it in terms of what you need. I suspect if your drive is already in good shape, even the box blade is overkill. And from what I gather, unless you are trying to scalp the high spots and fill in the low dips, moving dirt/gravel is what the box blade does best. If you are already level and just need grading a rake or blade may be good enough.
If it takes twice as long to do a job twice a year, is the investment worth it? Only YOU can judge the amount of work needed, the value of your time and your sensitivity to frustration. I was all set to buy a LPGS until I saw the price ($1200-1500 for a 5' model). My dealer will not even quote adding a tilt hydraulic cylinder and valve on my old JD. Using my simple rake and blade I have improved my drive significantly. It is not where I would like it to be, but I am new to this and just starting. I have spent about 3 hours on it so far. If I can get it "right" in another 12 hours, I am OK with that...others may not be. For me, saving 15 hours is not worth $1200. Again, my drive is short at 150 yards.
There is the right and efficient way to do things, the stupid way, and the good enough way. The guys maintaining hundreds of yards of drive, will have a different perspective than a homeowner like me with 150 yards.
I have a newly acquired 30 year old tractor and it is easy to follow the advice here and spend a lot of money. Most of the advice is good but you need to couch it in terms of what you need. I suspect if your drive is already in good shape, even the box blade is overkill. And from what I gather, unless you are trying to scalp the high spots and fill in the low dips, moving dirt/gravel is what the box blade does best. If you are already level and just need grading a rake or blade may be good enough.
If it takes twice as long to do a job twice a year, is the investment worth it? Only YOU can judge the amount of work needed, the value of your time and your sensitivity to frustration. I was all set to buy a LPGS until I saw the price ($1200-1500 for a 5' model). My dealer will not even quote adding a tilt hydraulic cylinder and valve on my old JD. Using my simple rake and blade I have improved my drive significantly. It is not where I would like it to be, but I am new to this and just starting. I have spent about 3 hours on it so far. If I can get it "right" in another 12 hours, I am OK with that...others may not be. For me, saving 15 hours is not worth $1200. Again, my drive is short at 150 yards.
There is the right and efficient way to do things, the stupid way, and the good enough way. The guys maintaining hundreds of yards of drive, will have a different perspective than a homeowner like me with 150 yards.
Shooter,
Good points. Our 500 feet of gravel can be easily maintained with a few swipes of the box blade twice a year. My neighbor made 4 passes in his old, and I mean old, 2 wd tractor with a box blade he bought used years ago in less than 15 minutes. God knows I spend a bunch of money on stuff I dont need but a fancy system to level out some wash boards is not going to be one of them.
Good points. Our 500 feet of gravel can be easily maintained with a few swipes of the box blade twice a year. My neighbor made 4 passes in his old, and I mean old, 2 wd tractor with a box blade he bought used years ago in less than 15 minutes. God knows I spend a bunch of money on stuff I dont need but a fancy system to level out some wash boards is not going to be one of them.
GirlWhoWantsTractor
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I completely regraded my long steep gravel drive with a *garden tractor* pulling a 40# lightweight "toy" box blade. (They still say it can't be done. ) Took a long time, for sure. But I didn't need to touch it for 2 years. Partly because I did a good job, and partly because with my red clay soil, once you get it shaped, spread, and packed down by driving over it a few times, it's basically concrete. My new tractor can do a lot more, a lot quicker, and that's a big improvement. (And I love my tractor, with a passion. ) But my heavy duty back-blade (for changing the slope, or grade, or for ditching) and my box blade are all I will ever need for the driveway. I have time to do stuff, and for me it's recreation. I enjoy it. I get that some folks don't have the time, or don't want to spend the time, or simply enjoy getting things done in the most efficient way possible. Me, I love box-blading and would almost pay someone to let me do it. Different points of view.
) Took a long time, for sure. But I didn't need to touch it for 2 years. Partly because I did a good job, and partly because with my red clay soil, once you get it shaped, spread, and packed down by driving over it a few times, it's basically concrete. My new tractor can do a lot more, a lot quicker, and that's a big improvement. (And I love my tractor, with a passion. ) But my heavy duty back-blade (for changing the slope, or grade, or for ditching) and my box blade are all I will ever need for the driveway. I have time to do stuff, and for me it's recreation. I enjoy it. I get that some folks don't have the time, or don't want to spend the time, or simply enjoy getting things done in the most efficient way possible. Me, I love box-blading and would almost pay someone to let me do it. Different points of view.