Rock Rake

maxwell99 · Nov 16, 2011

School me on why everyone needs a rock rake or root rake.

I have a TO-35 Fergy tractor

I have a 6ft grader blade and a 6ft box blade.

Have seen these root rakes and was just wondering if they were better at leveling gravel driveway or pulling leaves/sticks, etc:

anyone have one and what jobs do you use it for?

Picture attached of one that I was looking at:

snoop-nc · Nov 16, 2011

I bought one to use when I did landscape/yard seeding work. What I found was that it would easily clog up and not let dirt pass through the teeth...ESPECIALLY so when I angled the rake and wanted to windrow roots/rock/debris. What I ended up doing was to remove every other tine...this let dirt/soil pass through easier.

Was it my "tool of choice" on every job?....NO.

As far as driveway work is concerned...my "tool of choice" is my 8ft. heavy box blade behind 4610 Ford with hydraulic side link & hydraulic top link.

To each his own...I'm fairly certain you could use/enjoy a rake if you play with it enough and are willing to possibly try it with some tines removed.

I would suggest, also, that you consider a rake wider than 6 ft. as you may want to straddle a windrow of debris AND wipe out your preceding tractor tracks. That's what I do with mine. Also, remember please, it is not a "heavy weight" when it comes to moving stuff around.

Best of luck to you...Rick

Harold Hubbard · Nov 16, 2011

I use my rake more than I do my blade. If I am careful I can do any heavy cutting with my bucket, and then finish with the rake.

They are great for finish work on clean soil or gravel. Unlike a blade of any type, they will not (usually) trap stones and drag them forever, leaving a gouge in your finished work, and a big hump where they finally ride up over the obstruction.

They don't work as well where there is a lot of loose sod, hay or sticks, unless you are trying to rake that stuff into a pile to get rid of. Work pretty well to clean up the mess you left on the lawn with your snowplow, where you cut up the pile of logs for wood, the last little bit of brush form the tree that fell over, or the gravel that washed off the town road. The harder the underlying surface, the better they work.

They won't carry a lot of stuff before they start riding up over it, so a bucket on the other end of the tractor is pretty useful.

A set of gauge wheels, an accessory not shown in your picture, makes them more useful for picky work, and keeps them from "chopping" so badly when you try to grade with them.

maxwell99 · Nov 16, 2011

thanks for the replys,

wish i had a neighbor that had one and could give it a try, before i bought one.

might just turn into another toy lined up in my woods lot.

if I take my time I can do a fair job on my gravel driveway with the box blade.

blade is good for pushing backwards into a burn pile, (not always a safe thing to do).

not many of them out there used, kinda like tractor tillers.

Thanks,
Fred

paul · Nov 16, 2011

Got one. Does a nice job of sprucing up the gravel driveway. Moves the rock around without gouging up the base like the blade would so.

It helps with picking up deep leaves and twigs. Dos not work 'great' for this as they clog up fill up quick, but there really isn't anything else that works 'good' for this job.... Small bites and work at it, it does the job.

Spin it around backwards and it will harrow out the ground very level and fine, also works in broadcast seed like a harrow or packer would.

All such odds and ends. I know what you mean, does a person need another toy, but over the years end up glad I got it. Could probably live without it & be happy & productive too.

--->Paul

Harold Hubbard · Nov 17, 2011

Try a rental place, they may have only a small one, but it would give you a taste of how it works.

Also, I didn't mention this before, but wider is better. It should at least cover your wheel tracks when angled all the way. Because it is more or less self limiting as to load, you can use a wider one than you could a blade.

I finally gave up and bought a new one, because I could only find six footers or smaller used. I wanted at least an eight footer, and only settled for that because the next jump in size was a LOT more money.

maxwell99 · Nov 17, 2011

Sounds good,

Thanks for your replys,

I will look at them somemore and give the 7 ft units a good review.

If i decide to buy, I will have to submit an (AR)
Appropriation Request to my financial manager.

she does not always understand why I have to have so many little tools lined up aganist the fence row.

Women just do not understand:

The guy who dies with the most tools, wins!!!!

Mike Aylward · Nov 19, 2011

Just remember, Maxwell, that the guy that dies with the most toys is still dead. Mike

Rock Rake

maxwell99

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snoop-nc

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Harold Hubbard

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maxwell99

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paul

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Harold Hubbard

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maxwell99

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Mike Aylward

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