TOP DRESSING drag mat. LAWN LEVELING
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 3 ต.ค. 2024
- This is my top dressing drag mat. I explain how it works and how I built it.
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Contact: wardconnor@hotmail.com
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Great job! With all of your details, I went to my steel supplier, bought what you mentioned for $142.00. They cut everything to length for that fee too. Mine is 10' wide like yours, but made the supports 24" instead of 20". I used the washers as spacers as you mentioned. I've never welded before so I bought a welder and watched some youtube 'how to weld' videos. I knocked it out in 2 hours. Thank you so much for the inspiration!
The finished product in kioti orange
photos.app.goo.gl/orPtknNfCr9BPons8
@@kingofbytes I noticed that yoru c-channel openings are pointing down and Connor's are pointing forward or backwards depending on how you look at it. Do you think this makes a difference, whether good or bad? I'm planning to build a 6 or 7 footer this summer, just curious. Thanks-Drew
@@dcousar2352Thanks for the reply. The C channel is actually pointing forward....in the pic you cannot really tell because the photo is from "behind" the drag. You want the C channel pointed toward the back of your tractor....this way when you're dragging, there is a 'collection area' in the channel and this will subsequently 'drop' dirt into voids. HTH!
Yes. Point c channel forwards. It holds material and re distributes it
@@kingofbytes awesome!! Appreciate you clearing that up for me. Useful information 👌🏼
I have absolutely no intentions of ever having a lawn like yours, and quite frankly I'm not sure how I started watching your videos.
But watching a man post videos about something he is passionate about and is willing to share his knowledge of is something you can't turn away from.
You have me absolutely hooked. Your yard is absolutely gorgeous. Keep it up!
It's comments like this that keep me posting. Thanks Whitehall
Connor , you are the most interesting lawn care person on TH-cam, your knowledge ,manerisms and attitude are different to others.😁👍👍
You really thought the lawn leveler out. Looks like you thought of everything. Had no clue there was that much to your pile of metal. Love it!
The easiest way to fix the flipping is to make new holes for the clips closer to the front. This would eliminate the upward pull when the device encounters greater push back from a large pile. No weights or major modifications needed. Awesome homemade machine!
Bingo. I was thinking the same thing. Moving the pull holes closer to the end would put more weight on the back of the drag and prevent flipping and actually bring that back C channel more into use in dragging. I think the front C channel is doing 80% of the leveling now.
What Jeremy said plus, put those cinder block holders to use, the extra weight during the initial process will give the drag the mass to overcome the piles of sand.
Thanks for the overview, I built one myself but it only has one blade, I see now I need an additional blade to make good flat surfaces!
It would also be much more stable if he added U-bolts or hooks into the face of the front channel to connect the chain to. That'll get below the center of gravity of the whole contraption.
if i only spent as much time on my own lawn as i did watching you videos
Truer words have never been spoken my dude. I am in the same boat as you haha
Wow. True Renaissance man. Welder. Fabricator. Lawn fanatic. I am in awe.
Connor, used your description of the drag device and built one of my own this week. 10 feet x 30 inches. Weighs in at 117 pounds now with 3/4 inch thick angle iron. Put the long center piece of angle iron 18 inches from the front, 12 inches from the back to help keep the center of gravity aft of middle and should help with the tipping issue. We'll have to see if the weight is too much and tears up the grass when I'm dragging. Doing three acres total.
Will let you know come late Spring!
I did not have access to a welder or material so i used this idea and drug my ext. ladder to level my yard after spreading the top soil.. worked great thanks
Connor as an option consider adjusting the side to side tilt by shortening up your drag chain on one side, this way you can roll your product from one side to the other, it helps distribute the build up of sand on the drag. Also consider using artificial turf instead of brooms to drag behind your drag when doing a finish drag. Just a thought🤙🏼
Love your channel, been a subscriber for 4 or 5 years. Funny story, my family and I were on vacation at our favorite lake. On my way back from getting a raspberry shake I took the back roads and low and behold came across your awesome lawn. Looks great.
I love that you build a lot of your own things! True DIY guy right there!
Conner I have drag made similar to yours and I also have a chain drag. The chain drag really does a finale clean up after the leveling. It cause the sand to go into the the turf and I don't hafta broom. I have just used the chain drag alone for leveling and it works fine to. It's heavy enough wide and long to pull the sand. I noticed your drag collects where you pull it and you have to make a lot of trips. The chain spreads out the sand as it gathers it up just thought you might look in to it. They use them on fairways and greens. That where I got the idea and it don't take long thanks!
Add a 3 or 4 ft angle iron skid to the each side, out at the end to solve the flipping problem and help get a flatter result. Thanks for the video
Connor you’re the combo of handsome and handy that only Red Green was able to demonstrate.
Haven’t watched a video of yours I didn’t enjoy, good job.
Right on
Man, it flipping over when you’re spreading the sand has to be a real drag! Lol. 🤣
That thing is so awesome. I'm impressed. I have used the other drags you were talking about to smooth out a baseball infield. They do not work on the lawn if it is not already level. Something solid and fixed like this seems logical.
Yeah the ztr could pull it for sure
Look at that beautiful lawn!
I have the same t-shirt, currently sporting Mr. Rogers neighborhood this evening. Oh and I like the drag device too!!..lol
I’m glad I found this video. If nothing else,…I’d like to consistently mow my yard at around 10 mph.
What, without a kidney falling out
@@joepaullawncare7222 absolutely, lol!!! I’m willing to bet that I could knock off an extra 15-20 mins as well.
You’re the man! I’m definitely going to try this next summer. I’ll add the extra 10 inches. Thanks for the instructional!
a simple solution that would help some to keep it from flipping is move the holes to attach the carabiners to the c channel as low as possible. when the bottom hooks the sand the pull points even being above that by 1-3 inches it get enough leverage to flip it. if you can get those mounting points lower it would help a lot i think. probably take 5 minutes to drill a few new holes. nice yard BTW!!
@ 4:55 A steel mat is good for busting up core pellets from aeration. Not so much for leveling.
You could weld bolts to your angle and c channel (head down, threads up) and drill holes through the broom heads, put the broom heads down on the bolts and secure with locking nuts so they are removable for when they need replacing( could counter sink the nuts if needed too) I might have to build me a drag too, I could use some leveling!
on little league red clay we use 2 combined chain link fence with tube iron only good to smooth / clean up a existing level play field you have the right idea. easier to stow
Informative as usual Connor ,it will be interesting to see your adaptation to the dragger when finished. Great to see you enjoying your lawncare ,your videos make us strive to be better at lawncare also.😁👍👍
Looking forward to the brooms. Lawn envy sir!
Great build, if u lower your attachement points closer to the ground, then the drag will not flip over so easily.
Just a thought... Drill a couple mounting holes close to the front/back of the 20 inch direction. It will produce less of a lever to allow the drag to flip with. Should help you out a little. I don't know grass but I do know engineering.
Connor Ward Industries has a catch to it reminds me of Jonathan Hart Industries!! Thanks Connor nice demo of what you can do to get the job done.
Very cool! My buddy just brought something similar that goes on the front of a skid steer for leveling lawns and driveways very close to the same concept it works great
Yeah I think I've seen those.
Connor Ward it has a bucket blade in front then 3 bars at decreasing heights that the dirt goes under
@connorward I would be adding couple of bars at the back, then be putting brooms in one big row. So when you drag it flat your brooming it in as well.
I love it !! I use a pipe and 6ft chain link fence for leveling and hate the way the chain hangs up.
You are amazing! Thank you.
Just what I was looking for. I’m going to be doing about 40,000 sf and I want it flat and perfect. I’ll be using your design and my interpretation of your after thoughts. Now I have to check out your channel and no doubt subscribe.
I think if you lower your pull points and put them further forward it might end your problem.I like it,great job
Thank You for the information and your design
My friend aim going to build me one. I am just starting my lawn. Going to do the whole 9 yards sprinkler system. Hey just want to tell you. Your videos are goooooood motivation!!! Great job
I think I will weld what you did today! Thumbs up bud! Put some weight on the thing to keep it from flipping and increase how much dirt is catches!
Ingenious design & build
Your drag device looks great. Bolt on some thick shop brooms and you have yourself something golf courses spend several hundred dollars on.
Very cool build. Looks like it works well
Awesome build! And the sand looks like it has all been worked it. Lookin good!
Had to wear sunglasses to watch this video :)
It's the anchor point of the chain. Put anchors inside the channel to lower you center of gravity
That is one wicked drag. Great content👍
To keep the drag from flipping drill your holes for your tow chain closer to the front. And maybe add some weight to the back of the drag if it still flips in the early stages of sand dispersing.
I watched this vid last fall and have been dreaming of doing it ever since. I just got a new puppy and think it will track in too much dirt in my house. I was thinking of using a dump cart like you but rig a winch to it to disperse the sand/dirt and I drive and not make dump piles. Hope this gives someone an idea. Also, what do people think of using chain link instead of angle iron. Kind of like a chain link gate that you pull. Then rent the setup on facebook marketplace, haha
This looks cool. I'm going to try making one, but I'm not a welder, nor do I no how.
I'm going to try using bolts instead.
I don't weld either. I had my neighbor weld mine. Bolts will work
Geometry: The attachment holes could be closer to the edges. The fulcrum point in the interior contributes to the tipping.
you are very innovative Connor. very interesting.
Don't know if you watch Pete @ GCI Turf but he just gave you a shout out on his latest video. Really enjoy watching you both.
Yes I saw that. He is good at what he does. Great guy.
Excellent build. I want to try and make my lawn like carpet but we have a HUGE area to do (6 acres). Going to use your idea and just break the project up into smaller areas until it's all smooth. Have you ever tried turf rolling? Curious if it works or if it's a waste of time. Anyway great video! Thanks for sharing!
Been waiting for this one. Thanks for all the detailed info.
Cool design. What would you suggest for leveling a large rural lawn? It's at least 5 acres of really rough terrain that's a real pisser offer to mow.
That my friend is a tough question to answer. I am not sure how to tackle that project. If say piece by piece but that just isn't feasible. You could and what might be cheaper would be to kill it, level it, then reseed it. Level it with a tractor or a skid steer with a leveling attachment
@@lawnrebel Thanks for the advice. My 2 cents on the flipping issue: Just tie off at the joint of the channel and cross beam on the leading edge. Free. If you want to drill, do it in the C-channel.
Hire someone with a compact to midsize grader to 'set up the land' then have that same someone roll it in with a roller. Once they do that, you should be able to fine tune with @connorward's method.
Did you end up leveling your place? I live on 5 acres as well. I plan to do this project toward the end of this coming winter while my grass is still dormant. I feel like that’ll buy me plenty of time to get everything completed.
@@amandadavis9726I ended up getting a Wright standing / sitting mower that's much less punishing over rough terrain. Since then I've also added a couple ponds and a stream for my ducks and geese. So, the terrain is even more difficult than ever to manage.
Perhaps try putting a small plow on the front of the 4 wheeler to knock down those tall mounds of sand?
Mind you, im no ME - I think if you change your angle of attack on the drag, it will fix (or help) the flipping issue.
edit: By pulling from the top you're creating a moment about the front C-channel, either lengthen your rope (quite a bit), or (preferably) change the mounting location of the carabiner. but again, not an ME, EE's more my thing...
To solve your flipping issue, move the carabiner clips to the very front as opposed to the ~4" back that you have them now.
Connor, was thinking about making a smaller one of these to level my small lawn. While watching your video, I had an idea that may help keep your drag from flipping over as much. Would it help to lengthen one of the cables so the drag face isn't exactly perpendicular to the direction of travel? just a thought.
Question; what if you were to make hoppers on top of the drag that you could load the sand in and have it fall out into the yard as needed?
Right on Connor!!! So have you tried putting any weight on the back of the drag to keep it from flipping?
Kyle Fitzwater also moving the chain mounting holes closer to the front edge will reduce leverage.
Youre right about mats dragging material back out of low spots. Having a rigid drag that deposits sand/soil into low spots because the drag straddles the high spots is something I wished I had considered before buying a mat. The upside to a mat is if you have an area of rolling terrain that you either cant level or dont want to level. It'll smooth it out beautifully but thats it.
Try adding a detachable tail to the drag to prevent it from rolling over.
One thing I thought might be useful for dumping the sand is adding a pulley to the dump bucket. That way you would only need to get off the atv once.
The pulley would dump it? Or the pulley brings the empty wagon into normal mode?
@@lawnrebel pulley would bring it back to normal mode. Unless there is a way to make it dump for you also, then it would really cut back on time.
Your exactly right. Next time I do this. I'm doing that for sure
Another great informative video.
I’m about to build one of these myself. But haven’t seen and didn’t think I heard you mention what gauge/thickness steel you used?
Pretty sure it's 1/8 thickness
Thanks for the reply. My wife calls you my idol. At night I sit here with your videos on the main tv of the house. She says I’m weird lol
Thanks for posting this 👍
i am building one right now but planning to have the middle part lower 1/8'' instead of higher . Mine is 60'' wide and 60'' long and will have a 8'' serrated grader blade in the middle. i will use it to level 1 acres of clay field.
Cool. I'd love to see that once done
Nice setup
Put an anchor on it. A steel anchor tail to stabilize it.
I love your videos man
Still wondering if I can get my 20 acres to be as smooth as your lawn! Watching and Supporting, Dropping another LIKE on your video!
Redrill your holes closer to the front of your drag. It would probably help it from flipping over.
Good job bro
You could add a cross bar and make your drag longer
Nevermind! I see somebody else posted the same thing. Great minds must think alike!
Connor Ward Industries Level Drag ® Patent Pending
ill invest in that CW Industry
do you recommend broadcasting grass seed just before the application of the sand then dragging the sand into the existing grass with the seed just below the sand level. Or is it better to broadcast the seed on the freshly dragged sand, then rake the seed in?
Did you do the broom thing?
Would love to see that
Thanks Connor good info, yur awesome
What type of sand did you use and do you wait until it dries out before spreading. My father used sand and he said the sand was seeded with Bermuda seeds. He also told me to mix with topsoil. What would you recommend. I have two acres and would like my lawn to nice as yours or close to. Love the idea of the drag will definitely be putting one together soon.
Super cool
Awesome Video!
Just an idea - weld two pieces of metal to make a triangular anchor point to the front of the drag: ___ /\ ___ It'll be less prone to flip on you.
Connor, I've completely killed my lawn during a summer remodel project that ripped out my irrigation system, equipment driving over it, etc. The long and short of it is I need to completely start over. Do you have any recommendations regarding sprinkler type, line size, pressure, sod vs. hydro-seeding, grass type? Sorry, I know that is a lot of stuff. I'm in the Salt Lake are if it matters.
If you would drill some holes closer to the front ends it would stop flipping
drill new holes more towards the edge so it doesn't flip over?
Yeah I could should try that. It's only an issue in the beginning if the piles are very large
need some close ups of that lawn of yours. looks so good. those close ups always get me going lol. good work rebel.
Was my first thought also, having the holes for hooks all the way forward and lower should help it not flip over with piles of sand. Adding a length of steel for weight, 20 lbs or so to top back edge end to end should also help. I would add a bush from end to end on back so not only you level you brush at the same time.
Agreed. Drill a new hole as close to the front and as low as possible. It will help in every situation. Obviously a lot of fixes out there but This fix is almost free and will work just fine. Great tool though, Connor. Love you’re videos.
The problem you're having with it flipping over isn't due to the depth of 20", its due to where you're pulling it from. Your attachment point is too high relative to the leading edge of the C channel . Drill holes in the middle of your front C channel and attach there. It'll fix your flipping issues, no need to make a new one.
is there soil or other organics under all this sand? im curious as to how your yard is different from a sandy beach. other than the grass.
ik the sand will hold moisture somewhat, but will it hold nutrients?
Hey Connor! I've watched this vid multiple times now and have finally come to make my own drag. What would say be the downside of only having L beams instead of U's? More friction and less float I imagine, but do you think it will matter that much? Would love your honest opinion. I got talked into only buying L's but already regret the decision :)
UDAMAN Connor!
Put the holes nearer the edge and it’ll stop flipping over.
Good stuff
What kind of grass is that? Thank you
OH YEEEEEEEEEEEAH! oops... wrong video.
Steve Goff 😂🤣🤪🤣😂
Connor, if you don't mind me asking, but what does that yellow off road vehicle set you back? I'd like a small one like that for my place. How fast can it go?
Wouldn't the cinder blocks keep it from flipping?
nice. do my yard next pl
Looks good, cmon over and do mine😊
If you’re the lawn rebel, the level should be named the lawn revel. May as well brand it