How to build a driveway drag!

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Well i could'nt find anything in the archives on this and would like to make a simple yet effective driveway drag.Our driveway was pretty soupy with the melting of the snow this past month and is now full of ruts.Anybody no of how to make a low cost effective drag,our ground is basically dirty sand so it can be smoothed fairly easy.I use to pull one around at my uncles campground years ago but cannot remember what it was made of,and it seems like I have seen them made out of chain link fence with concrete block on top for weight.I also would only be pulling it with a fair sized garden tractor(20hp with tire chains).Thanks in advance. Dave (central WI) P.S thanks again to all that helped me out with the metal roofing ? a few weeks ago.

-- Dave (duckthis1@maqs.net), April 12, 2002

Answers

I built a drag for our softball field using an old metal bed spring assembly with a bedrail carriage constructed with the angles clocked in varying positions. This resulted in a stirring motion as the leading angles scoopped the surface and threw it up into the bed spring. I put more weight on the front of the sled than the rear by putting more concrete blocks on the front so that the front would gouge and lift and the rear end and drag chains would smooth it out as I dragged it with my truck. A similar design may work for your gravel.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), April 12, 2002.

A bedspring works good, a couple of old pallets will work in a pinch. I have a 10ft long section of chain link fence that has several concrete blocks attached to it that can be pulled down my driveway.

-- Gary (gws@columsus.rr.com), April 12, 2002.

The U.S. Border Patrol, responsible for apprehending illegal aliens from entering the U.S., often drag soft road surfaces so that foot traffic can be more easily monitored for recent foot traffic. Many times, they use a railroad tie drag, which is dragged behind their vehicles.

You can make a scaled down model by using built-up discarded 2x or 4x lumber, screwed and glued together. Like a road grader blade, make sure that the tie / blade is angled, so that the earth being moved is pushed to one side of the blade. I hope this helps you.

-- j.r. guerra in s. tx. (jrguerra@boultinghousesimpson.com), April 12, 2002.


DH uses an old pcs. of chain link fencing with a cedar log attached to the end that being drug. Works like a charm!

-- Debbie T in N.C. (rdtyner@mindspring.com), April 12, 2002.

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