land roller

whupdedo

Hi I was just wondering about land rollers I have a Ford 4000 and am thinking of making my own land roller for it, what's the ideal weight for a roller, my land is fairly good and I'm making it about 2 foot wider than the tractor, I'm going to make a concrete 1 as I remember my grandfather had 1 behind his 35 one time and it seemed to do the trick no bother, any advice would be appreciated

Sharpshooter82

When making it just remember the width of your gates as you don't want to be too tight to the piers travelling into the field. Make sure the frame has plenty of steel in it and that it's a heavy gauge as well. I had a roller before with a 24" drum and 8ft wide and it was around the 800 kg mark when full of water but wasn't heavy enough IMO. You would need at least 36" drum to flatten most land I reckon.

whupdedo

Ok, i was going to make it about 8 foot but in a 12 inch pipe and I worked out roughly the weight would be about 900 kilograms (I'm open to correction, maths was not my strong point) or maybe I would be as well off to just buy a steel drum roller ? It's just I kinda like the idea of the small concrete 1 if you know what I mean

1chippy

buy one. by the time you have one together, material bought and still not have a right one. have a 3 ton one here and its not near heavy enough. contractor had a 6 ton and it was of a bit more use. you will find it hard to get the weight in a concrete one.

Sharpshooter82

whupdedo wrote: »

Ok, i was going to make it about 8 foot but in a 12 inch pipe and I worked out roughly the weight would be about 900 kilograms (I'm open to correction, maths was not my strong point) or maybe I would be as well off to just buy a steel drum roller ? It's just I kinda like the idea of the small concrete 1 if you know what I mean

If ya have the money buy one as from experience they can be a pain to build. Plus with the water roller you can let the water out of it to make it as light or heavy as you want

Muckit

Do lads still fill them with water? I thought it was burnt oil to stop them from rusting. Don't have a roller here. Borrow if I need it

nashmach

Muckit wrote: »

Do lads still fill them with water? I thought it was burnt oil to stop them from rusting. Don't have a roller here. Borrow if I need it

Water here, if you leave it full just add some antifreeze.

OP, you would be better off to buy a steel one or look out for a clean one second hand.

whupdedo

Thanks lads,ill have to go with a steel 1 by the looks of it, i think it was the sentimentalist in me that was thinking of the auld days :-)

Farrell

Haven't used one in a long time, Grandfather had a Steel 36", use to be my job every spring.
Lots say you shouldn't roll, as it compacts the surface & use a landleveller on issolated spots. See some flat lifting going on locally.
What is the correct method?

coolshannagh28

Forget the roller and buy a grass harrow

Sharpshooter82

Muckit wrote: »

Do lads still fill them with water? I thought it was burnt oil to stop them from rusting. Don't have a roller here. Borrow if I need it

I still fill them with water as you can let it back out if travelling on the road on the lift arms

buffalobilly

coolshannagh28 wrote: »

Forget the roller and buy a grass harrow

When you use the grass harrow do u not have to roll after are they expensive to buy what would be the best kind of grass harrow to buy thanks

Sharpshooter82

buffalobilly wrote: »

When you use the grass harrow do u not have to roll after are they expensive to buy what would be the best kind of grass harrow to buy thanks

it ll do a great job on any dead grass and help regrowth but wont do much on poached ground

Farrell

Are they best with a tractor or quad?
Will they help with Moss buildup?

bbam

Farrell wrote: »

Are they best with a tractor or quad?
Will they help with Moss buildup?

We have a chain harrow and yes it will lift moss... but we need to add weights to get it to dig well down into the moss... With weight added I don't think its a job for a quad.

LivInt20

whupdedo wrote: »

Hi I was just wondering about land rollers I have a Ford 4000 and am thinking of making my own land roller for it, what's the ideal weight for a roller, my land is fairly good and I'm making it about 2 foot wider than the tractor, I'm going to make a concrete 1 as I remember my grandfather had 1 behind his 35 one time and it seemed to do the trick no bother, any advice would be appreciated

Forget about it.

Buy a grass harrow or an aerator

Sharpshooter82

LivInt20 wrote: »

Forget about it.

Buy a grass harrow or an aerator

Are these getting more popular now. As i remember a few years ago people thought they were a bit of a gimmick

1chippy

Aerators are a bit of a gimmick alright but the chain harrows are a great job. the old type ones are the best.

delaval

Sharpshooter82 wrote: »

I still fill them with water as you can let it back out if travelling on the road on the lift arms

Travelling on the road I leave full, close window and flat out. They're made of steel so no bother. Same roller since 1990

Muckit

delaval wrote: »

Travelling on the road I leave full, close window and flat out. They're made of steel so no bother. Same roller since 1990

Would you not be afraid of hitting a small stone and denting the drum?

Zr105

delaval wrote: »

Travelling on the road I leave full, close window and flat out. They're made of steel so no bother. Same roller since 1990

Used to do a lot of roading with the roller full, but never flat out... Cats eyes hurt the back a lot..... You'd be amazed how much of a slap a roller gets off them.. Got fed up and built a trailer for it so just back it up on it now and off you go at 40k with out thinking about it....



But id agree with a lot of lads here to use grass harrow rather than roller, but a rollers not much use in a silage field, in with the roller and atleast you've done something to try beat down the stones a bit ahead of the mower....