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Kirk Grau 03-29-2004 06:46:25 68.67.223.192 Report to Moderator	There was a site mentioned in a thread somewhere in these forums that had plans for a boom pole along with other things. I don't have the URL right now and could not find it this morning in the allotted time. Long story short, I printed a plan for a pasture drag using 6 or 7 tires bolted together. Opinions wanted on how well this will work compared to other options available for minimal cost. TIA, Kirk [Reply]   [No Email]
kwright 04-01-2004 16:59:34 69.87.136.71 Report to Moderator	Re: Home made pasture drag in reply to Kirk Grau, 03-29-2004 06:46:25   I have two draft horses, and two Llamas that we keep on about 8 acres, split into two pastures. The animals are rotated between the pastures during the grazing season. Here's how I fashioned my own drag: I went to the local Lowes and bought a coil of chain link fence, six feet long. I had an old piece of 1 inch black pipe that I cut to about 7 feet or so. I rolled out the fencing to 20 feet, and doubled it back on itself, so the section ended up 6 feet wide by 10 feet long, with two layers. I wired it together along the edges every foot or so with some cheap wire I had around. I ran the 1 inch black pipe through the wrapped end of the fence, to creating a pulling bar. To the bar, on each end, I connected a 12 foot (or thereabouts) piece of small chain. This chain hooks over/through the tow bar on the tractor. I had to fashio a loop end the end of the tow chain to keep the fence from sliding back and forth around the tow pin as it went around corners. I weighted the chain link fence with 6 or 8 cinder blocks (I forget which), each loosely tied down with short links of light dog-type chain. Also, the blocks are staggered across the fence to create a nice flat drag. I've used the same piece of fence for 4 years now, and have not replaced it yet. Though it will stretch a bit over time, it's still very usable, and was inexpensive to fashion. Note that the diminsions here are NOT critical. Its a bit crude, but for my purposes, it has worked just fine. If anyone wants a picture, drop me a note.   [Reply]  [No Email]
TOMDUALLY 03-30-2004 19:16:57 198.81.26.102 Report to Moderator	Re: Home made pasture drag in reply to Kirk Grau, 03-29-2004 06:46:25   Plan #2 looks good, but it seems that you would have to have soft ground for the truck tires to do any leveling, if you could use the same design except use steel truck rims, they would knock off the high spots and with the dirt collected inside the rims it would drop out and fill in the low spots instead of bouncing over it like the tires would.   [Reply]  [No Email]
glenshoe 04-01-2004 07:55:31 68.100.175.189 Report to Moderator	Re: Re: Home made pasture drag in reply to TOMDUALLY, 03-30-2004 19:16:57   Tomdually, just to clarify . . . pasture drags are not for grading dirt but to bust up / spread cow pies (manure) so the pasture doesn't get uneven fertilization (in spots). Or at least that's what they're used for around here. A number of farmers here use old tires to make up a triangular drag, tieing the tires together with heavy wire or short pieces of chain. HTH   [Reply]  [No Email]
Rick 04-12-2004 05:44:40 67.242.149.43 Report to Moderator	Re: Re: Re: Home made pasture drag in reply to glenshoe, 04-01-2004 07:55:31   Does anyone have a picture of a tire drag? What formation do you connect the tires together in ? I have lots of old cable and will connect them with that, but what configuration works best thanks   [Reply]  [No Email]
Kirk Grau 04-01-2004 10:50:34 68.67.223.192 Report to Moderator	Re: Re: Re: Home made pasture drag in reply to glenshoe, 04-01-2004 07:55:31   That is exactly my use. I have 13 acres of horse pasture that I need to break up/spread piles without tearing up turf too bad. Just trying to find an inexpensive means that will work. Thanks, Kirk   [Reply]  [No Email]
Rusty Scupper 04-17-2004 10:31:59 206.191.194.158 Report to Moderator	Re: Re: Re: Re: Home made pasture drag in reply to Kirk Grau, 04-01-2004 10:50:34   You can always do what we do... Keep in mind we moved from the city to acerage w/horses. We play kick the turd. The family puts on thier muck boots and go out and kick the piles. Ocassionally someone will get out in front and we will kick them at each other.   [Reply]  [No Email]
Kirk Grau 04-17-2004 11:45:05 68.67.223.192 Report to Moderator	Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Home made pasture drag in reply to Rusty Scupper, 04-17-2004 10:31:59   We moved from the city also, but 13 acres of pasture and 12 horses make a lot of piles to be kicking. For a while I was sending my kids out with a wheel barrow and forks to collect it for my gardens. They might have collected from the first acre or so and I had all the manure I was going to need.   [Reply]  [No Email]
Kirk Grau 03-29-2004 06:55:12 68.67.223.192 Report to Moderator	Re: Home made pasture drag in reply to Kirk Grau, 03-29-2004 06:46:25   Here is the site url: http://www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/abeng/plans/MISC.htm Link to Plans   [Reply]  [No Email]
RogeR 03-30-2004 06:30:20 66.243.43.254 Report to Moderator	Re: Re: Home made pasture drag in reply to Kirk Grau, 03-29-2004 06:55:12   Hi Kirk; Can you provide a plan # or otherwise be more specific in locating your plan from the long list that displays? Thanks, Roger   [Reply]  [No Email]
Kirk D. Grau, PE 03-30-2004 07:06:11 68.67.223.192 Report to Moderator	Re: Re: Re: Home made pasture drag in reply to RogeR, 03-30-2004 06:30:20   Sorry, it is plan # 6212   [Reply]  [No Email]
Firby 04-02-2004 09:55:24 63.159.212.100 Report to Moderator	Re: Re: Re: Re: Home made pasture drag in reply to Kirk D. Grau, PE, 03-30-2004 07:06:11   You cut the bottom side of the tires sidewalls out to create a sharp verticle edge. Buddy of mine's been using one for years. Steve   [Reply]  [No Email]
mj 04-04-2004 09:26:57 216.52.32.44 Report to Moderator	Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Home made pasture drag in reply to Firby, 04-02-2004 09:55:24   Ditto on cutting out the ground-side sidewalls.   [Reply]  [No Email]