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Road grading with a "Roadrunner" front end skis steer attachment

D

Dickeyjoe

Active Member
Joined
Mar 24, 2014
Messages
26
Location
Grass Valley, ca
I'm looking at this very neat looking, but kind of spendy, front attachment for my CAT 259D CTL called a Roadrunner. It looks like a Gannon box with a moldboard that is fixed at a 12degree angle side to side, but can be lifted on both ends up/down to make crown. It also can be fitted with a decent size smooth roller that can be lifted to add weight to the front and pushed down to give compaction ( not so sure how that would be).

Anybody out there ever used or seen one?

I'm no skilled grader and have over 1 mile of gravel road to maintain. This looks like it might be the ticket.

Thanks
 
J

JBGASH

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 1, 2011
Messages
760
Location
Missouri
Occupation
Plumbing & Excavation Contractor / farmer
pafarmer said:
I own a roadrunner. Awesome attachment, Worth every penny. I own the 8ft model....
Click to expand...

Pa, do you pull it with a tractor or prefer it on a CTL? I have a 1/2 mile of farm road that I maintain with a tractor and rear mounted blade that really does not do the best job. That attachment looks like it would be the ticket..
 
pafarmer

pafarmer

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 4, 2010
Messages
883
Location
Somewhere in the woods !
Occupation
Land clearing, demo, site prep etc. Ex Pro Motocro
JBGASH said:
Pa, do you pull it with a tractor or prefer it on a CTL? I have a 1/2 mile of farm road that I maintain with a tractor and rear mounted blade that really does not do the best job. That attachment looks like it would be the ticket..
Click to expand...

I push it with the CTL. I used to use a box blade like you and the two can't even be compared. It does. Fantastic job, allows for the creation of a perfect crown. I really great tool. It's rare when you buy a tool and say it was worth the expense, well this one is more than worth it. Very well made, very adjustable. Wish I owned it much sooner....
 
JNB

JNB

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Joined
Feb 13, 2012
Messages
823
Location
North Texas
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Flyin' low and rollin' slow...
I have a Land Pride land plane grading blade that I use once in awhile with my tractor. I can't even count how many hours I have on a box blade and can tell you that what takes years to master with a box blade takes hours with a land plane. I'll be purchasing a Roadrunner this year for my CTL...I'm getting tired of tractor-neck.
 
JNB

JNB

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Joined
Feb 13, 2012
Messages
823
Location
North Texas
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Flyin' low and rollin' slow...
pafarmer said:
I push it with the CTL. I used to use a box blade like you and the two can't even be compared. It does. Fantastic job, allows for the creation of a perfect crown. I really great tool. It's rare when you buy a tool and say it was worth the expense, well this one is more than worth it. Very well made, very adjustable. Wish I owned it much sooner....
Click to expand...

Pa - Is yours the double screw jack or the screw jack/hydraulic ram model?
 
Orchard Ex

Orchard Ex

Super Moderator
Joined
Jul 6, 2005
Messages
1,051
Location
Southern MD
I have a roadrunner and it has been great. I got mine with both the 3 point hitch and the quicktach plate to use with both the tractor and the skid steer. I generally use it behind the tractor but it's just a personal preference. It has been great for maintaining gravel or asphalt milling roads but you can also raise the blades and spread (gravel, millings, 3/4 stone etc.) like an asphalt screed. I talked with Bob Horrell before I bought mine and he was spot on with everything he said about it.
IMG_20130821_135813.jpg
 
JNB

JNB

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Messages
823
Location
North Texas
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Flyin' low and rollin' slow...
Orchard Ex said:
I have a roadrunner and it has been great. I got mine with both the 3 point hitch and the quicktach plate to use with both the tractor and the skid steer. I generally use it behind the tractor but it's just a personal preference. It has been great for maintaining gravel or asphalt milling roads but you can also raise the blades and spread (gravel, millings, 3/4 stone etc.) like an asphalt screed. I talked with Bob Horrell before I bought mine and he was spot on with everything he said about it.
Click to expand...

How quick is it to adjust the screw jacks? My Land Pride takes a wrench and a backup which makes it a pain. I like the additional weight of the Roadrunner as well. These things seem to work better the heavier they are.
 
Orchard Ex

Orchard Ex

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Jul 6, 2005
Messages
1,051
Location
Southern MD
JNB said:
How quick is it to adjust the screw jacks? My Land Pride takes a wrench and a backup which makes it a pain. I like the additional weight of the Roadrunner as well. These things seem to work better the heavier they are.
Click to expand...
Very quick, there is a "T" handle welded to the top of the screw - just spin them by hand. They have a jam nut on the screw but I never use it.
 
R

RTSmith

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 23, 2008
Messages
421
Location
Middle Tenn.
Occupation
Amateur demolition & dirt pusher
Kick an old thread back up- you guys with a Roadrunner. Do you have the wheels on it? And- can you get the serrated blades down deep enough to break up around potholes?
 
H

hermannea

Member
Joined
May 24, 2016
Messages
20
Location
texas
Looking at getting a roadrunner boxblade for my skidsteer. Does anyone have any advice if its able to maintain a compacted gravel road? Sales rep says it weights 1200lbs.
 
A

Aceofspades

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 15, 2014
Messages
72
Location
Ga
RTSmith said:
Kick an old thread back up- you guys with a Roadrunner. Do you have the wheels on it? And- can you get the serrated blades down deep enough to break up around potholes?
Click to expand...
I'm interested in one of these too. A lot of the gravel roads in my area are ROUGH! Think a lot of elevation change and washout leaving behind rocks and roots to grade out before adding gravel. How would this attachment work/ last in this environment? Are there any other attachments to consider? thanks
 
R

RTSmith

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 23, 2008
Messages
421
Location
Middle Tenn.
Occupation
Amateur demolition & dirt pusher
I ended up buying one of these- https://www.grademax.net/skid-max
Can't say as I've used it much on a drive/road. Rather I have a large gravel parking lot, that has a drive in it it (equipment sales yard with a driveway going down the middle). It has been good at quickly loosening gravel & filling potholes. I got the power angle one. At an angle it does cut more aggressively. Frankly, I've not needed to work a crown, so can't speak to that. I do know if you get deep enough to get through the 3/4 gravel into the 2-3" popping up, they just mess the process up until you pick them out by hand. But- a power rake on angle may take care of them.
 
S

Simon C

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Jul 1, 2015
Messages
678
Location
Rocky Mountain House , AB., Canada
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Heavy Equipment Mechanic
Was wondering if pafarmer who says he has one has the hydraulic adjust or manual adjust for the blades. Was wondering if he has the wheel extensions out front.
Simon C
 
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