Arena leveller advice - chain or draw bar?

[soloequestrian]

Looking for something cheap and cheerful to tickle my arena - it's just used by a couple of horses so doesn't need a lot of work. I'm wondering about the difference between chain-towed (e.g. this one https://www.smc-direct.com/shop/equestrian-arena-levellers-and-menage-graders) versus one with a draw bar. There is one for about the same price but second hand fairly near me that looks like it has a towball hitch so could go on the car. I also have a little tractor so the chain one would be more versatile because it could go on either... just looking for reviews from folk who have either of these types?
Thanks!

 

[Tiddlypom]

I’d suggest draw bar not chain. I’ve had simple chain harrows with a draw bar hooked over the regular tow ball of a sorned car, and they worked really well. They also fit on a pin hitch, or a combined ball and pin hitch.

This sort.



There is nothing to stop a chain sliding around and sending the harrows off piste.

 

[soloequestrian]

Thanks, I wondered about that. I'm actually thinking about the slightly more expensive one that fits the tractor - can be lifted and reversed into corners which would be very handy... typical, start thinking about something and it rapidly grows costly legs!

 

[Abacus]

If affordable, it would be better to get a proper rake with the bar that pulls the surface back from the edges and corners. I use the draw bar type and it’s fine (pulled by the quad) but sometimes we do need to manually rake down the sides.

 

[scats]

I’ve got a cheap chain one like the one in your link. I stick it on the back of my Rav.
It only does a relatively low footfall though- my 2 horses go in the school a couple of times a week each and then another yardie does ground work in there.

 

[Breather]

What surface have you got?

 

[soloequestrian]

It's sand with carpet fibre.

 

[littleshetland]

I'm watching this thread with interest..

 

[soloequestrian]

So the tractor mounted one only has the option to use the tines (as compared to the cheaper ones that can be towed by a car - they can be turned over so just the flat side does the grading). Is this likely to work with carpet fibre or will I just scrape it all into a pile?!

 

[littleshetland]

So the tractor mounted one only has the option to use the tines (as compared to the cheaper ones that can be towed by a car - they can be turned over so just the flat side does the grading). Is this likely to work with carpet fibre or will I just scrape it all into a pile?!

In my experience, its likely to scrape it into a big fluffy pile....