6 Best Steel Parallel Bar Rakes For Rocky Soil Old Farmers Swear By
Tackling rocky soil demands a durable tool. We review 6 steel parallel bar rakes trusted by seasoned farmers for their superior strength and design.
Trying to prep a new garden plot in rocky ground with just a tiller is a recipe for frustration and broken equipment. Those fist-sized stones will jam your tines, stall your engine, and leave you with a lumpy, unworkable mess. A good steel parallel bar rake, often called a landscape or york rake, is the real solution for separating rock from soil and creating a clean seedbed. Choosing the right one for your tractor and property can mean the difference between a weekend of progress and a season of struggle.
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King Kutter LR-72-Y Rake: A Farmer Favorite
King Kutter has been a staple on small farms for decades, and for good reason. Their 72-inch (6-foot) landscape rake is a perfect middle-of-the-road option that balances cost, durability, and functionality. It’s heavy enough to dig in and pull out stubborn rocks but not so heavy that it overpowers a 25-horsepower compact tractor.
This is the kind of implement you buy for general-purpose work. It’s ideal for clearing new ground, regrading a washed-out gravel driveway, or cleaning up debris after clearing brush. The signature yellow paint is easy to spot in the field, and because they are so common, finding replacement tines or parts is never a problem. For the hobby farmer who needs a reliable tool that just works, the King Kutter is a proven choice.
Titan 6-Ft Landscape Rake for Tough Terrain
When you need brute force on a budget, Titan Attachments is a name that comes up often. Their 6-foot landscape rake is typically built with a heavy-gauge steel frame that can take a serious beating. This is the rake you grab when you’re not just grooming a surface but actively prying embedded rocks out of compacted soil.
The tradeoff for the attractive price point is sometimes in the fit and finish. The welds might not be as pretty, and the paint may not be as durable as more expensive brands. However, the core functionality is there. The steel is thick, and the design is straightforward. For farmers clearing land with a lot of hidden surprises, the Titan offers incredible value and the peace of mind that comes with overbuilt construction.
CountyLine 5-Ft Rake: Versatile and Accessible
The CountyLine rake, sold at Tractor Supply, is often the first landscape rake a new tractor owner buys. Its accessibility is its biggest strength—you can go see it, touch it, and bring it home the same day. The 5-foot width is particularly useful for sub-compact tractors under 25 horsepower, allowing you to work in tighter spaces like between tree rows or in smaller garden plots.
Don’t let the smaller size fool you; this rake is a versatile workhorse. It’s excellent for the final grading of a seedbed after you’ve done the heavy rock removal. You can use it to spread compost, level soil, or even dethatch a rough pasture area. It’s a true multi-tool for property maintenance, making it a smart investment for anyone with a few acres to manage.
Woods LRS84 Rake: Heavy-Duty for Pro Use
The Truper Bow Rake makes yard work easier. It features a durable, welded head with 14 teeth and a strong 48-inch hardwood handle.
If you’re running a larger tractor (40hp+) and your work borders on commercial-grade, the Woods LRS84 is in another class. This 84-inch (7-foot) rake is built for daily, punishing use. The frame is heavier, the kingpin is stronger, and the tines are made from a higher quality, heat-treated alloy steel that resists bending and breaking.
This isn’t the rake for occasional driveway grooming. This is for breaking new, rocky ground year after year or for maintaining long, demanding roads. The initial cost is significantly higher, but you’re paying for longevity and performance under high stress. For the serious hobby farmer managing a larger homestead, the Woods is a "buy it for life" kind of tool.
Everything Attachments Rake: USA-Made Quality
For those who prioritize domestic manufacturing and thoughtful design, the landscape rakes from Everything Attachments are a top contender. Built in North Carolina, these implements are known for their high-quality welds, durable powder-coat finishes, and robust engineering. They often incorporate small but significant improvements over standard designs.
Buying from a company like this means you’re often getting a product designed by people who actually use the equipment. They understand the frustrations of a poorly balanced rake or a weak pivot point. While you might pay a premium over import brands, you’re investing in quality control and a tool designed to perform flawlessly from day one.
Brinly-Hardy Tow-Behind Rake for Small Tractors
Not everyone has a 3-point hitch. For those working with a garden tractor, ATV, or UTV, the Brinly-Hardy tow-behind rake is the answer. This is a fundamentally different tool designed for lighter-duty tasks. It excels at grooming gravel paths, removing thatch from lawns, or leveling loose soil in a prepared garden bed.
It’s crucial to understand its limitations. This is not a tool for prying out embedded rocks. The tines are designed to float over the surface and collect loose material. Trying to use it for primary ground-breaking in rocky soil will only damage the rake and frustrate you. But for finishing work and light maintenance, it’s an incredibly useful and back-saving implement.
King Kutter vs. Titan Rakes: Tine Durability
The heart of any landscape rake is its tines, and this is where you see a key difference between brands like King Kutter and Titan. King Kutter has a long-standing reputation for using high-carbon, heat-treated steel tines. When they hit an immovable object, they are designed to bend rather than snap. A bent tine can often be heated and hammered back into shape, keeping you in the field.
Titan rakes, while incredibly strong, sometimes use a harder, more brittle steel for their tines. This means they can withstand immense force without bending, but when they reach their limit, they can snap cleanly. A snapped tine is a full stop until you can replace it. The choice comes down to your soil and work style. If you’re constantly hitting hidden rocks, the forgiving nature of a King Kutter tine might save you headaches. If you’re working in more predictable soil and want maximum rigidity, the Titan offers excellent value.
Replacing Tines on a Woods or CountyLine Rake
Sooner or later, you’re going to have to replace a tine. It’s a straightforward job, but a little preparation goes a long way. The tines are held in place by a clamp bar secured by several large bolts. The first step is to soak those bolts with a good penetrating oil the day before you plan to do the work.
When you’re ready, use a long breaker bar or an impact wrench to loosen the bolts—don’t remove them completely. Just back them off enough to create a gap so you can slide the old tine out and the new one in. A heavy hammer might be needed to "persuade" the old tine to come loose.
Always wear safety glasses and heavy gloves for this job. Keeping a few spare tines on hand is one of the smartest things you can do. Parts for CountyLine are easily found at Tractor Supply, while Woods parts are available through their dealer network. Having spares means a broken tine is a 15-minute fix, not a trip to town that kills your momentum.
Ultimately, the best steel rake is the one that matches the scale of your tractor and the toughness of your land. Whether it’s a budget-friendly Titan for brute force or a premium Woods for professional-grade work, the right implement turns a back-breaking job into a manageable task. Investing in the right tool from the start will save you countless hours of labor and frustration as you work to improve your land.
