Yet another DIY Landplane

[RWTW2020]

Long time lurker first time poster

Been wanting a landplane for quite awhile and just never found one at the right price or size so...what to do other than make my own.

I saw some of the ones that others here had built and copied several ideas.

FYI...I do IT for a living not welding so I'll add that yes my welds looks bad...but they are deep and they hold.

Started with some I-beams from an old house trailer and then boxed in the ends.

Used some DOM tubing had left over from one of my Jeep projects and made cross braces.

Added some box tube for the front and started on my 3 point hookups. In hindsight I should have put the lower hookups a about 3 inches higher.

Next was the upright and start of some additional bracing.

 

[RWTW2020]

Added some additional bracing for general back pressure with my last extra piece of DOM tubing

After many adjustments I finally found an angle I like on the blades. I took the cutting edge off my box blade and bolted it to the front cutter. Edge comes down 1/2 to 5/8 below side runners.

Finished up the welds and then tested it out. It was getting dark by that time but I can tell you it worked very well.

Overall took me about a week of evenings to finish. Spent about $150 in materials and another $60 in consumables.

Size came out to right at 5ft wide by 5ft long. Weight is perfect. Plan to give it a good wash and throw some paint on it tonight.

 

[Runs With Scissors]

Welcome sir!

"New guy "with a hoist, nice shop and you double space your posts?

You're gonna fit right in here.

Nice job on the Land Plane. I also sometimes struggle with my welds, especially the "vertical up" but those look fine.

Looks like that bad boy covers the rear tires by a nice margin too.

Your 'clean shop' is kind of annoying though.....

 

[GrumpyFarmer]

Great job and repurpose of material. . When’s the inauguration / virgin trial?

 

[RWTW2020]

Your 'clean shop' is kind of annoying though.....

Give me a month....that'll change

Great job and repurpose of material. . When’s the inauguration / virgin trial?

Ran it that night. Saw the result yesterday morning and yes...works very well. Took me a minute to figure out it runs great in reverse too which helps with mounds of material at the end of a run.

 

[RWTW2020]

Finally got around to painting it. Base coat of primer and then a grey heavy duty outdoor paint that we use on tow boats. Used a black version of that paint on a gooseneck trailer about 6 years ago and it still looks new. Should last forever on this thing.

 

[Runs With Scissors]

Finally got around to painting it. Base coat of primer and then a grey heavy duty outdoor paint that we use on tow boats. Used a black version of that paint on a gooseneck trailer about 6 years ago and it still looks new. Should last forever on this thing.

Since 'top coating' has always been a weakness of mine, that I need get better at; Did you treat the rusty parts or blast them before you primed them?

 

[RWTW2020]

Since 'top coating' has always been a weakness of mine, that I need get better at; Did you treat the rusty parts or blast them before you primed them?

I pressure washed the whole thing first to knock off any loose scale. Not much since parts were either new or previously painted. Then sprayed with rust converter, then the final grey paint.