This is an awesome implement. Know it's strengths, and what it isn't designed to do. In Southern California fire is the biggest thing for which I prepare. I have 1.5 miles of dirt driveway and firebreak. The chain harrow keeps weeds from growing, but it cannot rip well-established weeds from the ground (like mustard weed) without multiple passes and some clogging. After a rain, and then intermittently, running over the ground will keep a clean drive clear. It also looks great -- raked. The harrow clears debris from the chains fairly well. Brush rolls up in clumps and is left behind. Debris can get stuck in the chains, especially if there is a branch that gets wedged, so you may need to stop occasionally to remove them. If you drive fast, the back ends of the chain can flip up and get stuck. You can ignore it, stop and untangle it, or hook the back to another bar. I drive about 10-15 mph on straights. The hooks that connect to the draw bar are the same on the front and back so you can reverse the chain direction. In the hook-down position, the hooks at the back wear faster than those connected to the bar on the front. I have had my 4x4 size for 2 years and the rear hooks are wearing a fair amount, but still work. I haven't had my 8x8 long, and there isn't much wear. The "tines" sticking down will wear as you use it. I haven't figured out how long mine will last yet. It obviously depends on how much it is used. Tines down leave lines in dirt, but are more aggressive. You can pull it with more aggressive tine bite, or reverse the harrow for a less aggressive bite. Turn it upside-down and it just leaves a smooth raked look, without the lines. This isn't a disc harrow, so it doesn't turn up soil that much. It also doesn't grade big ruts, but it fills small irregularities. It digs in a bit to soft soil, but slides over hard dirt. It isn't a motor grader, so it won't perfectly level your land, but it smooths the surface and makes it look nice. It may take a number of passes on hard dirt. I try to plan ahead and use it when the soil is softer, then regularly use it afterwards to maintain the dirt. I don't put weights on the chain harrow. I have a mower that works better for big and a large amount of weeds. I have a land-plane that works better for filling ruts and removing tough weed roots. Once clear, rocky drives are better maintained by the chain harrow because it follows the contour and slides over the rocks. The chain harrow does tend to bring pebbles and rocks to the surface of the ground. The way I use it I keep the surface bare dirt. Because of this, in regions that have a slope, there can be erosion after rains. On banks that I let grass grow to prevent erosion, mow to reduce fire hazard, instead of using the harrow. I know the harrow can be used to prepare fields or food plots for seeding or growing, but I cannot comment on using it for that purpose, since I don't have the experience in that. After getting a 4x4 size harrow, I purchased the 8x8 ft one, because I have to make fewer passes. I would usually have to make 2 or more passes with the 4x4, depending on the conditions. Hard dirt takes more, than soft. I pull the 8x8 with my Jeep. My 1000 cc quad can pull the 8x8 on flat ground, but it works a bit hard on hills. For tighter spaces I use the 4x4 (I actually have two 4x4 size in tandem to make a 4x8) with the quad. You always have to drive forward. You can only back up in tight spaces a little bit before driving over the chain harrow. The 8x8 was the cheapest for the amount of metal, at the time I purchased it. This has really helped me maintain my dirt driveways, making them look nice. I hope this helps you make a decision. Have a wonderful day!

I was using an old spike tooth drag for years, and it worked well, however it was only 4' wide and i wanted something larger to speed things up.I purchase this 8 x 8 drag thinking it would work similar to the spike tooth, but it does not. The problem is, that even in the most aggressive spike position, the spikes do not sit upright enough, and any roots or loose stalks end up getting balled up and spit out the back. Although it levels the ground, it leaves a huge mess of vegetative rolls all over the field. I wish someone would still make the adjustable spike tooth drags.