TR3 vs Arena Rascal

[JB]

I know there have been tons of threads involving these 2, and I’ve even been in on some of them. But between THESE specific 2, which do you have, have used, like, dislike, and why?

I have a real tractor, so weight isn’t an issue.

It’s a 180x200 ring if that matters.

Top footing is screenings/bluestone, base is packed screened sandrock, if that matters. The footing has gotten compacted a bit, but was 2-3" when first laid about 10 years ago, so it’s probably less now, and I do need to add something to it soon.

We also have a gravel driveway that we sometimes use a our box scrap to level out some areas - it does and ok job. It’s not a long driveway, and really in good shape, so it’s not like we need something to manage it, but if something could do a better job that would be a bonus.

[Bluey]

Don’t know about the others, but we have the TR3.
That is what most arenas around here use, short of going to the big one with the water tanks mounted on them.

Works great for us, but it depends on what all you want to do or how you set it.

We also do the driveways with it, it levels it all nicely.

Before that, we had a plain little tandem disc plow.
A friend has had several of all kinds and said they all did ok.

I think that most anything you use you can make them work?

[Wonders12]

No experience with the Arena Rascal, but I love our TR3.

I like the 3 point hitch. I like to be able to set it to the arena depth, drag, pick it up, leave the arena and park it, then come back tomorrow and it’s still at the correct depth. (The trailer drags need to be picked up and set down by hand unless you get fancy with upgrades.)

I keep the wheels on for my regular dragging and they ensure staff members don’t drag into the base. But I can take them off for more specific dragging or use around the farm.

We’ve used it on our gravel driveway and for breaking up manure in pastures. I don’t love it for the latter job, but it would probably work better for flatter/more groomed pastures. We just use cheaper options instead.

With regular use, we replace the teeth every 3 years or so. They’re reasonably priced and fairly easy to replace. (Our most recent pair got a little rusted into place, but nothing unreasonable for the age and abuse we put ours through.) Speaking of abuse, we are NOT nice to our equipment. In the past, we had mostly volunteers and college students using and caring for everything, but it has held up very very well.

I haven’t had to use their customer service, but I’ve heard only good things.

I would only give it up for one with a water tank attached. :winkgrin: And even then, I might still keep it because of its ease of use!

[JB]

I should have mentioned I have a chain drag now that I use teeth down then teeth up in the ring. Obviously this is a static depth though it’s worked for what I have. I also use this to drag the pasture when needed, teeth up.

I need to upgrade to something I can 1) use in corners, and 2) lift up to get into and out of the ring. I’m tired of dragging “stuff” into the ring, and footing out!

I got around dragging stuff in and out by setting a landscape timber at the entrance so the chain would come over that and drop stuff there, but what a pita.

Plus it’s a HUGE pita to keep flipping that over between tines up and down.

[barnmaven]

Have you considered a Parma?

[JB]

I haven’t really. What does it offer that the others don’t?

[barnmaven]

It has more options IMHO. Teeth to break up, leveling bar to smooth, and a roller bar to finish grooming. It has many adjustments for height on the different parts as well as with the 3 pt. hitch.

[candico]

The TR3 has those option sans the roller bar. Instead it has a finishing rake. The one reason to go Parma is if you plan on or already have GGT type footing.

I have the Kiser Edge which is right in between the TR3 and Rascal. I do love the profile blade as it grooms 100% of the footing in one pass, kind of putting what seems like a cushion of air between your base and the sand by basically splicing it. I have also never wound up digging into the base with the profile blade where teeth accidentally can, especially if the base is a bit soft due to excessive rain or poor quality. With the profile blade adjustments, I can also kind of create a secondary base - if I have 2 inches of footing, but am rehabbing a soft tissue injury horse, I can just groom to 1-1.5" leaving a bit firmer footing. Some versions of the Rascal do not come with a profile blade.

[JB]

@candico;8761992

The TR3 has those option sans the roller bar. Instead it has a finishing rake. The one reason to go Parma is if you plan on or already have GGT type footing.

And I don’t, so if the cost reflects that benefit, I definitely don’t need that

I have the Kiser Edge which is right in between the TR3 and Rascal. I do love the profile blade as it grooms 100% of the footing in one pass, kind of putting what seems like a cushion of air between your base and the sand by basically splicing it. I have also never wound up digging into the base with the profile blade where teeth accidentally can, especially if the base is a bit soft due to excessive rain or poor quality. With the profile blade adjustments, I can also kind of create a secondary base - if I have 2 inches of footing, but am rehabbing a soft tissue injury horse, I can just groom to 1-1.5" leaving a bit firmer footing. Some versions of the Rascal do not come with a profile blade.

Bold is mine - in between how?

I really love the idea of the horizontal blade. That seems to also be a really good thing to have if cough cough there are weeds and some grass growing. It’s the ideal way to weed gardens, cut things below the surface, so why not a ring?

[candico]

Been awhile since the salesperson explained it all to me, but I remember it as the Kiser Edge was a little heavier and did a bit better job than the Rascal, but not quite all the bells and whistles of the TR3 nor as heavy. The one drawback is I see it says arena dedicated vs the other two which say you can use it on the driveway as well. The price was also in the middle - just wish I could remember how much!

[LarkspurCO]

I have the Arena Rascal and pull it with my ATV. The difference between it and the chain drag is dramatic. It fluffs and smooths the footing and creates “cush” where there was none before. My footing is still not perfect but it’s better than ever.

[tangledweb]

If you are pulling it with a tractor get the TR3. It’s heaver so will do a better job on stone (especially on a hard driveway) and with the three point you’ll be able to get tighter in to corners than something towed. It will also be quicker for reversing in to get all of the corner.

[JB]

But I can use a 3PH with the Arena Rascal, so that’s not a concern. However, it sounds like the TR3 might be a slightly better investment? Using it for the gravel driveway is just a bonus, not a must-have.

Thanks candico for the info on the Kiser Edge. I think that’s actually what I was leaning towards 12-18 months ago but it’s been so long now I can’t remember :lol: I just remember thinking it was a lot of $$ and I had to be SURE.

[bfeintn]

I just went through the process of looking and comparing and purchasing a drag. I bought the DragNFly. So far I LOVE it! It is leveling the arena (I added the leveling blade) from the waves that were in it the arena looks and feels so much better and it was was more affordable than the TR3 meaning I can do more projects with the budget I had!