The Best Way To Build A Leaf Vacuum For About $100 (Inexpensive Collection System)

[@hulqb.smashing6112]

Build one this weekend for my toro 60" zero turn. All I need is the agrifab adapter and 6" hose. I already have everything else!

[@Pappy45]

I like your set up! Better than others I've seen. Thanks

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Thank you

[@josephkrupp7430]

I have a Husqvarna lawn tractor with 46" deck. I ordered the leaf discharge adapter. No modification needed. The rest of my modification will be similar with a few adjustments.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Nice. Good luck with the build.

[@josephkrupp7430]

My mod works , now waiting on the leaves to fall. I spent less than $100 total.

[@sonnyblazer5504]

Always LOVE to see people (YOU) with the ability the THINK! Love what you did so I SUBSCRIBED (it's FREE) and left a LIKE! THANKS!

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Thank you so much.

[@clarenceweaver9422]

Great Fab job. Going to do one myself. Thanks

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Cool. You're welcome

[@michaels3972]

Great video, would liked to have seen how you connected the hose to the tarp. I can pretty well visualize the connection to the cross bar. Thanks for the idea!

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Thank you. Sorry I did not show that part well enough. That crossbar frame just holds the hose and it is not attached to the tarp at all. the tarp is just draped over the crossbar and held in place with some wire.

[@shannonforusa45]

Good job and great input! Thank you. I'm almost done with my modifications and testing tomorrow.🤞

[@rlachermeier]

Future model at 0:19. What a cutie. Will be replicating your setup for my Cub cadet RZT S 50. Thanks for the video. Suggestion: If you placed a rod through the grommets on the tail end of the shoot you could pull it out for fast dumping.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Awesome! Thanks for the rod suggestion. That is a great idea.

[@Gdesign959]

That’s actually a great idea, especially if you have a wooded area nearby where you can drive and dump the bag. I paid $650 for my factory bagger and it doesn’t hold much at all.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Thank you Brad. It has worked great so far.

[@eagleviewhd]

It is best to mow leaves once before bagging to chop them up into smaller pieces. Less chance of getting a clog and more leaves can fit in bag.

[@HandyGuy2016]

Good low budget DIY 👍

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Thank you. I appreciate it.

[@jen2157-n8b]

Great idea! I can't see where you hook the tarp onto the back of the rack. Is it attached to the wood or just drug around by the hose? I would think adding a hook to loop a rope over to secure the tarp would put less wear on the tube. Thanks!

[@CountryLivingExperience]

I wrapped it around the wood rack and clipped the two ends of the tarp together.

[@stephenyoungblood3683]

You could put several small holes in the bottom tarp surface so it floats more to keep the tarp from wearing out as fast on the bottom.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Good concept but I am not sure that the air pressure would be high enough. The leaves could potentially block the holes as well.

[@miked8227]

Add a support rod or board that bridges from the mower adapter to the bracket collar you made for the hose. This can be used to support the hose with loose straps to keep it taunt.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

The bracket/boom connected to the trailer hitch is designed to turn. I would not want a rod there to keep it stiff as it is designed to flex and stretch.

[@Dan0__]

👍 Very helpful... thanks! Curious... where did the background music come from?

[@CountryLivingExperience]

You're welcome. That music is from KZbin's archives.

[@cutezombiekitteh]

Step one - buy a ride on mower 😆 was looking for something to replace my rake. I'll keep trying!

[@user-id2hd3nl3g]

Excellent video, but where do I get the angle iron you have that is U shaped and connects to the trailer hitch at 4:02? I cannot find a bracket like this anywhere. Thanks

[@CountryLivingExperience]

That is just a piece of angle iron in the normal L shape. It is sitting on the existing trailer hitch.

[@user-id2hd3nl3g]

@@CountryLivingExperience Oh I see. How did you connect it then with that screw through the top? Did you have to drill a hole in the angle iron through the bottom? Having trouble visualizing this sorry...

[@CountryLivingExperience]

@@user-id2hd3nl3g Yes, I connected it with a bolt and some washers. I drilled a hole through the angle.

[@user-id2hd3nl3g]

@@CountryLivingExperience Thanks so much. Awesome channel by the way

[@tellfile]

Thanks, I needed your video to get some idea of how to rig it up on my old Toro. I discovered Amazon has the already made 54 cubic feet leaf bags about $17. Not sure if I want to use a flex tube or a 6 inch stove pipe which is about $16 at Home Depot including a swivel end to go on it. Might be a fun project.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

You’re welcome. Be careful with those cheap leaf bags. They rip incredibly easily.

[@tellfile]

@@CountryLivingExperience Yep, I was thinking that dragging it over roots and rocks would drastically shorten it's life. So, I'll remedy that by placing the bag on top of an 8 foot long drag mat. The one I have is made for hauling 2000 pound logs around in the woods. Already have one from years ago, so I don't have to buy it!

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Cool. That'll work.

[@fatheremmons85]

Think this would work bagging up sand burs? Im worried the adapter/hose would get clogged before ever reaching the container.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

I am not familiar with what a sand bur is so I could not say.

[@fatheremmons85]

@CountryLivingExperience Its a grass that produces stickers, called the sand bur. You mow them and they spread like wild fire.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Ah, I see. I don't think this would have enough suction for that. You would probably need an actual lawn vacuum for those.

[@jajaid6]

So it's 2- 9x12 tarps zip tied on top of each other?would like to see the emptying process.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

No, it is one 10x12 tarp folded in half.

[@danam664]

What is your impression of the hose pipe. Is it heavy duty? Does it puncture easily? How long have you been using it? Can you provide a little feedback please.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

It has worked incredibly well. There are no cracks at all. I am careful with my equipment so I have not had any issues with anything puncturing it. I have been using it since I made this video.

[@danam664]

@@CountryLivingExperience great to know. I appreciate your reply. I'll look into the hose. Be well.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

@@danam664 You're welcome.

[@RoundheadRecords]

Is it possible to build a larger mouth vac if I do not have a riding mower? I could use a long wide hose and move the engine and 55 gal drums as needed putting both on wheels. I am in a situation where I get a ton of small debri from a neighbors huge trees - do not take me wrong I like the shade - but I have an eye condition so when I blow leaves even with goggles it can be rough. I do not want to blow and rake any longer. I want to vac it but I want to have a large mouth hose but I do not have a riding mower. Thoughts?

[@CountryLivingExperience]

You can build anything. They do make leaf vacuums.

[@cra2cra226]

I don't have a riding mower - do they have a "vacuum" setting and that's what is picking up the leaves? So you drive over the whole yard once, just vacuuming leaves, and then you drive over it again with the blades engaged to cut the grass? I am assuming you don't just vacuum while cutting or else you'd be getting grass clippings and weeds in your leave collection. I wouldn't want that because I'd be collecting the leaves for mulch. Thank

[@CountryLivingExperience]

No mowers don't have vacuums. There is only dead grass in the winter when I am picking up the leaves. I drive over them and they get sucked into the bag.

[@firstname6208]

most mowers can fit a grass catcher, accelerator, or similar device right on the deck, you can leave the rear door off and wrap a tarp on it just as you did with zero fabricating. still, give you kudos for effort.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

It was an easy project.

[@willrobinson9575]

First Name Accelerator grass catchers are in the neighborhood of 500 bucks.

[@VroomBox42]

It’s a bagger, not a vacuum but it’s still a good design.

[@geedubb-q1u]

I just subbed because I’m looking for something “thrifty” lol as far as a leaf catching unit. Looks good. But how’d you hook the bag up to the hose? Seems to me that is kinda important.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Welcome to the channel. The wood frame holds the hose. The bag wraps around the frame. The hose and bag are not actually connected together.

[@geedubb-q1u]

@@CountryLivingExperience ..thanks

[@richardhonrado]

Have you tried it on lawn clippings? or are grass clippings too small for the spaces on the tarp between grommets? I love the project, will give it a go.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Yes. It works very well for that too. Have fun with the build.

[@garybrown9719]

You could mow them in to windrows then mow them again

[@joangourley8430]

great idea. gotta check and see specs to make it work for me

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Thanks. Good luck with the build

[@soto1683]

What size is the hose? Diameter and length thanks

[@CountryLivingExperience]

6" hose. 5' length. Trim as needed.

[@danssv8]

How long is your hose and what diameter is it?

[@CountryLivingExperience]

It is a 6" diameter hose that is 5' long. There is a link in the video description for it.

[@JohnWaldron44]

Can explain maybe with a picture how the end of the hose stays in the tarp

[@CountryLivingExperience]

The little square wood frame on the end of the boom holds the hose inside the tarp.

[@bartster68]

Do you have a link to the garden clips (not the zip ties) you used on the tarp?

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Absolutely. Here you go....amzn.to/2SUNEv7. they are great in the garden as well. I use the for many jobs here on the homestead.

[@robbyrocks3665]

Great build...i like it. Just curious, It seemed the hole is too small to actually lift and dump the leaves. Do your clips open up fully to dump all the leaves in one shot, quickly? Or do you just shake the heck out of the full tarp to empty ? Hope u understand my question. Thx Rob

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Thank you. Yes, the clips open up and I dump them all at once. I actually unclip it and lift it with my tractor bucket because it gets so heavy.

[@robbyrocks3665]

@@CountryLivingExperience Thanks for quick response....I watched a ton of these videos, yours make the most sense...take care

[@CountryLivingExperience]

@@robbyrocks3665 No problem. Glad it was helpful.

[@shazzorama]

Looks like your dog could collect a few leaves in a small tarp bag by dragging it behind, like a sled . 😆

[@CountryLivingExperience]

LOL. Yes, he could do the entire yard by himself.

[@joshuabono5951]

I like your hat. Go green

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Awesome! Go White!

[@joshuabono5951]

Country Living Experience: A Homesteading Journey I’m trying to figure in my head a different design for my business. But I have some issues. I understand your way is cost effective. But I see ways to improvement which you have may of already tried. Could you put it on wheels. Could you release the leaves into compost bags. Which I understand the turning of the tubing may get clogged which I thought of adding a slot for my leaf blower to ventilate. Push more air to stop and clogging. What are your thought?

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Of course anything can always be improved. There are some designs out there that have added a powered impeller to the end of the hose for added suction and mulching. In my opinion, if you are using this for business purposes, I would just purchase something like a DR leaf vacuum which tows behind a riding mower or a specific mower bagging system.

[@weeverob]

Will this pick up acorns? Tx

[@CountryLivingExperience]

It does get some acorns and twigs but not a lot.

[@weeverob]

@@CountryLivingExperience Thanks!

[@burrbentine]

What size tarp is that?

[@CountryLivingExperience]

12x12

[@inasmith3538]

V-a-c-u-u-m. Vacuum. The uu is a rarity found in the English language. I chuckle when I see this incorrectly spelled. But it's a common error. I was in the vacuum sales & service business full & part time for nearly 20 years. I really enjoy the DIY videos and thank you for them.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Cool, thanks

[@inasmith3538]

@@CountryLivingExperience you're welcome. Stay safe.

[@JamesWilliams-ot1mj]

What size is pipe.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

6" hose. There is a link to it in the description.

[@dmmflys]

Piggybacking off your leaf mold/leaf mulch video. What if you just bought a couple of those heavy duty tarps made several "bags" out of them and just left the leaves in there to breakdown that way you wouldn't have to waist as many black plastic garbage bag and would save ton of time emptying the mower "bag"

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Good idea! I never thought of it that way. For as many leaves as I have, I would have to buy about 20 tarps.

[@joemendyk9994]

Still have to empty them eventually......

[@kevinaalberts9251]

soooo, how are you emptying the bag??? how is the tarp connected to the mower?? what the heck is a garden clip....!!???

[@CountryLivingExperience]

The video shows the bag clipped over the wood bar and hose. When it is full, we just undo the clips and lift it up to dump in our compost pile. The garden clips are in the materials list in the video description. They are used in the garden to clip plant stems to poles or wire. Here they are for your reference: amzn.to/3iHW451

[@zuker1952]

Switch the dog to decaf.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Lol

[@BxxMxxK]

Nice idea, but not a vacuum at all.

[@jonathanheras7746]

What size hose is it?

[@CountryLivingExperience]

6”. Link in the description