How to Level Dirt With Your Pickup

How to Level Dirt With Your Pickup
Published: Mar 11, 2011
Updated: Nov 20, 2021
2 minute read

Things You Will Need

  • Pickup truck
  • Truck hitch
  • Loop connection hitch insert
  • Chain
  • Chain clips
  • Chain link fence square
  • Two railroad ties

Instead, using your own pickup truck can provide an at-home, cheaper approach with a few extra items and tools. The result will be an effective grader system that does the job fairly well.

  1. Install a towing hitch on the back of your pickup truck if it does not already have one (this avoids towing damage to your bumper). Attach a loop connection hitch insert to the hitch.

  2. Route a chain through the loop connection sufficiently long enough to cover a 16 foot distance. Place the midpoint of the chain in the loop with the ends hanging outward. Attach two chain clips to the chain, one on each end.

  3. Purchase a seven foot by ten foot section of chain link fence from a hardware store with the frame piping already assembled. Attach one end of the chain clips to one corner of the fence. Attach the other chain clip to the parallel corner on the other side of the fence.

  4. Turn the truck on and position it at your starting point. Drop the chain link fence section flat if you want it to drag dirt in front and fill up potholes. Hitch the fence piece up at slight angle if you want it to just level and push excess dirt to the sides.

  5. Place a railroad tie or two on top of the fence section to weigh it down so it won’t bounce while driving. Start driving slowly along the area you want leveled. Repeat the process a few times to get the full leveling effect.

Photo Credits

Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images

Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images

Tom Lutzenberger

Since 2009 Tom Lutzenberger has written for various websites, covering topics ranging from finance to automotive history. Lutzenberger works in public finance and policy and consults on a variety of analytical services. His education…

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