Front-End Loader Box Blade VS. rear angle blade VS. FEL for dirt driveway

[Wyld Bill]

I'm sure this has been discussed a dozen times but I have no tiem to do a search right now.
I have 700' fairly steep driveway. It is stonedust with gravel & rocks 4" to 6" down. It is moved quite easily if wet but if it is dry it is quite hard like set concrete.
I have a Mahindra 2615 HST with a FEL right now. I just fixed the driveway as best I could with the FEL. It was a long slow process though, it seems to be hard on the FEL, & and I could think of no good way to "crown" the road.

Should I just stick with the FEL for now or give up on the FEL & get a box blade or rear blade?
Would just a rear blade work since I have no junk in the driveway it is just mostly stone dust with some rocks here & there. When the driveway dries out will it be too hard for a regular blade to break up & move?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Slippy]

Rear blade will work, box blade will work better, especially a roll over type box blade. The box will allow grading and losing the gravel off the side. With the roll over, you can cut back your sides so you get good drainage. Of course the box blade, especially the roll over is going to be more money than the blade. Also, I think you will find that the blade alone is light and will be difficult to dig in where you need it.
Yes, there are tons of posts about driveway work. Take some time and read through them, there are also lots of good pictures.
Good luck.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

If your main concern is to maintain your driveway, then take a look at these. GradeMaster Grader Blades . I usually recommend the Road Boss graders, but because of the size of your tractor I would consider a Grademaster.

 

[Slippy]

Yeap, these are great for the driveway as stated by my distinguished friend. Only thing is, for the money, a box blade (I think) is less money and has more versitility, straight blade even cheaper. If I had a lot of driveway to keep up, I bet I would think seriously about the GradeMaster.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Yeap, these are great for the driveway as stated by my distinguished friend. Only thing is, for the money, a box blade (I think) is less money and has more versitility, straight blade even cheaper. If I had a lot of driveway to keep up, I bet I would think seriously about the GradeMaster.

I agree that for all around versatility, it is very hard to beat a good box blade and both of us prefer the roll-over box blades. But for strictly road maintenance, you just can't beat the road grader blades. I have all three implements,( roll-over box blade, straight blade and road grader blade) and each have their strong points. The road grader blade is the best one for maintaining roads and I do just that on more than two miles worth.

Just some more info for you, hope that it may be of some help.

 

[AchingBack]

For maintaining my 1/2 mile gravel road, with my 2615, I use my loader, and a 7' BushHog 3507 angle blade, about $420.00. With the 7' blade you can angle it, and still cover your tracks.

With this combination, I've never felt the need for a box blade.

I only work my road when the moisture content is just right.

 

[billbill1]

I have a fel, a boxblade, and a regular grader type blade. I use all three to maintain the driveway. The grader blade to remove snow mostly. The boxblade (of the 3) gets the most use and does an excellent job of smoothing the surface and covering low spots in the drive. I couldn't do it all with the fel-no way.

 

[wedge40]

If your main concern is to maintain your driveway, then take a look at these. GradeMaster Grader Blades . I usually recommend the Road Boss graders, but because of the size of your tractor I would consider a Grademaster.

It would be nice when people mention something like the grademaster to give us a ball park price. I'm going to guess in the 2-3 thousand dollar range. Most of us purchase what our wallets will allow. Maybe not the best for the job, but it will get're done. Just like to OP said, he used his FEL, got the job done, but it took a while to accomplish. Now he's looking to spend a little money to make it easier. I have pretty much the same conditions he has. about 500' of driveway and I use two things. The box blade and straight blade. Late in the summer as things are dry, I might as well use dynamite as hard as the surface is.

My 2 cents if you can only afford one, get the box blade first and plan on a straight blade in your future.

Wedge

 

[Egon]

Back blade with gauge wheels. The gauge wheels are almost a necessity for a really proper job.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

It would be nice when people mention something like the grademaster to give us a ball park price. I'm going to guess in the 2-3 thousand dollar range. Most of us purchase what our wallets will allow. Maybe not the best for the job, but it will get're done. Just like to OP said, he used his FEL, got the job done, but it took a while to accomplish. Now he's looking to spend a little money to make it easier. I have pretty much the same conditions he has. about 500' of driveway and I use two things. The box blade and straight blade. Late in the summer as things are dry, I might as well use dynamite as hard as the surface is.

My 2 cents if you can only afford one, get the box blade first and plan on a straight blade in your future.

Wedge

Wedge, you are correct, it would be nice to have a price. But I have never bought a Grademaster or even priced one out. I bought an old but never used what I thought was a Road Boss grader and later found out that it is not a Road Boss, but one of their competitors that has gone out of business. The reason for recommending the Grademaster was because they make a small enough one that the 2615 can pull. Plus I do not think that a grader for his 2615 would be that much $$$$. One that cost 2-3k would be for a much larger tractor.
Should I not have posted since I could not give a ball park price? Just thought that I would make some info available to give other alternatives.