Box Scraper Grader Blade or Box Blade?

   / Grader Blade or Box Blade? #1  

Dale1995

Silver Member
Joined
Jul 14, 2008
Messages
163
Location
Caribou,Maine
Tractor
John Deere 2320
Hey there guys I am looking to you for some expert advice! I am looking to purchase a either a grader blade or box blade, I would like to use it for some light landscaping around my home and in the winter time when doing my driveway, I don't have a lot of experience with this, This will go on my John Deere 2320 (24hp) Cat 1 . The tractor is 4'wide should I go with a 4' or 5' blade, or box blade, could I use the box blade in the winter? Who makes a decent product for a decent price? I have looked at Frontier, and am looking at one from www.tartergate.com they have a 5' that I can buy for $290.00 Sound good, but have any of you seen or used the probuct.....what are you guys using? Does anyone have plans to build one? I will be listening to any and all suggestions. Thanks:)
 
   / Grader Blade or Box Blade? #2  
Dale,
I was in the same spot about a year ago. Here is what I have learned from a year's experience and all the folks here:

1. For moving dirt and digging- The boxblade with teeth is the best implement.

2. For scraping snow- An offset and angling scrape blade is best.

3. For Landscaping and smoothing- I prefer the box blade.

4. If you are 3RR, a box blade will do anything!!

now let me explain-
I graded out around a new house, built and maintained several trails, maintained a steep driveway and scraped about 3 miles of driveway and county gravel road for snow..

Around the house the box blade let me grab the dirt, hold on to it, and move it to where I used the bucket to pickup and dump elsewhere. I tried this the the scrape and just did not work that well. The box also is alot heavier and REALLY digs. the scrape is light and bounces...
for light landscaping the scrape might be fine-- but it will depend on your definition of light..

Now for the snow, the box would be useless if you have more than just a couple of inches and you are going more than 50-60 feet.

I have an L3400 Kubota, with a 6 ft scrape anda 5 ft box. I have stopped the tractor dead with a root while using the box..

anyway,
I hope this helps..

Later,
J
 
   / Grader Blade or Box Blade? #3  
Scraper for snow and culvert making. Box for just about everything else. I would stick with a 4' box and maybe a 6' scraper on your tractor. It's too light for anything bigger. You need a wider scraper so that you can angle it and still cover your tracks.

search for the thread by Bobskurka on boxblade comparisons. That will show what different brands are like and the pros and cons of each.

Scrapers, get one that angles in both axes.
 
   / Grader Blade or Box Blade? #4  
If the tractor is 4x4, I would go with a 5ft box for the first choice. A 24hp 4x4 tractor will pull that like a two wheel drive 27hp tractor. Later on , you can save up and get a scrape blade. I think you could run a 5ft scrape blade as well.
 
   / Grader Blade or Box Blade? #5  
For snow I would say the rear blade, for dirt the box blade. It looks like you have the snow covered with a nice blower and cab set up so I would think box blade.

The thing about box blade is that the heavier they are the better they work. That is also true of rear blades for dirt work. The lighter units tend to bounce or skip along rather than dig. The ones you linked looked to be very light. I have a similar size tractor and would get a 5' box. That will give you enough room outside the tires to work up to a fence or structure.

With a rear blade I would look for a 6' model so that it will be out side the tire foot print when angled. Also keep in mind some blades will angle but some will swing to an off set, angle and tilt. Those features can be handy for working ditches.

MarkV
 
   / Grader Blade or Box Blade? #6  
You have a snowblower......Buy the box blade, with turf tires.....4 footer.
 
   / Grader Blade or Box Blade? #7  
Great advice been given,if you plan on purchasing blade check out unit which can turn 180 degrees...pulling/pushing...also have you check out rake w/drop down blade.
 
   / Grader Blade or Box Blade? #8  
I have a grader blade and a boxblade. The boxblade has done many things, (dig up arenas, level areas, dig out new area for a fire pit, made trailes in the woods, and bull dozed dirt). My grader blade is pretty new and has (pushed snow, graded the arena, graded the driveway, added weights to hold back of tractor down when transporting heavy loads with the loader, and spread gravel). I researched before purchasing both implements and got great deals. The KingKutterXB boxblade 4' was $425 and the grader blade 5' was $250 from Montana tractor. The boxblade would be a first for dirt work but the blade is excelent for snow removal.:)
 

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   / Grader Blade or Box Blade? #9  
I would like to express my opinion on box blade size. I pull a 5 footer with a worn out 1984 Ford 1310 that only made 19 engine HP when new and never felt the blade was too big. I would think a JD 2320 could handle a 5' box blade with no problems. It is amazing what one can do with a box blade in terms of moving dirt around!:D
 
   / Grader Blade or Box Blade? #10  
Of the ones I have seen: with a box blade you are limited to any angle change to what ever you have with the lift arm adjustment your tractor has. If you are wanting to cut ditches or round a road bed or slope an area I like the rear blade. If you will be wanting to pull dirt any real distance and not really slope such as road bed think the box blade would be best. Now, some rear blades do offer ends to allow for pulling dirt more like box blades.
You do want a heavy unit in either. I can take my rear blade and rotate it and cut just as well and a road grader. If you put ends on it to hold the dirt for straight pulling it looses that ability.
 
 
 
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