Back Blade Opinions Pls.

   / Back Blade Opinions Pls. #1  

Mike H

Silver Member
Joined
Apr 6, 2000
Messages
120
Location
SW MI
Tractor
TC33D 7308 loader 757C backhoe
It's getting to be time for me to get a rear blade for pushing snow this winter. Light duty would be fine for this. But I got to thinking, sure would be nice to hydraulically angle this. So I asked my dealer and he was only able to get this feature in a heavier duty model (Gill @ 700#). Around $1500 including a remote. I'm interested in hearing some opinions on any aspects of this: uses for a heavy duty blade besides snow removal, this price is getting toward a PTO blower, other uses for the remote (I could just go to the loader), anybody done this, etc. [yes Texans, I'm thinking about snow - we'll likely see 40's tonight!]
 
   / Back Blade Opinions Pls. #2  
Buy heavy duty and you will never regret it! You get what you pay for when it comes to three point attachments. I just bought a Landpride series 35 blade used from the dealer real CHEAP so it pays to shop around. I also ordered new sideplates and a rear gauge wheel for it. I'll have less wrapped up in it than a new blade would have cost me.

Which is more useful a rear blade or a snowblower? Now that is a tough one to answer. For me it would be the blade you can use it year round but for someone further north they might answer just the opposite. A rear blade is great for leveling and grading. Also if you get a heavier duty model they also offset to one side of the tractor and also can pivot to cut ditches. My two cents
Gordon
 
   / Back Blade Opinions Pls. #3  
Mike, I have a Landpride blade without hydraulic angle, which only cost me about $400 for a 5' blade. I also bought the skidshoes, which are great for snow removal in gravel. We get lots of deep snow, and I just angle the blade and push snow backwards. It works pretty good and I really don't have to adjust blade angle very much. Pushing backwards works better than trying to cut through the snow going forwards. By backblading, the blade floats over the ground and doesn't dig in. Also you don't build up a high snowbank between the tractor and blade that way. I really would much prefer to put my scarse $ into a blade than a snowblower, because I can use the blade for ditching and grading. I'm currently cutting a drainage ditch with mine. I suppose if I really needed to plow fast, or did plowing other than at my home, I would want to invest in a blower, but for my use the blower isn't multipurpose and the blade is.
 
   / Back Blade Opinions Pls. #4  
Yes, my blower has been sitting in the yard all summer. I even notice it sometimes. And, I've been using a box scraper for a good chunk of the summer.

But then it won't be too long when there are snowfalls that are deeper than a blade is high. Then it sure is nice to watch the snow blowing out 30' or so from the drive and now have to push it anywhere. Watch did I say? Usually I can't see much if there's a wind, and I end up with covered in a good snowfall myself (poor boy with no cab). There are things about blowers that aren't so nice.

Still, it's good to watch that flume of snow and know I won't have to do anything else with it. Since I have to clear a highway entrance, it's also a real good thing to be able to blow snow in the ditch. You have to be real careful pushing snow onto the highway or leaving berms on the shoulder. It's also pretty good to be able to clear snow and not have to put on tire chains.

I got the blower before the box scraper. I found that it's good to have the blower, but I had to have the scraper. I don't really know if I would have bought the blower if I had the scraper, or a blade, first.
 
   / Back Blade Opinions Pls. #5  
If you're considering $1500 Curtis makes a front blade that attaches in place of your bucket on the loader. You use the curl hoses to power than angel function and you have a snowplow just like on trucks. I'm buying a backblade due to the extra versatility and lower cost. Snowblowers are nice but use is limited to snow and they are NOT cheap. figure a 7ftand
 
   / Back Blade Opinions Pls. #6  
Mike,
I was one of the folks that bought light and less expensive. Well, I shouldn’t have. It wasn’t very long until is saw the light of my ways. I traded my light blade in on a Hardee-Williams ABH-84. That was the best thing I could have done. The Hardee has tilt, off set and angles. I can now do things, which I couldn’t have done at all with the small light blade. The ABH-84’s swing adjuster can also be removed and replaced with a hydraulic cylinder. Check them out on their web page. www.hardeew.com/products/landscape/hdrsb.html
JerryG
 
   / Back Blade Opinions Pls. #7  
Mike I try useing the front loader the first winter when I purchase my Kubota,but having such long driveway plus the windchill,the next year I attach a 7 foot plow to my front end loader.
I can plow faster also push the snow back futher,and when I need the front loader I just pull a pin and remove rod and back way..its truly handy. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

I did try a rear blade but living up here the snow drifts can be a pain,mostly going up hill. /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif

I hope your not pushing the snow button this early,for i still have outside project pending. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Stay safe and warm out there in Mn./w3tcompact/icons/cool.gif

Thomas..NH
 
   / Back Blade Opinions Pls. #8  
Yeah, it is going to get down to 40 C here, too.

It is worth the price of my 100 HP Heavy duty blade just to cut ditches for me. Hydraulics would be nice, but not required for my application. The blade was 8 ft and cost about $650. It weights about 650#.
 
   / Back Blade Opinions Pls. #9  
I traded the blower in for a box blade and cutter. the cheepie back blade I had handled the snow so well that the blower was rarely used. have bought 8 pieces of equipment in a half year. a quality blade is onte list next
 
   / Back Blade Opinions Pls. #10  
I have an inexpensive (everything is relative) 5 ft. back blade I bought at the local TSC store for under $200. I use it primarily for pushing snow around here in Michigan and grading a long driveway now and then. It's fine for those jobs and so far I'm glad I didn't spend the couple of hundred more for a name brand blade. BUT, I really wouldn't want to push this blade's capabilities much beyond what I use it for now. If you're going to be using the blade for serious grading and landscape work, I'd look into the heavier models. If you're only use will be snow removal and light grading, you'll probably be OK with a lighter duty model. I ended up putting the couple of hundred dollars I saved on the back blade into a better bush hog.

Bob Pence
 
 
 
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