Box Scraper 4 or 5ft box blade on Kubota B7610?

   / 4 or 5ft box blade on Kubota B7610? #1  

pickngrin

New member
Joined
Aug 5, 2009
Messages
6
Location
Raleigh, NC
Tractor
Kubota B7610
Howdy all,

This is my first post but I've been lurking for several weeks learning as much as possible. I've tried to answer this question by searching the forums, but haven't come up with anything, so here goes.

I recently bought a 2005 Kubota B7610 and would like to add a box blade but am not sure whether to go with a 4 or 5 foot model. I have 3 acres at home and 3 acres in the NC mountains. The main uses I have in mind for the box blade are: maintaining a ~130 ft gravel driveway at home, maintaining about 1/4 mile of steep gravel road and drainage ditches in the mountains, cutting trails through woods at home (with help from a FEL and 4' bush hog), limited leveling of ground at both properties. Other uses may come up but these are the main things right now. I would probably keep the BB on the tractor most of the time to provide some counter weight for the FEL.

I've seen some posts where folks have mentioned it's a good idea not to have a box blade wider than the rear of the tractor, but I haven't seen any explanation for this. The span between the outsides of my rear tires is 48". I have looked at box blades at the local Agri-Supply and Tractor Supply. I'm not real impressed with Agri-Supply's standard duty line. The metal in the box sides seemed sort of thin - maybe 1/8" steel? and the 4' model only has 3 scarifiers. Tractor Supply didn't have a 4' BB, but they did have a 5' County Line (their brand?) BB that seemed much beefier. The metal on the box sides looked at least 1/4" thick and it had 5 scarifiers. Price is essentially a wash - $499 for Tractor Supply's 5' model and $429 for Agri-Supply's 4' model ($489 for their 5' model).

According to my tractor manual's implement limitations table the biggest box blade I can handle is 54" and 500lbs. How strictly should these limitations be interpreted? My 3pt lift capacity at 24" behind the lift points is 1058lbs.

Is there something to this idea that the BB should not be wider than the tractor? This is a great forum and I sincerely appreciate the help.
 
   / 4 or 5ft box blade on Kubota B7610? #2  
Many folks with CUTs want a box blade just wide enough to just cover their tire tracks.

I wouldn't consider anything larger than a 48" if I was buying for a B7610. With anything wider Id expect it to just sit and spin.

However my opinion plus .80 will buy a canned coke. 8>)
 
   / 4 or 5ft box blade on Kubota B7610? #3  
I've the one in my sig.
I've only used it a little so far, but it's a ground engaging piece of equipment. Which means it can really slow you down.
When you put the tines down it's a soil ripper.
If you were going thru beach sand it wouldn't be a problem with something bigger.
Depending on your soils and rocks it may be a problem.

Oh, and I'd recommend a nice big backhoe to counterbalance the FEL, I find it more fun to use :)

I consider http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/owning-operating/116316-various-boxblade-uses.html a great thread.
 
   / 4 or 5ft box blade on Kubota B7610? #4  
BTW Befco in Rocky Mount has a BBS-C48 demonstrator that your could probably get at a steal.
 
   / 4 or 5ft box blade on Kubota B7610? #5  
Go 4', don't kill the Bota!
Do you got a license to pick? Are you a 5 strang backhoe picker?

A grass jock in KY wants to know. me!
 
   / 4 or 5ft box blade on Kubota B7610?
  • Thread Starter
#6  
Thanks all for the feedback - sounds like a 4 footer is the way to go. Later today I'm supposed to look at a used 4 footer I found on craig's list.

newbury - I'd love a backhoe, but my wife is still coming to terms with the fact that we actually own a tractor. I agree - the thread you linked is very good. That top-n-tilt is so cool.

theboman - I don't have a license to pick - at the speeds I play I don't think a license is required. I play guitar and sing in a couple bands. Mostly for fun, sometimes for funds. "5 strang backhoe picker" - I like that - but I'm not sure I'd want to see/hear "dueling backhoes".

Thanks again.
 
 
 
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