Box Scraper Box Blade sizing

   / Box Blade sizing #1  

Double6

Member
Joined
Jan 9, 2010
Messages
47
Tractor
John Deere 4120
I have a JD 4120 CUT with R4 tires what size box blade do you reccomend?
Need one for driveway maintenance & other dirt work.
Are any brands heavier duty than others?
What's the price range?

Thanks,
D6
 
   / Box Blade sizing #2  
I have a Frontier BB1284 which I really like, this would be a good match for your tractor too.
 
   / Box Blade sizing #3  
I would recommend a box blade that just covers the width of your rear tires.
I bought a Box Blade that is wider than my tire width and it can be a pain when in the woods because you tend to get hung on trees. Land Pride and Woods seem to be very heavy and expensive too. There are others that are HD and would serve you well search the term box blade and after you read a few days you will see what I mean. I haven't purchased a BB lately so I cant help on the price.
 
   / Box Blade sizing #4  
While I'd love to have Steve's BB1284, the sticker shock had me ending up with a BB3272. Only used it a few times, but so far so good. Am adding "Top and Tilt" (TnT) to make it even more useful, including using it to maintain my 800' gravel driveway.

Pete
 
   / Box Blade sizing #5  
Rule of thumb is 1' per 5 HP at the Draw Bar, not the engine. If your tractor does not list DB HP use PTO and it will be close enough.

Chris
 
   / Box Blade sizing #6  
That is a good rule of thumb! I used a 48" BB on my Kubota BX22 and it did "OK" . My Kioti 3054 was too big for it. I should have stepped up to a 60" BB.
 
   / Box Blade sizing #7  
The HP sizing is a good rule of thumb.
But I am on the other side of that. I believe that a box blade that extends a little past the width of your rear tires (approx 3" to 6" per side IMHO) is the way to go for a couple reasons. Of course there are drawbacks like dex said if you're not careful.

First, if you are dragging loose dirt, as long as you have traction, you should be able to move a large pile easily. Digging with it might be harder on the tractor, but that's what the scarifiers are for. Always use them to break up hard ground first. You don't need to "bury them" to full depth either. Just break up the surface and move that dirt, then do it again if you need to go deeper.
Second, if you are boxblading around buildings or curbs, you want to be able to get as close as possible without having to drive on the surface. When the blade sticks out a little past the rear tires, it's doable. Of course be careful not to "hook" anything.
Third is when you tilt the blade severely to say cut gutters, you'll find the side of the blade which is down, gets closer to the center of the tractor than when carried level. That is, as you tilt the boxblade or blade sideways, the geometry of the 3pt rotates it so it doesn't stick out as much as before.
Last is that with a larger boxblade you will, naturally, be moving more material and consequently, get more done in the same period of time.

They key (IMHO) is to have enough traction.
Most of our tractors will run out of traction before we actually stall it out. (Note, most I say). But with a good front weight or fel, and 4wd engaged, you can pull a heck of a lot with it. There are several good threads with lots of photos and examples about boxblade work. They could give you an idea which way you want to go.
Here are a couple you might want to check out.
Rob-

Beginner's Guide to Using a BoxBlade

Various BoxBlade Uses
 
   / Box Blade sizing #8  
As usual all god points and you have much more B experience than myself and I ended with my BB sized the way you suggested and the only place it is an issue is in the woods.
 
   / Box Blade sizing #9  
I disagree with the HP per foot theory. If that were true than I could use a 13' wide BB with my 7520. My tractor weighs about 12k pounds and I can tell you that I can stop it cold with the rippers on my 81" roll over box blade. An Industrial machine could have a 16' wide blade. :eek: Guess what, 8' is about the widest BB that is even made. There are to many variables to automatically say that x amount of HP = x width blade. Yes typically the width used is either the tread width of the machine or maybe up to 12' wider, (6" either side) but weight and height (how many cubic feet carried) of the implement to be purchased should also be considered.
 
   / Box Blade sizing
  • Thread Starter
#10  
Thanks to you all for the information.
Thanks 3RRL - Rob for the "Beginners guide to using a box blade" & also the "Various box blade uses" threads they are very good.

Thanks again everyone,

D6
 
 
 
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