Rear Blade Agonizing over rear blade decision

[93Mustang]

I am in the market for a rear blade. I plan to use it primarily for snow removal but probably also some grading work. I have read numerous threads (including the merits of front vs rear blade) but still am undecided about size and weight. I think I will be fine with a rear blade as we generally (forgetting about last winter) don't get much snow. I am thinking a seven footer would be best so it stays beyond the tires when angled. My second dilemma (recognizing this is not mutually exclusive from the size decision) is whether to go with a 都tandard duty vs. a 杜edium duty?e.g., Woods RB vs. HBL etc). The weight difference (and price difference) is significant and I am wondering what makes the most sense for my 3320. I plan on getting a blade that I can turn around to allow pushing of the snow - recognizing I need to be careful not to bend any of the three point assembly. My driveway is fairly long but paved. I am leaning toward the "standard duty" but...Thoughts?
Thank You - Dana

 

[JDGreenGrass]

I am in the market for a rear blade. I plan to use it primarily for snow removal but probably also some grading work. I have read numerous threads (including the merits of front vs rear blade) but still am undecided about size and weight. I think I will be fine with a rear blade as we generally (forgetting about last winter) don't get much snow. I am thinking a seven footer would be best so it stays beyond the tires when angled. My second dilemma (recognizing this is not mutually exclusive from the size decision) is whether to go with a 都tandard duty vs. a 杜edium duty?e.g., Woods RB vs. HBL etc). The weight difference (and price difference) is significant and I am wondering what makes the most sense for my 3320. I plan on getting a blade that I can turn around to allow pushing of the snow - recognizing I need to be careful not to bend any of the three point assembly. My driveway is fairly long but paved. I am leaning toward the "standard duty" but...Thoughts?
Thank You - Dana

If you plan on turning the blade around while it is on your tractor the 7'er may or may not make the turn. Something to think about.

I have a CountyLine 6'er and I would call it medium duty, at best. I have moved a lot of snow with it and I have graded a fair amount of gravel on my driveway. It has performed flawlessly. It is not a real heavy blade and I can get it to bite into the packed gravel quite well. For gradeing, weight is your friend. Snow removal, not as important. I feel the blade is built strong, others may not think so. It cost me $319 at TSC.

With a paved driveway clearing snow I have no doubt this blade or a standard duty blade will do a great job. Piece of cake on pavement. Angle the blade and it will windrow the snow off to the side at a moderate speed. I tend to go slow but on pavement you can go faster without as much chatter.

I wouldn't break the bank for a rear blade.

I have no experience with a front blade.

Here's my CountyLine 6 footer......

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Since you have a FEL you may have little need to push backwards but if you want to clear your tracks with much of an angle on the blade you will want a foot+ wider than your rear tires. I am not sure clearing your tracks would be a huge issue unless you are clearing miles

 

[MikeyB]

I am in the market for a rear blade. I plan to use it primarily for snow removal but probably also some grading work. I have read numerous threads (including the merits of front vs rear blade) but still am undecided about size and weight. I think I will be fine with a rear blade as we generally (forgetting about last winter) don't get much snow. I am thinking a seven footer would be best so it stays beyond the tires when angled. My second dilemma (recognizing this is not mutually exclusive from the size decision) is whether to go with a 都tandard duty vs. a 杜edium duty?e.g., Woods RB vs. HBL etc). The weight difference (and price difference) is significant and I am wondering what makes the most sense for my 3320. I plan on getting a blade that I can turn around to allow pushing of the snow - recognizing I need to be careful not to bend any of the three point assembly. My driveway is fairly long but paved. I am leaning toward the "standard duty" but...Thoughts?
Thank You - Dana

FWIW I have a 3320 as well and a 7' Landpride blade. It is the heavy duty model and I have found it to
be total overkill in the duty department. The width is perfect as my rear wheels are 5' apart so it still
works well while angled. I have moved a lot of dirt and pushed a lot of snow with no problems. I just think the
heavy duty model or maybe even the medium duty is overkill. I think a standard duty would have done just fine for me. Don't get me wrong, It is nice having a strong heavy blade. In my case I just don't think the added price was worth it.

Mike

Just saw a previous post and my blade is able to turn around....

 

[MtnViewRanch]

I really like rear blades, and I like to get higher end implements when I need to buy one. You usually get what you pay for when it comes to implements. Do you have any rear remotes? If not, are you planning on getting some? To be able to angle the blade at the touch of a finger sure is nice. Top and tilt hydraulics make life much nicer also. I think that about any of the rear blades that have offset capabilities are able to spin the blade around without hitting the tires. Be careful with any of the fixed boom blades, those are the ones that sometimes need to be off of the tractor to be able to spin the blade around. That would be a common problem for an 84" or wider blade.

This Land Pride RBT3584 blade is the one that I am looking at for my Mahindra 3215HST. Actually my tractor would be at the minimum for this blade, but this blade is the smallest of all the makes that offers all functions available with hydraulic actuated movements. If you are not considering any hydraulics, then I would be looking at an RB35 series blade or equivalent. Don't get a cheap light duty blade, it will not work very good if you are going to do any dirt grading at all.

Hope that some of this helps.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

FWIW I have a 3320 as well and a 7' Landpride blade. It is the heavy duty model and I have found it to
be total overkill in the duty department. The width is perfect as my rear wheels are 5' apart so it still
works well while angled. I have moved a lot of dirt and pushed a lot of snow with no problems. I just think the
heavy duty model or maybe even the medium duty is overkill. I think a standard duty would have done just fine for me. Don't get me wrong, It is nice having a strong heavy blade. In my case I just don't think the added price was worth it.

Mike

Just saw a previous post and my blade is able to turn around....

Mike, a couple of questions. Do you have your tires filled? Have you looked at a lighter duty blade? Have you done heavy grading with your blade? Your 3320 is about the same size as my Mahindra 3215. My tractor with the loader and filled tires and my rollover box blade is right around 5000lbs. I'm not sure that I would want to rely on a light duty blade. Just my opinion, but I think that you have the right size and duty rating for your tractor,:thumbsup: especially if your tires are loaded.

 

[CinderSchnauzer]

I am in the market for a rear blade.

I think I will be fine with a rear blade as we generally (forgetting about last winter) don't get much snow. ...Thoughts?
Thank You - Dana

If you don't get much snow (this may be a relative term) have you considered just using a larger bucket on the FEL.

After looking at snow pushers / front blades / FEL mount blades / rear blades / snow blower, I've decided to go with 84" High Volume Materials Bucket. I don't get "much snow" either and past experience with the standard 60" JD bucket leads me to believe simply going to the larger bucket will work as well or better than all the other above solutions, plus have the advantage of being one of the lessor cost options. I clear approx 12,000 sq ft total area.

 

[Thomas]

Purchasing heavy duty blade just might save you a headache or two later on repairs.

Heavier blade would be better since 3pt. hitch has no down pressure.

 

[Baby Grand]

Dana-

I have a Kubota L3240 almost identical to your 3320 in terms of wheel track, weight, etc. In fact, I almost bought one, but the K dealer was the tie breaker.

2 years ago I picked up a 7' King Kutter Professional rear blade (PRB-84) at TSC for $500. It weighs 340 lbs, and can spin 360 degrees on my TPH. It also offsets (left - right) and tilts (crowns) by loosening 2 set screws (big bolts). I consider this implement to be a medium duty blade - definitely more metal than a lot of the cheapies and light duties I looked at.

While the adjustment is kind of a pain to use, at least I can set it where I want it to get the effect I need. In the furure I plan to add 2 cranks so I can adjust it without needing a wrench. Whenever I get the cash I'm going to get some remotes - TNT would be real nice.

If I leave the set screws loose, the blade floats both in the vertical and crown directions, so it follows the land's contours well and doesn't dig in. For snow removal I added a piece of tire tread as a "squegee" so I don't tear up the grass section of drive that I plow.

This blade has served me well for doing some earth work, too. It's a good compomise for cost vs funtionality. I could probably sell it for about what I paid for it, so if I ever want to go upscale I won't regret the money already spent.

http://www.kingkutter.com/ProProducts.asp?ProProd=ProPRBSeries

Let us know what you decide,

Jim

 

[easygo]

I have a 6' blade for my roughly 5' wide tractor. It works very well for snow and it is a good match for my Kubota B7800. Your 3320 is larger and heavier so I think you could use the 7' blade no problem. Go to the dealer and ask if they would hook one up to a tractor to see if it will spit around if that is what you want. I found however that pushing backward with the blade facing forward works quite well too. I used to get off the tractor to turn around the blade but I don't anymore. I would categorize mine as a medium duty blade that will push around the tractor and even stop it if it gets hooked on a large rock. I would suggest you buy at least a medium duty item or be mindful of rocks and curbs or the corner of your foundation.