Box Blade vs. Rear Blade

[Perplexed]

I was looking through the various threads here and in online sales catalogs, but I'm not certain of the answer. If I'm looking for an implement that will see double duty for moving and leveling out dirt across small patches of land (say, 10-30' x 10' in spots) in the summer and for plowing snow off a 150-yard paved driveway in the winter, which would be better - a box blade or a rear blade? I believe the box blade is better for moving and leveling dirt, but the rear blade, by virtue of its angle settings, would be better for plowing snow along the long stretch of the driveway (and the dead-end street, since the county never makes it there). If you had to pick one to do both tasks, which would it be and why? Thanks!

[duckhunter27]

I have both and i use both but if i had to choose to do the things you are saying i would go with the rear blade. You will get differant answers as everyone has their own pref. you need to think about what will work best for you and then make the call , you never said if you have a FEL which makes alittle dif also.

[nybirdman]

I have both also;they have their own uses.I use the rear blade more but the box blade is more versatile.If I had to own only one it would be a heavy duty rear blade with power angle and tilt.Box blades are great for road work and leveling,I use the rear blade mostly for snow removal along with a FEL mounted front blade.

[Perplexed]

Thanks for the responses thus far. I do have a FEL, and I will probably end up with both a box blade and a rear blade at some point. However, I'm watching my budget for the next year or two, so I was wondering which would be more useful for that period of time. Box blades cannot be angled around the vertical axis the same way a rear blade can be, right?

[spruce Deere]

A box blade cannot be angled like a rear blade, not to say some one has NOT done that yet...

I too, have both box blade and rear blade. Had the rear blade for years before the box for same reason as you, a budget.

If I needed to move/level some dirt, I would just use the back blade with a 3 foot hunk of rail road track chained to it. That in combo with the tiller in certain situations, I got by without the box blade.... Took more time but I managed.

The box blade is like having a tiller and rear blade, rail road track all together in one, just not completely dividable. I LIKE the box blade alot

So from my experience altogether with plowing snow on longish stretches also, I would go with the rear blade. They tend to be a little less than box blades also

[LD1]

Start with the rear blade. They are cheaper. Good deals can be found on c-list for under $200. If you find yourself wanting more after you have used the rear blade for awhile, then get a boxblade then

[Car Doc]

I am with these guys get a back blade first least you can move snow with it and they are cheap thats a plus.

As far as box blades go I wish now I had bought a grader blade instead of a box blade because of the angled cutters inside them.

I have found the box blade is decent for leveling but an angled blade would be better I think anyway. ymmv

[Soundguy]

I was looking through the various threads here and in online sales catalogs, but I'm not certain of the answer. If I'm looking for an implement that will see double duty for moving and leveling out dirt across small patches of land (say, 10-30' x 10' in spots) in the summer and for plowing snow off a 150-yard paved driveway in the winter, which would be better - a box blade or a rear blade? I believe the box blade is better for moving and leveling dirt, but the rear blade, by virtue of its angle settings, would be better for plowing snow along the long stretch of the driveway (and the dead-end street, since the county never makes it there). If you had to pick one to do both tasks, which would it be and why? Thanks!

box blades dig and drag/move dirt good.

angle blades clear driveways of snow and blade up rock and gravel. not alot of overlap so that one would do the job of both. dragging dirt with anangle blade makes it spill out the sides.

blading snow off a driveway with a box means you are making repetitive pushes fromthe rear.. not a great setup at all.. leads to bent lift arms and a kink int he neck and a worn out clutch or tired knee on a treadle peddle..

the angle blades are usually much cheaper than a box.. I'd get both.. even if I had to get medium duy to afford both.

soundguy

[HCJtractor]

I would disagree that a box cost more than a blade. In my opinion most box blades are pretty similar, and they are pretty bombproof. I have pulled a fairly cheap box that is rated for a 30 horse tractor with my 70 horse and it works fine. It was pretty cheap (don't recall the exact price, but I think under a grand) A good wide rear blade for my tractor that has good features easily costs over two grand. I think horsepower ratings are more important for a blade than a box. In other words, I think pulling a under-rated blade with a too big tractor is much more likely to damage the blade than it would pulling a box. Also, a good blade has to be wider by a couple of feet than a box, and ideally it should have hydraulic controls. THis adds to the cost.

So I bought a cheap box and use it alot with no problems. Some day I am going to get a nice rear blade but it will be triple the cost. Obviously a box is made to move dirt. You can do some finish grading with it but it is primitive. A good hydraulic blade would be far superior and easier to use for good finish grading. In the meantime, I will continue dragging my box blade wishing I had a rear blade.

I never plow snow, but I think a box would be fairly worthless for that, as compared to a blade. I would be afraid of tearing up my drive if it was paved.

[jenkinsph]

I agree with Soundguy get both new or used.

These are different tools for different uses and applications, neither is better than the other.