Box Scraper Need to buy a box blade for a 30hp Deere 790

[Windy Acres]

Need to buy a Box Blade for a Deere 790 Compact, its 4wd, 30hp Yanmar. Anyhow, the width of the back tires is about 50" on the outside, Im thinking a 4' box is too small, probably need a 5', was wondering if I should go 6' or am I way too big at that point ?

Ive run a blade on several tractors over the years, mostly bigger than 50hp, so I know what Im doing, I know how not to burn up the tractor, just looking for some real world feedback on a smaller tractor.

The use is annual cleaning up of the lane (about 600' of gravel), and general smoothing out of black dirt around the house and buildings. Pretty light duty use, thats why Im wondering if maybe I cant get away with a 6 footer ?

Thanks for the input, Windy.

 

[Villengineer]

I would go with the 5'. You will run out of traction before hp, especially with turfs.

 

[MarkV]

I would vote for a 5' also. Even with light duty use a 5' box blade when filled will leave you without traction. I would want as wide as the tractor tires though.

MarkV

 

[foggy1111]

I had a 790 with 30 HP.....and had a five foot box blade on the back. Was the right size IMO.

 

[kebo]

X2 what foggy said. I use a 5ft BB, and can stall out my 790 with (unloaded) R4's and a BB full of material. I notice you have turf's so that will limit your traction a bit more. Just learn the limitations of your tractor with whatever size BB you get and stay within that. Good luck!

 

[KB9UDE]

I would say a 5ft also.

 

[Windy Acres]

5' it will be, thanks for the input, fellas!

 

[Windy Acres]

Follow up post, I bought a "King Kutter" 5' box, and you guys where right, 6' would be too much. Doing a light cut on my crushed limestone drive, I have to use the 4wd. Same goes for pulling in the dirt, I run out of traction, have to have it in 4wd.

I can see where the 6' would be a bit much, thanks again for the advice, Windy :thumbsup:

 

[2549]

That's food for thought... I've been considering a five foot box for my turf tire'd 2wd JD790. I'm beginning to have doubts.

 

[Windy Acres]

That's food for thought... I've been considering a five foot box for my turf tire'd 2wd JD790. I'm beginning to have doubts.

Ive got a 4' box (left over from a 19hp Ford 1700), but Ive never pulled it behind the 790. You can pull the 5', your cut is going to have to be shallow, and I dont think you will be able to fill up the box (with heavy materials) and cut at the same time.

The traction problems in 2wd occur when turning sharp corners with a full box and cutting, and when starting out with a full box. It can be done, you will just have a slight learning curve as to what you can and cant do.

I wanted turf tires on mine, my last tractor had the standard traction "chevron" rear tractor tires, and left too many marks everywhere I went being that its used mostly for lawn maintenance/care, or spends most of its time on grass, not in the dirt.

The other thing I have not tried, nor will I, is pulling the box is any kind of "wet" dirt, even with 4wd, I imagine that it wont move with the turf tires.

Good luck, Windy.