How heavy is too heavy for a box blade?

   / How heavy is too heavy for a box blade? #1  

bubbas45

New member
Joined
Jan 9, 2008
Messages
22
I hate to start another box blade thread, but after reading a bunch of them several times, I'm still confused.

I plan to get a six-footer to match the tire width. Everybody says to go with a heavy BB. I haven't seen many posts that correlated weight with tractor size (a few in Bob Skurka's excellent photo comparison thread). The posts I have seen in other threads seem to advise on bigger tractors than what I have.

I have a Kubota Grand L3130, filled R4s, Cat 1 hook-up. I just can't figure out how heavy a box blade I should be looking for and how much is too much.

I want a BB that will (with any luck) be all I ever need without being overkill. We have about 72 acres, 13 of which have been mostly stumped; I need to do a good bit of clean up. The driveway is about 2700 ft, mostly up-hill. We hope to build a house one day, and we plan to start on a tractor barn this fall, so the box blade should see some site work use. I doubt that I'll ever move up to a bigger tractor, because I also have a big skid steer. The equipment budget is only so much.

Everything Attachments once recommended a United 672HD to me. It weighs only 445 lbs.

The other day, my local dealer recommended the Land Pride LR72 and quoted me $1100. The BB1572 weighs 504 lbs. Land Pride recommends a max HP rating of 25 (using the 2WD specs) for that blade.

On the other hand, the BB2572 max HP rating is 40. It appears to be sturdier, with 3/8" plate instead of 5/6", and plate instead of flat bar for the A frame. But it only weighs 549 pounds--not much heavier than the BB1572. The greater strength might make it better in general usage, and for adding weight compared to the 1572, but I don't think I want to fool with weights.

For another example, the Bush Hog SBX720 specs a maximum 4WD HP at 35, and weighs 550 lbs.The MBX720 specs 55 HP max and weighs 640 lbs.

I'm not really brand oriented. My local dealer carries only Land Pride. I'm perfectly willing to look farther afield, if something else is better, or better value for the money.

thanks, bws
 
   / How heavy is too heavy for a box blade? #2  
I would be looking for a used box blade. They do not wear very much and if they do you flip over the cutting edge. The weight of the blade provides more down pressure for cutting action. It would seem to me that a skid steer with a tooth bucket would do the same work.
 
   / How heavy is too heavy for a box blade? #3  
How heavy is too heavy for a box blade?

I don't know that there is such a thing. I think you are on the right track... heavier, more rugged construction is going to work better and harder with less risk of getting bent up.
 
   / How heavy is too heavy for a box blade? #4  
I generally look for one that weighs more than 100lbs per foot. So for a 6' unit you should be over 600lb for one that will really work well. This also depends on how you want it to perform, the lighter ones will be fine for just pulling dirt along to fill low spots, but to really dig/excavate with a box blade you need plenty of weight. Just for comparison, a good commercial grade 6' box blade weighs over 1000lbs.
 
   / How heavy is too heavy for a box blade? #5  
Here's my take... Look for a used one... I would go at least 6" more on each side of the tractor, 84". Also, plan to add extra weight to make it work more, old crankshaft or another implement. As for how heavy duty you need depends on what you are going to use it for... If you are only spreading loose gravel out... you don't need much. If you are trying to rip roots or large boulders out, get something well made. What kind of soil are you working with?

Here's to Bob Skurka...:drink:
 
   / How heavy is too heavy for a box blade? #6  
With your Grand L 3130 I would limit the boxblade to a 6' model with a max weight of about 750 lbs. An advantage of a heavy boxblade or land plane/grader is you are able to hold a grade better without skipping across the top, it holds the blade in place to slice off a hard mound.
 
   / How heavy is too heavy for a box blade? #7  
I have never used a box blade until the last couple of years. I bought a used one for a $100 bucks thinking it would fun to have one. :laughing: To say I am shocked at what that thing will do is an understatement. I have built a pad for a new 40x88 shed, I have leveled the crown of a hill, I have leveled a 2 acre lot that is now planted to grass ect, etc. In my mind these things are an amazing tool. Funny thing about this is it's the cheapest tool I have for my NH boomer. I have a hyd cylinder on the top link of the 3pt and if i need to dig,,,,I retract the cylinder and let the scarfiers do their thing. Long story short, for the soils that I deal with (which has alot of 4-10" rock) the cheap light duty box blade I have, has worked extremely well. In my opinion, the heavy duty blades are more than I would need to spend money on. My opinion only. Good luck in your decision.
 
   / How heavy is too heavy for a box blade? #8  
   / How heavy is too heavy for a box blade? #9  
Just a quick inquiry....It sounds like that you are confusing/misreading manufacturers specification of minimum HP ratings and reading them as maximum ratings. I cant see a manufacturer rating a 6' blade to maximum 25 hp or a heavy duty blade to maximum 40 hp....You might want to double check those specs.......
 
   / How heavy is too heavy for a box blade? #10  
If it helps...I run a Bush Hog MBX720 (now referred to as MBX72) behind my New Holland TC35D w/ water filled tires. At 640 lbs I find it too light for a lot of tasks.

Edited to add: I've had this box blade since 2004. I use it daily for work and it gets used hard. The only thing I've damaged are the replaceable ripper tips.
 
Last edited:
 
 
Top