Box Scraper Help me attach a 3pt implement frame to my box blade

[Piston]

Last year (thanks to GreatWhiteHunter) I purchased a used box blade for a good price. It had barely any use on it but was faded and had some rust spots on it from sitting for years at a golf course.

I intend to have it sandblasted (or spot sandblasted?) and repaint it, however, before I do that there are a couple of things I'd like to do to it.

I'd like to add a hydraulic gauge wheel to it. I have a pretty good idea on what I want to do, I'm just having a tough idea figuring out how to attach my gauge wheel to my box blade, and I'm hoping you guys can help.

What I'd like to do:
I have a spare 3pt hitch frame off a light duty landscape rake, it is just the frame, not rake is attached to it. SO, I'd like to use this frame as my guage wheel frame, and simply attach a wheel to the end of it.

My problem with attachment:
I have an 18' trailer, a lot of times I take my tractor up to my land in NH and I want to take both my box blade, and my landscape rake, however there isn't enough room on my tractor. Soooooo, what I'd like to be able to do, is also use the 'attachment point' on my box blade (normally for the guage wheel) and be able to attach my landscape rake to the box blade, and flip it up so it is 90 and straight up in the air, I could then strap it secure, this way I could trailer the tractor, with box blade on the back, and landscape rake 'piggy backed' to the box blade.

Therefor, I can't just come up with a simple method to attach the guage wheel, because I need it to be universal and able to disconnect the guage wheel frame, and attach another standard cat 1 3pt hitch implement.

I was also thinking that if it worked out well enough, I could possibly use my box blade AND landscape rake at the same time? It probably won't work but it's in my head and I have to try it to see how stupid of an idea I had :laughing:

Does anyone have any good ideas for attaching a 3pt hitch frame to a box blade? I have the top link portion of it all figured out, it's the two bottom attachment points that are difficult, the reason is because they have to be able to move out of the way, slide the 3pt hitch implement in place, and then move them in to secure the pins on the implement, and somehow keep the whole thing rigid.

I'll post pics tomorrow that may help give a visual when I get to the other computer (where my pics are) :thumbsup:

 

[bcp]

Sliding attachment points on a square bar, like these:

From:
Three-Point Hitch Adapter for Skid Steers from Budget

From:
https://www.forddistributing.com/products/bradco-adaptor-plate-ssl-to-3-point-adapter-plates

Of mount a Harbor Freight quick hitch on the box blade.
http://www.harborfreight.com/3-point-quick-hitch-27-1-2-half-inch-clearance-97214.html

Bruce

 

[TDVT]

Sliding attachment points on a square bar, like these:

From:
Three-Point Hitch Adapter for Skid Steers from Budget

From:
https://www.forddistributing.com/products/bradco-adaptor-plate-ssl-to-3-point-adapter-plates

Of mount a Harbor Freight quick hitch on the box blade.
3-Point Quick Hitch for Tractors - 27-1/2" Clearance

Bruce

Those sliding lift arm ends are a great idea! I know those ball ends are available pretty cheap as a repair part.

I have been thinking about trying to attach my rake to the back of my box blade so that it would flip up for cutting/grading, then rake next pass without changing implements.

I use those two together quite a bit but I think the rake would sometimes benefit from some additional weight.

This may be the cool set-up, thanks!

 

[Piston]

The sliding lift arms are a great idea. If I had some square stock laying around I think I would fab something up using that same idea. That is similar to something I was thinking about but I could no way figure out how to do it. After seeing the pic, it seems so simple :laughing:

I think I'm going to order the cheapo quick hitch you posted. That seems like the easiest way to go and the price isn't bad.

Do I need to purchase the quick hitch adapter thingys to put on my implements pins?

 

[treman]

If your rake is a clevis style hitch it would work to mount 2 ears on the back of the box in the same location as the front and essentially make your box blade double sided as though you could hook up to the front of it or the back then mount your rake OR your gauge wheel to this bracketry. don't think that is a very good explanation but I cannot think of a better way to explain it. If I was more eloquent I think I would be a millionaire. instead I'm just a crazy eyed bat with wild ideas. :laughing:

 

[jenkinsph]

Piston,

While you are at it you might work out a way to use the wheels with either the boxblade or landscape rake. that would make both tools more useable.

 

[Piston]

Treman,
I'm not entirely sure what you mean by your description, but that may have more to do with me being more of a "picture book" kinda guy :laughing:

Jenkins,
I do have the gauge wheels for the rake already, they came with it when I bought it. But I have thought about the same thing, I'd like to keep my options open and be able to use the gauge wheel on other implements, good idea :thumbsup:

Well, I just bit the bullet and ordered the cheapo Northern Tool quick hitch that Bruce posted. I figure I will weld some small brackets onto the box blade, then weld a couple brackets onto the quick hitch, and bolt them together, then be in business.

I couldn't pass it up, I found an online coupon code that gave me 20% off, so the quick hitch was only 79.99 (although shipping did add another $20)

If anyone orders from Northern Tool use the code INSURE20 at checkout.

It'll be a couple weeks before I am able to get it setup, but I'll let you all know.