I Can't Make a Decision

   / I Can't Make a Decision #1  

tc35dforme

Platinum Member
Joined
Apr 4, 2002
Messages
796
Location
New England...Central MA
Tractor
TC35D/16LA
I Can\'t Make a Decision

Hey,

I thought I had my mind set on a 6'-7' box blade. I wanted the rippers to help 'pop' rocks from my field that was dozered last year. Most of the rocks are basketball size and smaller, but they are pretty numerous. I felt the rippers could bring them up and I could kind of collect them with the blade and then loader them away. This would sure beat manually picking each one.

Here's the problem. I started really looking at things, and I am now wondering how much additional work I'll have for the box-blade. Yard / lawn is done, driveway is holding up well now that I've got a good crusher run base....

Maybe a rake would be more usefull...maybe a rake with scarifiers like the landpride unit shown in the attachment.

Anyone run this combo? Comments...suggestions...

....anyone ????
 

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   / I Can't Make a Decision #2  
Re: I Can\'t Make a Decision

I too would like to hear the responses for this one. We have tons of rocks that need to be picked. I guess thats why they call it "Hardscrabble"
 
   / I Can't Make a Decision #3  
Re: I Can\'t Make a Decision

Nothing wrong going with your idea of a ripper and rake combination. The box scraper adds much needed loader ballast as well as the obvious leveling, cutting and ripping ability. For a larger compact like the TC35, you would need a larger and heavier boxscraper and if it had hydraulic rippers, it would cost about $1500 plus for a good one. If scraping and leveling are not needed, get the ripper only setup, I'm pretty sure it should cost less. It will over a lot of resistance, I often fill my loader up with dirt for extra traction. One more thing about boxscrapers, my brother in law bought an inexpensive boxscraper, a 72" non hydraulic, lightweight one from Ford/NH. I borrowed it and his tractor, a NH 2120. The pulling ability of the 2120 is great. Instead of pulling the rocks out of the ground though, it would break the rippers off the boxscraper. The design was bad and a combination of cheap rippers and poor anchors added to the problem. I welded two and bought some others. The welds eventually broke again. Go for the rake/ripper setup. Rat...
 
   / I Can't Make a Decision #5  
Re: I Can\'t Make a Decision

TC, with 30 acres it's hard to imagine you running out of uses for a box scraper. I've a box & a rake, love them, but seldom interchange uses. The rake isn't good for collecting rocks in clay but don't think I've heard anyone say rakes are good for collecting rocks anywhere. I use a stone fork for collecting rocks, but consider hiring someone to run a Harley Rake or similar to collect rocks. You might consider asking farmers & tractor dealers about your intended uses before deciding. Good luck.
 
   / I Can't Make a Decision #6  
Re: I Can\'t Make a Decision

I think you'll need the blade to loosen the rocks-big or small. I imagine that the rake would only work on rocks that are not too big. I am not an experienced tractorer, but I did follow the advice of tbynetters who convinced me of the utility of the boxblade. I can tell you it is a very, very useful tool for many things. I'm sure I'll discover more. I think the rake would be uesful, too (don't have one--YET), but I believe the consensus will be the boxblade is one of the most useful implements you can buy, second to a front end loader.
 
 
 
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