Fixed vs floating/swinging tailgate on box blades

[ChristheQuaker]

Please help me understand the functional differences and the advantages and disadvantages of the two types.

I will be using the box blade with a 35 engine HP, 2800 lb tractor in heavy clay soil that doesn't contain many big roots or rocks. Also, does the appropriate width of box blade depend upon whether it has a fixed or floating / swinging tailgte? What width would be appropriate for my tractor / soil type? Thanks!

 

[Henro]

When I was looking for a box blade a couple years ago, I wanted one with a hinged rear blade (cutting edge).

I ended up with a relatively light duty KingKutter box blade with fixed front and rear cutting edges.

After using it I am not sure what advantage a hinged rear blade would be in the practical sense.

First, when pushing backwards it would be the same as a fixed cutting edge.

When going forward and having the box angled steeply, so the rear hinged blade would drag on the ground, I would almost bet unless you were holding the box up with the 3PH, that the box would sink down until the front blade contacted the earth. So I wonder if the hinged blade really has usefullness for smoothing things like gravel or crushed stone, over what a fixed rear blade can do. With the fixed rear blade, the curve of the blace cutting edge is reversed, and the edge seems to slide over the survface when the box is angled upwards in the direction of forward travel.

Knowing what I know (or don't know) now, if I were buying a better quality box blade I would not get a hinged rear blade if it cost more. And if I did get one, I would also get a provision to bolt it solid.

Hopefully someone who owns and uses a box with a hinged rear cutting edge will add their experience to my speculation. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[dmccarty]

With a swinging "tailgate" you can angle the boxblade back so that the backblade is kinda floating on the ground. Its useful to smooth out the material. Kinda puts on a nice finish so to speak.

I have one and like it. Not sure that it makes much of a difference one way or another. If I had to buy another blade I would get the swinging back blade but I would not pay a premium for it either.

Pushing backwards works just fine.

Hope this helps,
Dan

 

[PineRidge]

We have a LandPride boxblade with the floating gate and quite frankly we don't see a big advantage when using it. I have used both styles and wouldn't recommend paying a premium to have the swinging gate feature over the fixed box.

 

[jinman]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Please help me understand the functional differences and the advantages and disadvantages of the two types. )</font>

With a swinging rear blade box, your cutting edge looking from the end of the blade essentially looks like "<font color="blue">/</font>" or "<font color="blue">/=</font>" and with a fixed back blade it looks like "<font color="blue">/\</font>". That tells me that with the "/\" shape, you can get dirt behind the front blade ("/o\") that will lift the back blade, and as a result, your whole box. By having the hinged flap, your front blade is not restricted from digging at any angle of the box. When you are cutting in reverse, you don't have the power to the box that you do going forward and you always cut with the box tilted slightly backwards or you won't cut much because the front blade will always limit your depth if the box is flat. Does this make any sense? /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

I don't think there is a lot of difference, but there is a little and if you use your boxblade all the time, you will notice the difference. Both my boxblades have hinged blades and they both can be pinned down for smoothing gravel loose dirt.

I'd say your tractor should be able to handle at least 1/3 its weight in a boxblade, so around 1000# would be a good starting point. Most blades are lighter than that, and you could probably go a little heavier without a problem. A boxblade sits much closer to your rear wheels, so its weight does not require front ballast like a rotary cutter would with the same weight. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[Henro]

<font color="blue"> That tells me that with the "/\" shape, you can get dirt behind the front blade ("/o\") that will lift the back blade, and as a result, your whole box. </font>

Jinman,

That is an interesting thought and you may be totally correct there. I had always considered the hinged blade as some kind of smoothing tool...but in reality it may just make the box cut easier, with less downward angle and less weight needed.

No question that the space between the blades on my cheap KK box fills with dirt. So for aggressive cuts I first have to angle the box, and also have developed a habit of making it heavier by putting three or four concrete blocks on it.

It is VERY possible that you hit the nail directly on the head. I think you are right. With the hinged rear blade, dirt probably does not pack in there, and the box may cut a lot easier as the result, when moving in the forward direction.

I have not found it to be a problem but it could just be what I don't know doesn't hurt me. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

By the way, having that dirt packed between the blades on fixed box probably does help it work as a smoothing tool. It really does pack in there too. I bet my box blade effectively has a flat surface about 8 inches wide between the blades...never even considered what effect it might have on the operation.

I rarely push backwards much...maybe I should take my rear cutting edge off as a test in the spring and see if I notice a difference.

Do I smell a future welding project? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Panache]

My LP box blade is swinging but it has 2 threaded bold holes to hold down the swinging blade. Tt uses two 1.5 x .5 bolts. That way I can have it both ways. For smoothing I bolt the rear blade and lengthen the top link. This backblades the road but will cut anything sticking up more than about 1 inch. Have I confused everyone yet?