jenkinsph
Super Star Member
Maybe I should sell the thing :duh:
I noticed the OP has not been back since posting this. Hope he has not given up on this.
Maybe I should sell the thing :duh:
I have both on my tractor (4 in 1 and box blade with rippers) and I much prefer to use the rear blade. Visibility is great and with a top and tilt that blade will do amazing things. the 4 in 1 is nice but you really can't see what you are doing like you can off the back.
First I would ask you to post a picture of your box blade hitch from the front. Just to clarify the hitch you have, as most of these box blades have a clevis hitch that fits both cat 1 and cat 2 hitches. This is important because John Deere and a lot of other manufacturers do not offer the hydrostatic transmissions in a cat 2 hitch.
I use a Deere 4520 cab tractor with R4 tires triple wheel weights 60hp and the ehydro transmission with good results. Mine is a 2009 and in that year the hp was increased across the model series, so the 2008 and older will have less power. When checking out tractors this is good to be aware of.
I have a Frontier BB1284 box blade made by Gannon very similar to yours but with the hinged tailgate and is 7' wide. I have many hours of seat time using mine for grading fields and other work. I would venture to say a similar tractor would work well with your 6' box blade. I would suggest a tractor of at least 50hp and would prefer a little larger which allows higher ground speeds. When you are grading acres instead of a short driveway travel speed becomes an issue.
Other important considerations would be to get a top and tilt hydraulic hitch (needs two sets of hydraulics) plus one set of hydraulics for the rippers. Would also recommend the optional telescopic links if you need to change implements often. These clevis hitch implements are a bear to change without telescopic links or the quick hitches.
Below are pictures of my tractor and box blade and pictures of some small fields I have used this on.
In the second picture if you look at the hitch you will notice I am connected to the inside hitch clevis on each side this is for cat 1, if you connect to the outer clevis set that is for cat 2.