DK40 Box Blade size? 72"? 78"? 84"?

[Poopdeck Pappy]

It's strange how different it is from area to area. I've seen several medium duty ones (including a couple of Bush Hog brand 6 footers) in pretty good shape that could be bought for $350 - $450. But I knew that, ultimately, I wouldn't be happy with anything but a really heavy one since my soil is so hard when it's dry.

 

[IXLR8]

I measured our road, the traveled/maintained section is 10' wide, there is about another 2' on each side that is grassy. I need to be able to cut this grassy section down. I walked the road and checked the sides carefully, some area's I could drive the tractor over them with no issues. Other area's have a 1'-2' drop off, the area where the culverts are have a 4'-5' drop off. I am not getting close to that edge and I need to be able to grade to the edge of the drop off to give the water a place to go, so a 72" BB or LP is out. I haven't found a 78" LP, the 84" LP's are out of my budget. Present plan is to get either the 78" or 84" BB to grade the edges of the road and get the road close to where it needs to be. Then rent a 72" LP, $70/day, to do the final road clean up. I am leaning towards the 84" BB as it is only $50 dollars more than the 78" and gets me that much further from the edge. I just need to check that the 84" BB will fit my trailer.

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

I measured our road, the traveled/maintained section is 10' wide, there is about another 2' on each side that is grassy. I need to be able to cut this grassy section down. I walked the road and checked the sides carefully, some area's I could drive the tractor over them with no issues. Other area's have a 1'-2' drop off, the area where the culverts are have a 4'-5' drop off. I am not getting close to that edge and I need to be able to grade to the edge of the drop off to give the water a place to go, so a 72" BB or LP is out. I haven't found a 78" LP, the 84" LP's are out of my budget. Present plan is to get either the 78" or 84" BB to grade the edges of the road and get the road close to where it needs to be. Then rent a 72" LP, $70/day, to do the final road clean up. I am leaning towards the 84" BB as it is only $50 dollars more than the 78" and gets me that much further from the edge. I just need to check that the 84" BB will fit my trailer.

The 84" should put the edge of the BB approx 12" past the outside edge of your rear tire. That's probably as close as you want to get to that dropoff. I think your plan to go with the 84" one is a good plan, especially for a measley $50 more.

 

[IXLR8]

The 84" should put the edge of the BB approx 12" past the outside edge of your rear tire. That's probably as close as you want to get to that dropoff. I think your plan to go with the 84" one is a good plan, especially for a measly $50 more.

If my tires are 71" outside to outside, then I figure the BB will extend just over 6" outside the wheels. I figure/hope I can adjust the 3pt stabilizers and move the BB off to the side by another 3" or so, then I will have 9" between tires and edge... hopefully that will be enough. ROPS will be up with seat belt on when I do this. Now to wait for delivery, scheduled to be in 2 weeks, I am hoping the ground won't be frozen by the time it gets here.

 

[milkman636]

I have straight blades (bush hog 50-07, land pride 35-84, and a woods HBL96) that will offset to the right or left of the tractor, plus the blades will angle and pivot. You might want to consider something like these for working the edges of the road. They can be found inexpensively, I just picked up the land pride last weekend for $300 off CL in good condition.

 

[IXLR8]

I have straight blades (bush hog 50-07, land pride 35-84, and a woods HBL96) that will offset to the right or left of the tractor, plus the blades will angle and pivot. You might want to consider something like these for working the edges of the road. They can be found inexpensively, I just picked up the land pride last weekend for $300 off CL in good condition.

I have a straight blade that angles, pivots and can be adjusted offset, it doesn't cut thru the grassy edges very well at all. It is not very heavy which might be part of the problem. This is why I was going with the heavier BB w/ scarifiers to break the grass up so it can be worked. I also have some leveling in the yard to do and the straight blade just floats over the grass, I can't get it to dig in until I break up the grass.

 

[94BULLITT]

The more pounds per foot the blade has the better it is going to do.

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

If my tires are 71" outside to outside, then I figure the BB will extend just over 6" outside the wheels. I figure/hope I can adjust the 3pt stabilizers and move the BB off to the side by another 3" or so, then I will have 9" between tires and edge... hopefully that will be enough. ROPS will be up with seat belt on when I do this. Now to wait for delivery, scheduled to be in 2 weeks, I am hoping the ground won't be frozen by the time it gets here.

An 8-foot BB should extend 12" past each side. 6' tractor tire width, plus 1' on the left, plus 1' on the right = 8'.

Am I missing something?

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

:duh: Doh!! As Jim just pointed out to me in a PM, he's looking at an 84" (i.e., 7'), not an 8' BB. Cranial flatulence on my part.

 

[murphy1244]

Here's a Box Blade in the NW part of Ohio 7ft box blade