Box Blade for a NH TC29DA?

[jbrumberg]

To All:

To the readership- I am a believer in the 5 HP/foot rule for box blades. Can a 3K pound+ 29 HP 4WD tractor with weighted R-1's pull a 6' 550 pound box blade through rocky, clay based topsoil? Jay

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Yup

 

[charlesw]

Really? 5HP/ft? So... Wow. Man, I can't wait to get this new tractor! I just think that I'll have trouble finding a box blade that big (and that I can afford)!

(jk! I'm trying to buy a used NH3930. It's pretty big - 45+HP...)

 

[sandman2234]

I am not sold on the idea that it will, in rocky soil, but it is hard to tell from way down here in the sand.
Surely someone near you has a six footer you could try out for a couple of hours. That will probably be enough to answer your question.
David from jax

 

[Logan]

Jay,
I have a Kubota L3010DT (4X4) that I think is equivilent in hp and weight to your TC29. I have R1's and pull a 5 1/2 foot box blade. It is a Kodiak that weighs 419# to which I can add about 230#. I have had no trouble at all pulling it to overflowing in rocky, damp, clay soil...uphill. I have also used it in loose sand with equal ease. I use the proper gear and have never had it bog down.

 

[Syncro]

It will pull it alright but its really too much for that size machine. A 5 1/2' would serve you better.

 

[john_bud]

To All:

To the readership- I am a believer in the 5 HP/foot rule for box blades. Can a 3K pound+ 29 HP 4WD tractor with weighted R-1's pull a 6' 550 pound box blade through rocky, clay based topsoil? Jay

Jay,
The weight of the box won't be a problem. Remember you are also pulling the weight of the material in the box and that is far more than the box's weight. The number of scarifier shanks you have down will be a problem. The 6' box will have an extra shank over the 5' or 5 1/2' boxes. That's where you will find the limits of your traction. You can add wheel weights front and rear and get a full FEL bucket of dirt/gravel. That will help get you more traction. You can also remove a shank or two, but then you won't be breaking up the dirt near as well and will take more passes.


Here's what I have found from many hours running a box...
I have a gannon landscaper 66" box that is 900+ pounds. My Kubota is 2800# for the tractor + 1000# for the loader + 600# for the loaded tires +350# for the tire chains for a tractor weight of about 4750#. In heavy stuff, I will fill the FEL bucket up which adds an additional 1000#. Still, I can stop the tractor pulling with the scarifiers down in heavy ground when the box gets full. It has only stopped the tractor with the scarifiers up when pulling up a 25 degree grade with a full box of dirt (23 cu ft). Power is there aplenty (at a guess for you too), but more weight and traction are still needed.

Also, with a 6' and only 550# you are getting about 90# per linear foot, same per scarifier. I have 5 1/2 foot width and 900#+ which is 160#/foot. It still skitters around on top of heavy soils and needs the scarifiers down - meaning max effort is required from the tractor.

Given your tractor is a size smaller than mine, I wouldn't recommend that you get a box blade that is a size larger than mine. Now, if you were in loamy or sandy soil -- sure. But not for heavy clay with mixed rock.

Good luck!
jb

 

[John_Mc]

Jay -

I've got a TC 33D (similar to your 29DA, but with a few more HP), with loaded R4 tires & FEL. I use a Woods 6 ft Box Blade. It works out fine for my needs here in the Champlain Valley in Vermont (rocks and clay is what this area is known for). I wanted the 6 footer to have enough to cover my tracks. 5 Ft is not wide enough (63" track width with the R4 tires). When I was shopping, I was not aware of any 66" options for box blades.

When working on my gravel driveway, 6 ft is great... no problems, except when going uphill on one short steep section with a full box... even then I can do OK if I drop into low range.

When working off the road, I'm OK if I'm careful about not taking too big a bite. If I bog down, I just end up making a couple of lighter passes, rather than one deep one. There are times when I wish I had more HP &/or more traction to pull it, but I'm happy with how it's worked out... especially since the percentage of time it's used on the gravel road vs off has gone up as I've finished up my off-road projects (the gravel road maintenance is never-ending).

It sounds as though we have similar soil conditions. I'd consider a 66" box blade a good match for your tractor, if you can find one of good construction. Yes, there will definitely be times when you can bog it down, but I wouldn't want to go smaller and not be able to cover my tracks.

BTW... I thought the 5 HP/foot rule was PTO HP needed for brush hogs. I've not heard it used for Box Blades... IMO, there is just too much variation in soils, slopes and type of work to be done for this rule to hold up with box blades.

Hope this helps.

John Mc

 

[jbrumberg]

To All:

I want to thank you for your responses ! I was and continue to lean towards a 60"/66' box blade for all the stated reasons. My original question resulted from an interaction with my local Kubota dealer with whom I purchase many of my attachments. Box blades are not big "movers" for my local dealerships due to the heavy clay soil and rocks. The Kubota dealer had this 72" Land Pride box blade still "in the box" and he offered me a good price compared to a 60" box blade. I believe he was trying to make a "hard sell" when he challenged me that an equivalent Kubota (i.e. L2800, etc.) "could do it ". Those were testosterone driven "fighting words", but I kept the credit card in my pocket (for once ). My trust in the honesty of TBN led to my inquiry. I think a larger box blade can handle my driveway project, but it would probably not meet my other anticipated uses. Thank you all once again ! Jay

 

[sandman2234]

Just for reference, I build a 5' box blade from some I-beams I had laying around and the only tractor available at the time was the 1100 4x4. It would spread piles of dirt fine with it, but as far as digging up clay and rock, not a chance...
David from jax