Grading Box Blade Question

[LoneCowboy]

I would think you should be able to get a good solid box blade (landpride, rhino, something) for about 700 bucks.
I'd go with a 5' one since your tractor is about 5' wide.
You want it to have EASILY movable scarifiers.

 

[ExpediteMike]

Thanks Rob-The Kubota dealer I bought the tractor from sells United brand BB. $325 for 5', $350 for 5'6". He said I should get 5'6" because I can move a little more dirt. Since the FEL is 5' should I go with 5' or am I making a mistake if I go with 5'6"??

 

[tcarter1]

Not trying to discourage yoour BB purchase. They are great tools and make for good ballast as well. However, I just finished smoothing out 60 tons of crush-n-run with a pulverizer. No way I would use the BB (i have one) as long as the pulverizer is available. I suggest you check with your buddies, a landscaper, or rental store to see if you can borrow/rent one for your driveway project. You won't regret it.

 

[RobJ]

Thanks Rob-The Kubota dealer I bought the tractor from sells United brand BB. $325 for 5', $350 for 5'6". He said I should get 5'6" because I can move a little more dirt. Since the FEL is 5' should I go with 5' or am I making a mistake if I go with 5'6"??

My 5' weighs about 450# if I recall. Pretty heavy for me without a FEL. The problem might pulling it when full, weight, traction, etc. Mine is 5' which is just wider than my wheels.

here is a pic..

 

[BBB]

I have a 5' BB, just make sure whatever you get is wider then your tire tracks. I do heavy construction work, and you never see a BB here. With practice a good operator can back drag a FEL and do anything a BB will do.

 

[ExpediteMike]

OK, now that I am totally confused........!!

 

[wushaw]

Your BB will be able to dig and pull the loose dirt a short distance. It can break up hard ground with the scarfiers. It can be tilted to cut a ditch. With practice it can level an area.
A FEL on a CUT is best used for carrying loose dirt to where you need it or whatever else you can/want put into it. Yes you can use it to back drag loose soil/gravel to smooth out an area or road.
For a cut/scut a BB has its place and the FEL compliments its use.

 

[john_bud]

OK, rather than start another post about which BB to buy, or dredge up that 10-page post linked above, I'll just spill it all here.

I've got an older JD4400 (36HP). With it I mostly just cut about 5-6 acres of field that was formerly a corn/soy bean field, but I've been getting pretty proficient with the FEL at filling holes & general grading (the neighbors have stuck a few 4WD trucks, plus some ground is rutted pretty bad from building the house). Bought the tractor with a rear blade, back hoe, & front end loader (BH is a blast, but I've only used it twice; first to bury some cement mix bags that turned, then a couple weeks ago to dig out a few of the holes for the pole barn that just went up). After reading TBN for months now, I've finally decided I NEED a box blade, not only for filling/smoothing the ruts, but to smooth the edge of the property where it meets the drainage ditch along the road. This edge is where the county dumped the spoils when cleaning out the ditch, so I have to cut it high to keep from cutting dirt, plus some of it became overgrown & there are now 2"-4" diameter stumps in some areas of this ditch-edge. We've also cut a drainage swail from the back of the property to cut down on the standing water in the largest of the low spots. This swail is starting to silt up after less than a year, so it's going to need regular maintainance.

Add my novice standing as a tractor owner to the fact that I live in the wilds of New Jersey, where tractor dealers are few & far between, I become "easy pickin's" (already over-paid for a JD LX5 @ $1700) at the mercy of the few dealers that are here (Tractor Supply? Yea.... RIGHT! Maybe 2-3 hours one way!). It's nice to see what range a BB costs, so I've decided that spending up to $1K would be acceptable for a suitably heavy BB, but at the same time I don't want to throw money away on something that's TOO big/heavy. Anyway, I'm thinking a 60" or 72" wide BB would do the job (the 60" mower is about the same width as the tractor wheels). I'm also thinking I want to stay away from the "light-duty" pieces in favor of a medium-duty at the least (although I'm an accomplished welder/fabricator & could easily reinforce a "problem area" of a low-cost BB if need be).

So, knowing what I'm pulling it with, & some of what I need it for, I anxiously await your thoughts, opinions, & suggestions on a BB (that will likely kill the clutches in the 4400 that are not too good now, not looking forward to splitting that beast).

Or should I just bite the bullet & patronize the local JD dealer?

Thanx,
David

David,

If you buy a box blade, the one biggest thing is the weight. After that the width, then the features. (scarifier attachment, moving them, fixed vs floating rear blade) etc.

Your tractor is a shade larger than my 'bota. I use a 66" wide Gannon landscaper H-120. Gannon Industrial Scrapers by Woods Equipment Company - Construction Equipment

It's construction grade and it will outlast me and mine! It's good to know it won't break. BUT, it is overkill in some ways.

For you, target about 650 pounds of weight (minimum - no max), width 5'-6' (66' would be about perfect) and a rear blade that can be selected as either fixed or float. If only one, get fixed for smoother finished grade.


jb

 

[ExpediteMike]

So let me see if I get this. A box blade is best used for filling and smoothing ruts, low spots, but a blade would be better to spread, level a larger area??

 

[wushaw]

So let me see if I get this. A box blade is best used for filling and smoothing ruts, low spots, but a blade would be better to spread, level a larger area??

Yes or some like myself use a drag of some homemade application to level/smooth an area but if it is for road use then a blade can be used for that application.
I myself use my FEL and box blade for my road fixin or making.

 

[dbdartman]

Looks like a 66" wide it is. Good to know at least SOME of the questions I should ask (rear blade & weight).

Lone, We'll see what kind of price I get from the JD dealer (about 15-20 minutes away). Hope it's around $700!

John, thanx man. Those suggestions are a BIG help!

E-Mike, that's just my "toy", a '68 Dart 2dr sedan. One of these days I'm dumping the flashy wheels for a set of painted stock steel ones & hub caps to complete the "sleeper" look. Da(i)rt was actually built to chase Corvettes through the back roads, so all the "tricks" are in the suspension, steering, & brakes. You can read more about it in http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...d-about-absolutely-nothing-2.html#post1059794

BTW, I've gotten pretty proficient with the FEL, but there remain some areas with really HARD packed dirt that has to come down some more (FEL & back blade won't cut it, already tried), plus clumps of dirt from the hoe used to clear the drainage ditch along the front of the property (some 750+ feet long), & the drainage ditch through the property that needs maintainance.

Well, we'll see what the JD dealer says next week (we're expecting snow here), & I'll report back.

Thanx all!
DB

 

[ExpediteMike]

Well after much contemplation, reading, etc. have decided to go with 66" box blade. The rear width outside to outside of tires is just about 60". Dealer is delivering this afternoon. Great day for this, we had first snow, about an inch or so here in middle Tennessee so wont't get to try it out though. Hope I made the right decision!!

 

[RobJ]

Yes or some like myself use a drag of some homemade application to level/smooth an area but if it is for road use then a blade can be used for that application.
I myself use my FEL and box blade for my road fixin or making.

IMHO, I just think a BB might have more uses than a straight blade. Going backwards...it is straight..

 

[wushaw]

IMHO, I just think a BB might have more uses than a straight blade. Going backwards...it is straight..

I'm right there with ya Rob, I got rid of my rear blade just because I found the BB to be way more usefull...I won't keep something around If I can't or don't like the way it works...I already have two ex-wives.. but I'm not buying another rear blade, I may try another wife though.lol

 

[ExpediteMike]

Thanks guys. 66" BB should be delivered in a couple of hrs. Wushaw:Good one about the wives:

 

[dbdartman]

Just back for the JD dealer, with sticker shock. The Frontier BB2065 (5'5" wide HD) lists for $1043! We agreed that's too much & he's going to see what he can find in the same size & $7-800 range for me.

Any suggestions on other dealers I should check, remembering that I'm in NJ (not interested in a good deal that goes bad with shipping cost).

 

[Partsman2]

Just back for the JD dealer, with sticker shock. The Frontier BB2065 (5'5" wide HD) lists for $1043! We agreed that's too much & he's going to see what he can find in the same size & $7-800 range for me.

Any suggestions on other dealers I should check, remembering that I'm in NJ (not interested in a good deal that goes bad with shipping cost).

Here is a link to A&B Eagleline. They make nice stuff. I bought a super heavy box blade but they make lighter stuff too. Great people to deal with. They will hook you up with their nearest dealer to where you are. A & B EAGLE LINE EQUIPMENT The Shield of Quality

 

[briancd]

Thanks "Partsman". First use will be grading gravel on new driveway after the dump truck spreads it as he unloads it.

Last summer I regraded my drive (300 yds long) with a new bb on my 26hp new holland. It was my first summer with the tractor and my first project with the boxblade. First step was getting 7 dumptrucks of 5/8" crushed with fines dumped along the drive, spread out by using chains on the dumper and some driving skill by the dump truck operator. However it was very uneven before I used the blade, and it took quite some practice to get it looking good. In fact I recall my wife coming down and "talking loudly" at me that it was a mess, after about two passes. I kept at it, going up one side and back down the other (with the bb on a very slight tilt to put a crown on the road). After about 5 or 6 passes it was fantastic. Even the contractor who built my place was very impressed. It can be done; just be patient and play with the 3ph height and your driving speed. All in all it's pretty relaxing, as far as "work" goes.

 

[Catman1]

Hi BrianCD. How did the dumper spread out the 5/8 with chains. I am interested on how he did it. I have 600 yards of road.

Also on your BB is your tilt manual or hydraulic to make that crown?

 

[638]

Probably used the chains to control how far the end gate on the dump truck opened. Thats how they did it at my old place.

ron