Box Scraper box blade / ro recommendation

[coolnature]

In need of either a box blade or RO for maintaining equipment road on farm. Tractor is a Kubota M5040, 4x4, 50HP engine. Location is Middle TN and soil is clay with a few rocks thrown in. Terrain is level to moderately rolling. Rears on tractor R1's approx. 80" wide. I think owners manual says maximum box blade width is 72". Wondering if I could use 84" width. Any suggestions / comments greatly appreciated since I have never owned or used a box blade or RO. Thanks

 

[bobmisi]

You shouldn't have any problem with an 84 inch blade. i use 84 inch implements on my 38 hp Branson with no problems. Horsepower is important but weight and traction are also very important. My Branson is 6000 lbs with R1's.

 

[TripleR]

I agree, I use a Land Pride HR3584 on my Kubota L5740 HSTC as well as M8540 and it works well with both. I'd prefer one a bit bigger and heavier on the M8540, but $$$$$

Prior to buying the HR3584, I used a BB2584.

I like a regular box scraper, but some prefer a roll over box scraper. I have no experience with the roll over.

 

[jeff9366]

The advantages of a Rollover Box Blade are quick access to scraping, scarifiers, smoothing and pushing functions without rear remote hydraulics. Because of mechanics involved, ROBBs are pretty heavy per foot of width, an advantage. ROBBs make excellent counterbalances. Downside: more expensive than "standard" Box Blades and, in use, can only be tilted a small amount due to weight.

Draft Control 3-Pt. option is useful in operation of all forms of Box Blades.

My 60" ROBB is Bush Hog brand.

Why don't you check your Owner's Manual for peace of mind. I'll bet it recommends an outside tire width Box Blade.

If money is a major factor consider a Rear/Angle Blade or a heavy Landscape Rake for personal road maintenance. They have some advantages over Box Blades for road maintenance. I use an Everything Attachments (ETA) Landscape Rake which is very fine.



Eagleline is a ROBB builder in Sweetwater, Tennessee.

LINK:

LANDSCAPE BOX-ROLLOVER 3 POSITION | A&B Eagleline Farm Equipment

 

[oosik]

Well---- First, Welcome to TBN. I have very close to your tractor and I bought a Bush Hog RO72 for use on my mile long gravel driveways and trails I'm going to create on the property. My rear R1's are exactly 80" wide. I'm sure you could use an 84" it would just load up your tractor a little sooner. Along with the roll over box blade I got a hydraulic top cylinder. Believe me, it makes all the difference in the world when using the ROBB. You can make minor adjustments and change the amount the ROBB is digging in - on the go. So rather than my unit digging in and bringing my tractor to a slow stop(oh, boy - it can sure do that) I can make adjustment with the top cylinder and keep going. As you notice - I'm not the least bit concerned that the ROBB is narrower than my rear tires. If I'm doing finish grading - then the setting scrapes very little and is not affected by tire width. If I'm taking a big swipe then its OK too - I will be back and be doing finish grading soon and all will be fine.
I have very nice fertile soil, where I have any. About 25% to 30% of my property is exposed basaltic lava. I call this my moss farm.

I purchased the ROBB because it does three things well - breaks ground with the scarifiers, digs with the blade and pushes with the blade. Box blade can do the exact same thing too.

 

[wsc9tt]

Let me give you one more option. For maintaining roads I understand that a grading scraper works a lot better than a box scraper, but I have never actually tried one.
Something like this:

The longer runners on each side make grading a smooth surface easier than a box blade where you need to constantly adjust for the tractor tires going up an down. But the shorter blades means it doesn't work like a box for moving material.

This is exactly my current dilemma. I just bought a MX5100HST and my old light 5' box isn't big enough to be useful. But I can't decide between a BEFCO 72" GS or Everything Attachments 78" Severe XTreme Duty box blade. Both are heavy at 700lbs. Mostly I maintain a very long gravel driveway where the GS is most useful, but I also do some landscaping jobs where moving dirt is useful.

I am currently leaning towards the grading scraper as I can use the loader for extra dirt moving.

box blade
+ better for moving material
+ smaller so better as the always attached ballast implement

grading scraper
+ better for smoothing gravel/dirt

 

[jeff9366]

The problem with a Grading Scraper, relative to roads, is that it takes out the center crown. Sometimes, not always, a center crown is important to road erosion control.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Sounds like you are in need of both a good box blade and a land plane grading scraper (LPGS). I would recommend a good box blade first, but it sounds like you sure could make good use of a LPGS. Nothing like a 1000lb+ box blade with hydraulic actuated rippers. But for about $1000 less you can get a nice ROBB that would serve you very well.

I think that you will be fine with either 72" or 84" wide implements.

Just my :2cents: good luck with your decisions.

 

[oosik]

I should have mentioned I have three implements to maintain my driveway and trails. Rear blade(Land Pride RB3596) for winter snow removal, land plane grading scraper(Land Pride GS2584) for final finish and grading of same and roll over box blade(Bush Hog RO72) for dirt/gravel moving and rough grading. i've found there isn't one implement that does everything best - unfortunately.

 

[C4Ranch]

You won't be happy with a 72" IMO. Don't think it'll cover your tracks.

I got a 52hp L and use a 78" Gannon with hydraulic rippers, weighs abt 1.2k#.

No problem at all and consider it the smallest I would want. Even catch myself thinking about an 84" from time to time but I found this one on craigslist so went with it.

Have TNT with hydraulic rippers, I don't like getting down outta my cab if I don't have to. Especially if it's over 100 degrees out.

YMMV