I am looking at getting a frontier box blade. I originally wanted a 60 or 66 inch but they have none in stock and I need it for this weekend. The guy at the tractor dealer says I can rent the 72 inch model for 100 bucks and if I like it I can put the 100 towards the purchase price which I think is around 800 bucks. Is a 72" box blade to big for a 3038e. Its a 38 hp tractor but its a light tractor in terms of weight.
Box Blade - too big?
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sawduster98
Silver Member
It's all my 30hp tractor can do to pull my 60" BB. I'm running R-4's so I'm sure that's a factor. Depends what you're going to do with it and what kind of soil you have. Can you rent the 72" and still apply the $ to a 60" if you order one?
bullbreaker
Elite Member
What model Frontier ?
Every Frontier BB I ever saw was made by Woods unless new ones are made by someone else.Heres pics of one I use to own(Woods).
I think your tractor could handle it,even though you don't state in what type of terrain you'll be working in.Also will 6' cover your tire tracks ?
Boone
Every Frontier BB I ever saw was made by Woods unless new ones are made by someone else.Heres pics of one I use to own(Woods).
I think your tractor could handle it,even though you don't state in what type of terrain you'll be working in.Also will 6' cover your tire tracks ?
Boone
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/pine
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this seems strange as I pull a 60" BB with just a 17 HP machine with no problems at all
It is a 2010 BB2072. I don't believe I will be able to apply the 100 dollar rental to a 60 or 66 inch. I will be using it this weekend on virgin clay, we are trying to scrape down 4 inches of dirt to pour a concrete pad. I have R4's also. I will also use the blade to maintain my gravel drive and eventually to smoth out some rough sections of my lawn and orchard to make mowing more plesant (so in thise instances it will be top soil with grass).
Edit
It maybe a 2009 model, the dealer said he wasn't sure, they got it instock earlier this year.
Edit
It maybe a 2009 model, the dealer said he wasn't sure, they got it instock earlier this year.
TripleR
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You will be able to use it, whether you can use it to its full potential is another question. As mentioned by Bullbreaker, how/in what conditions will be considerations.
You can control how much material you put in it, so I would be looking at width compared to your tractor. I like them to cover my tracks and not stick out too far. As always, how "you" use it and your expectations are going to be the most important.
You can control how much material you put in it, so I would be looking at width compared to your tractor. I like them to cover my tracks and not stick out too far. As always, how "you" use it and your expectations are going to be the most important.
Mousefield
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I use a 6ft box blade mainly to grade our road. If it fills fully with gravel then I have to go into 4wd, just gets a bit to heavy for my Kioti CK35 HST. Think you could use the 72 inch one, if it bogs you down then don't let it fill as much with clay/dirt. I would think you are probably better off with the 60 inch though in the long run, i suspect it would be wide enough to cover your tracks. 
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I use a 72" box blade behind my 36 hp JD 1070. You might need to pull the 4wd lever once in a while. I used to turn my nose up at the suggestion of needing a hyd.top link, but that makes all the difference in the world (other than adding weights to the box frame).
LD1
Epic Contributor
I guess I didnt realize how light a 3038 was until just now. 2087lbs.
And I thought my l3400 'bota was light @ 2600.
As others mentioned, yes you can use it, but probabally not to it's full potential. Your rear wheel spacing is probabally right @ 5'. Personally I wouldn't want a 6 footer for your tractor. I had a 6' land pride and it was a handful for me and I have ags.
I'd say wait and get the right one. Especially if you have R4's, it isn't going to perform well at all.
Do you have a fel???
If so, why not just use it? My guess is that it would work better than you think. A 30x30 area @ 4" is only about 11 yards of dirt. Thats only about 30 good bucket loads worth. If anything, spend the $100 and buy yourself a middle buster/subsoiler and bust the ground up a little to make the FEL work even better. Just dont go too deep and disturb the soil you will be pouring on top of.
Just to give you an Idea, these pics are of the 30x50 area I leveled for my shop. It only too 2-3 hours to do. It was on a hillside as you can see. I started in the middle and took the uphill side dirt and filled the downhill side. FEL is all I used. Just a suggestion though.
And I thought my l3400 'bota was light @ 2600.
As others mentioned, yes you can use it, but probabally not to it's full potential. Your rear wheel spacing is probabally right @ 5'. Personally I wouldn't want a 6 footer for your tractor. I had a 6' land pride and it was a handful for me and I have ags.
I'd say wait and get the right one. Especially if you have R4's, it isn't going to perform well at all.
Do you have a fel???
If so, why not just use it? My guess is that it would work better than you think. A 30x30 area @ 4" is only about 11 yards of dirt. Thats only about 30 good bucket loads worth. If anything, spend the $100 and buy yourself a middle buster/subsoiler and bust the ground up a little to make the FEL work even better. Just dont go too deep and disturb the soil you will be pouring on top of.
Just to give you an Idea, these pics are of the 30x50 area I leveled for my shop. It only too 2-3 hours to do. It was on a hillside as you can see. I started in the middle and took the uphill side dirt and filled the downhill side. FEL is all I used. Just a suggestion though.
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I have a FEL with a 60 inch bucket (no tooth bar yet). I have tried to dig with it, and it wouldn't budge, all four wheels would spin when using traction control. and that was just trying to scrape a small layer of dirt
I was hoping the scarifiers on the box blade would be the saving grace.
Also I am not familiar with a middle buster, is it the implement you use before a turn over plow?
I was hoping the scarifiers on the box blade would be the saving grace.
Also I am not familiar with a middle buster, is it the implement you use before a turn over plow?
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LD1
Epic Contributor
CountyLine Middle Buster - 2128228 | Tractor Supply Company
CountyLine Sub Soiler - 2128333 | Tractor Supply Company
The second one (subsoiler) would probabalt do you the most good.
I made one when I installed my invisible dog fence. Cost me nothing cause I had all the scrap steel to make. If you are handy with a welder, have a decient shop and some scrap steel, it only took me a few hrs to make.
2x4 heavywall tube for the main beams and 1/2" x 3" plate sharpened one edge, and welded on for the angle. (I actually made it portrude through the 2x4 allthough I dont think it was needed.)
CountyLine Sub Soiler - 2128333 | Tractor Supply Company
The second one (subsoiler) would probabalt do you the most good.
I made one when I installed my invisible dog fence. Cost me nothing cause I had all the scrap steel to make. If you are handy with a welder, have a decient shop and some scrap steel, it only took me a few hrs to make.
2x4 heavywall tube for the main beams and 1/2" x 3" plate sharpened one edge, and welded on for the angle. (I actually made it portrude through the 2x4 allthough I dont think it was needed.)
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just talked to the guy I am doing this work for, he said there used to be a tree where we will be working and what ever I bring needs to be able to deal with roots up to 2 inches thick?
If a sub soiler, scarifier etc hits a root can it damage the 3pt?
If a sub soiler, scarifier etc hits a root can it damage the 3pt?
I can pull a 66" with my 25 hp CT225. I can pull a full box. I have used up to 3 of the scarifers with no problem. This is in red clay dirt. But if I hit a buried stump or a large root, It will stop me cold.
You should be OK unless the old tree is still intact. If it is, you will have to use something to remove it or break it up. If the tree is not a problem, you should easily remove 4" in that area in a lot less than 4 hours.
Norm
You should be OK unless the old tree is still intact. If it is, you will have to use something to remove it or break it up. If the tree is not a problem, you should easily remove 4" in that area in a lot less than 4 hours.
Norm
merrickvilleguy
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i have a 72" walco box and pull it fine with all scarifiers down deep along my road just fine with my mf1635 ... need 4wd sometimes when going up hill or if i catch a root ... my road is hard pack with lots of riff raff and stone tossed in for good measure
LD1
Epic Contributor
Weight equals traction and I think that is going to be the issue with the OP's tractor only weighing ~2000 lbs.
A CT225 weighs ~3000 lbs
A Mahindra 3215 is ~2600
and a MF 1635 is ~3200 lbs.
That is a lot as it pertains to traction and trying to pull a 6' box when if full, is about 1600-1800lbs of dirt. Again, I think it is a bit much given the weight of the machine.
sawduster98
Silver Member
In my earlier post I mentioned my 30hp B7800 had trouble pulling my 60" BB. I should've specified that was worst case with a full box of wet clay. Traction was the issue there.
I just finished my pole barn pad and used the BB to remove the top 2-3 inches of sod, then put the scarifiers all the way down and cross-hatched the whole area to a depth of 4". The FEL easily picked up the remaining dirt. The 40x50' pad took about 6hrs but I admit I was playing around and experimenting with the BB.
I just finished my pole barn pad and used the BB to remove the top 2-3 inches of sod, then put the scarifiers all the way down and cross-hatched the whole area to a depth of 4". The FEL easily picked up the remaining dirt. The 40x50' pad took about 6hrs but I admit I was playing around and experimenting with the BB.
merrickvilleguy
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wow I didn't think there was that much disparity in weights of tractors of around the same hp. And here I was thinking the 3500lbs I have was light
