Box Blade Width?

[blucoondawg]

I'm wondering what your opinions are on the width of a box blade? I have the Kioti DK50SE the width is 63" with ag tires but I have R4s so I think a 72" blade will be the best option to cover the width of the tires, what I am wondering is does it pay to go up a size to the 84" models or would that not really be necessary, I will mainly be working on reapairing gravel driveways and repairing/installing lawns after septic installations and building projects. I would think the extra width may be handy in a ditching situation but other than that I don't see a need, and I wouldn't be doing much ditching anyways. I would also think the extra width would hinder the digging abilities of the blade unless it was substantially heavier to increase the psi on the scarifiers over the 72 inch model.

I am going to get a landscape rake next, that I was thinking of going wider.

Does my reasoning sound right or have you had other experiences?

 

[jenkinsph]

I have a 4520 with an 84" Gannon box blade (Frontier) and would expect the DK50 to handle it about the same. If I stick the rippers down it is a load on this size tractor, another 1500 lbs is really needed to stick it to the ground. That said I still prefer the 84" over a 72" for this size tractor, keeps the tractor farther away from walls.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Just my opinion here, But I think that you would be best off with a nice 800-1000lb box blade that is 72"-78" wide. As far as the landscape rake, go with an 8 footer for sure.

It sounds like you are going to be doing this work professionally. If that is the case, you might want to consider a LPGS for maintaining those driveways and installing lawns. I believe that it would increase your productivity by quite a bit.

Something else to consider.

 

[jenkinsph]

Brian brings up a good point, for most smoothing jobs including lawn repairs after backhoe work I use my land plane grader scraper (lpgs) the most.

 

[rjwerth]

I have a 78" on my DK50 and think it is a very good size. I would not go smaller. Maybe bigger for some but certainly not smaller as this one sticks out only a few inches on each side.

 

[C4Ranch]

Same here. I have a 78". Would have got a 84" but found Gannon on Craigslist so grabbed it and am happy with it.

 

[blucoondawg]

Just my opinion here, But I think that you would be best off with a nice 800-1000lb box blade that is 72"-78" wide. As far as the landscape rake, go with an 8 footer for sure.

It sounds like you are going to be doing this work professionally. If that is the case, you might want to consider a LPGS for maintaining those driveways and installing lawns. I believe that it would increase your productivity by quite a bit.

Something else to consider.

Right now it will just be for maintaining properties my family owns but yes eventually I would like to get into doing it more professionally, I didn't consider a land plane because for one they are expensive and they don't allow you to drag any amount of soil, the repairs I am looking to do are on some pretty rough areas, I would think the box blade to be a better rough in tool. I was thinking rough it in with the Box Blade then finish it with the rake (if I figure out how to buy them both at the same time)

 

[jenkinsph]

Right now it will just be for maintaining properties my family owns but yes eventually I would like to get into doing it more professionally, I didn't consider a land plane because for one they are expensive and they don't allow you to drag any amount of soil, the repairs I am looking to do are on some pretty rough areas, I would think the box blade to be a better rough in tool. I was thinking rough it in with the Box Blade then finish it with the rake (if I figure out how to buy them both at the same time)

If you can weld consider building your own land plane.

Also if you have never tried a land plane to smooth up after ditch work don't assume it won't work well.

 

[blucoondawg]

well this isn't just ditch work, the excavator who installed the septic at my mothers house didn't really clean up at all or leave the excess dirt in a pile, which I would have preferred as I could have scooped it up with the loader and placed it as I wished, he simply spread it everywhere so not only do I have 2 sunken trenches where the drain field backfill settled and settling around the tank area but I also have a huge backyard with the excess fill haphazardly spread about, in spots I can see original sod, in other spots there is more than a foot of this junk fill dirt, so I want to be able to drag all this dirt around to fill the sunken trenches and level everything out then spread top soil which will have to be trucked in and dumped in a pile for me to work with, then rake and seed. From seeing how the planes work and watching video of them I don't think they are practical for moving this much dirt. I have backdragged much of it last fall with my loader but it is still pretty bad. The driveway is hard packed red granite with some nasty pot holes and one sunken spot from an old dry well which I caved in and filled with gravel last fall, I want to be able to rip it up and smooth it out I would actually like a good Harley rake but don't have those kind of funds right now nor enough work to justify the purchase.

 

[jenkinsph]

well this isn't just ditch work, the excavator who installed the septic at my mothers house didn't really clean up at all or leave the excess dirt in a pile, which I would have preferred as I could have scooped it up with the loader and placed it as I wished, he simply spread it everywhere so not only do I have 2 sunken trenches where the drain field backfill settled and settling around the tank area but I also have a huge backyard with the excess fill haphazardly spread about, in spots I can see original sod, in other spots there is more than a foot of this junk fill dirt, so I want to be able to drag all this dirt around to fill the sunken trenches and level everything out then spread top soil which will have to be trucked in and dumped in a pile for me to work with, then rake and seed. From seeing how the planes work and watching video of them I don't think they are practical for moving this much dirt. I have backdragged much of it last fall with my loader but it is still pretty bad. The driveway is hard packed red granite with some nasty pot holes and one sunken spot from an old dry well which I caved in and filled with gravel last fall, I want to be able to rip it up and smooth it out I would actually like a good Harley rake but don't have those kind of funds right now nor enough work to justify the purchase.

Well I have a good box blade and landplane and do this for a living. I have a pretty good idea what each implement will do. Again I would not make too many assumptions. A land plane will knock down a 1' pile of dirt in a heart beat. I am sure I could use either a box blade or a land plane for this work, I am only pointing out that your assumptions that a land plane will only do finish work is incorrect.