Don't want to be a Box Blade idiot

[GaryE]

Don\'t want to be a Box Blade idiot

In the next couple of weeks I will be looking for a Box Blade. I know everyone here swears by them, but I am still skeptical. I am going to need to level out a few fields, then some areas for some foundations / slabs. Then in the future use it to maintain some trails.

My fields grow rocks, I mean big rocks (2 footers are the average).... This is Maine! My tractor is a Kubota L-3710 GST with R4's. I think I would like to cover my tracks, wheels are just over 60" apart.

So here are my questions:

Can a L-3710 pull a 72" Box Blade?

If so or if not, what would you recommend?

Will I destroy a medium duty Box Blade with all these rocks or should I go with a smaller Heavy duty Box Blade?

What brand would you recommend?

Am I fooling myself to even think this will work?


Thanks for any input.

Gary

 

[Syncro]

Re: Don\'t want to be a Box Blade idiot

I think a heavy duty 66" or 72" will work just fine. Consider that even a small 48" will stall your tractor if its hooked to the Queen Mary! My point being that no tractor can pull unlimited objects, but for normal use you should be fine and the extra width will be nice for finish grading. I personally like the heavy duty models, especially around rocks and with powerful tractors such as yours. Used ones can often be found cheaper than a new medium duty one. I just sold a heavy duty 72" Gannon for $375.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Re: Don\'t want to be a Box Blade idiot

Gary, I have no experience with rocks so I can't advise you on that part, but you might want to look over this to see if any of this helps. Box Blade Photo Comparison

 

[GaryE]

Re: Don\'t want to be a Box Blade idiot

Syncro,

My thinking was a 66" heavy duty blade. I think Woods has a 65". I am still wondering about the rocks.... Just find it hard to believe these things will survive my rock crop /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Thanks,

Gary

 

[GaryE]

Re: Don\'t want to be a Box Blade idiot

Bob,

I was following that thread with great interest, thanks for the pics! But maybe it is just me, I just find it hard to buy that my little 3710 is going to pull a 60"+ Box Blade through my fields.... I am hoping someone can tell me I am wrong.


Gary

 

[familyman]

Re: Don\'t want to be a Box Blade idiot

Gary,
My L2800 weighs 2,500lbs., 29 gross hp, pulls a 72" boxblade in 4wd with no problems. Big rocks, wet clay, etc., can slow things down but common sense must dictate as to how deep a bite you take as you go to suit conditions. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
With your rocky conditions I'd buy the most solid, heavy, best quality boxblade available, whatever size you choose.

 

[JoeR]

Re: Don\'t want to be a Box Blade idiot

I wouldn't use a box blade to level a pasture. My neck would get tired of looking back and adjusting on every pass. I used a disc to break up the soil, followed by a chain for leveling and smoothing for my pastures. They are not glassy smooth, but I can run my tractor at 10mph across the field without bouncing out of my seat. For critical site work and house slabs, then a box blade is a must.

Joe

 

[GaryE]

Re: Don\'t want to be a Box Blade idiot

Familyman,

I was thinking a 72"er was at the extreme limit for my tractor. Maybe I am underestimating the old girl?

Thanks for the input,

Gary

 

[GaryE]

Re: Don\'t want to be a Box Blade idiot

Joe,

I was thinking of a disc also.... Several years ago I had one field rototilled.... Long story, but it was a mess. Now it is at least passable, but still needs work. Would not a disc soften up the ground too much? I just want to replant grass.

Any suggestions welcome.


Gary

 

[jeffinsgf]

Re: Don\'t want to be a Box Blade idiot

Here's a little CUT Box Blade story for you that might ease your mind.

We bought our place near Springfield, MO just about a year ago. It is 10 acres with an eclectic blend of deep rich soil and limestone bedrock 6 inches below grade. In the transition zones, you can have some really incredible hunks of limestone and/or sandstone. The yard from the previous owner was a total wreck, and having moved to the country from a subdivision where my yard was the envy of the development, I took it as a challenge.

I rented an attachment for my Bobcat called a "Preparator". It is supposed to loosen the top three inches of soil and kick all the softball size and smaller rocks into a hopper that you dump once in a while. Well it works fine if the top three inches are already loose, but it just bounces across the top of hardpack. So, out came my JD 4410 (35 engine HP) and my Frontier 60" Boxblade (Model 2060). I set the rippers as deep as they would go, with the idea of popping out the really big rocks, and loosening up the area for a few passes from the Preparator. When I hit the 2 foot square by 6 inch thick chunks, they usually made the engine grunt for half a second, the wheels lose traction for a full second, and then the differential would grab, the front would bite and out would pop the rock. On the 2 x 4's that were a little deeper, the wheels would spin when the rippers grabbed the edge. If I stopped, and raised the rockshaft, the rippers would usually break the rock loose. On a few monsters, I had to do this a couple times from a couple different angles, but I didn't leave anything in the ground because I couldn't budge it.

Round boulders like you can run into in New England might be different, but on our flatrock, the box blade is a darn fine choice.

Some day I'll post pictures of the 100 foot long, 3 foot high retaining wall that I have built with the rocks I pulled out of the yard.