How wide a box blade has to be???

[roger 4400]

Thank you all for your answers. I think a 6 ft will work on my 6 ft tractor, my driveway is mostly of stones 0-3/4 and some parts are 0-2in stones, but on my other lot it is rocky so better with a 6 footer.
The seller did not answer me yet for the price and model, I'll be back with that. Over here in Quebec it seems hard to find a good used box. See you soon. Roger

 

[JRP]

Roger

IMO, one of the most important specification on a box blade is weight. A light box will not cut well. Many brands sell light, medium, and heavy box blades so brand alone is not enough. With 43 hp you will be able to pull a fairly heavy box. A Gannon or Kubota box blade 6' weighs about 1000 lb.

Remember that a professional box blader also does not want to spend any more tmoney han necessary. If a #350 lb box blade would work then that is what he would buy, but for some reason they buy heavy boxes.

If you ever see a professional working then take time to stop and watch what they can do. Ask their opinion.

The bush hog should be very little risk. If it does not work then resell it

 

[roger 4400]

Roger

IMO, one of the most important specification on a box blade is weight. A light box will not cut well. Many brands sell light, medium, and heavy box blades so brand alone is not enough. With 43 hp you will be able to pull a fairly heavy box. A Gannon or Kubota box blade 6' weighs about 1000 lb.

Remember that a professional box blader also does not want to spend any more tmoney han necessary. If a #350 lb box blade would work then that is what he would buy, but for some reason they buy heavy boxes.

If you ever see a professional working then take time to stop and watch what they can do. Ask their opinion.

The bush hog should be very little risk. If it does not work then resell it

You got a good point ...........:thumbsup:

 

[KB9UDE]

I have a lighter weight box blade but can always add weights to it for more aggressive work if needed.

 

[jenkinsph]

John,
Digging up old posts are you?
FWIW, yes you can add simple weights to make your boxblade heavy but in the long run adding the weight while adding structure and strength is the better play. Your new tractor may prove that out soon.

I use a Frontier BB1284 which I consider to be about the max a Deere 4000 series can handle.

 

[KB9UDE]

Looks good Steve. I may have to look into one like that. My rural king "special" box blade probably wont like the 66hp in front of it...LOL:laughing:

 

[TripleR]

John,
Digging up old posts are you?
FWIW, yes you can add simple weights to make your boxblade heavy but in the long run adding the weight while adding structure and strength is the better play. Your new tractor may prove that out soon.

I use a Frontier BB1284 which I consider to be about the max a Deere 4000 series can handle.

Very nice looking blade and tractor.

 

[jenkinsph]

Thanks Triple R

 

[IndyIan]

John,
Digging up old posts are you?
FWIW, yes you can add simple weights to make your boxblade heavy but in the long run adding the weight while adding structure and strength is the better play. Your new tractor may prove that out soon.

I use a Frontier BB1284 which I consider to be about the max a Deere 4000 series can handle.

I'm thinking of getting a used 7' Rhino box blade which looks the same as yours(its 1250lbs as well). Our tractors spec out about the same too, but I was wondering what conditions you find you are running out of traction in?
Do you use draft control with it? I suspect my tractor isn't going to be that happy cutting 3" of clay glacial till with a nearly full box and the rippers fully buried on the flats let alone going up hill but I was hoping the draft control would help out.
My other choice is to get a regular 6' 550lb BB and take it to my welder and have him beef it up a bit before I bend it as I suspect its not going to like glacial till either.
The hydraulic rippers would be nice on the Rhino but its going to be 2 or 3 times as much as the 6' manual ripper BB.

 

[jenkinsph]

I'm thinking of getting a used 7' Rhino box blade which looks the same as yours(its 1250lbs as well). Our tractors spec out about the same too, but I was wondering what conditions you find you are running out of traction in?
Do you use draft control with it? I suspect my tractor isn't going to be that happy cutting 3" of clay glacial till with a nearly full box and the rippers fully buried on the flats let alone going up hill but I was hoping the draft control would help out.
My other choice is to get a regular 6' 550lb BB and take it to my welder and have him beef it up a bit before I bend it as I suspect its not going to like glacial till either.
The hydraulic rippers would be nice on the Rhino but its going to be 2 or 3 times as much as the 6' manual ripper BB.

My ground is sandy loam so I don't have to much problems with traction. My loss of traction is usually because of steep grades. I used to live in Louisiana and traction was always an issue, heavy clay soils can be a tough pull for sure. You may find that taking a lesser bite will be faster in the long run. I don't see much problem with the heavier boxblade in your case as sinking the rippers down will be the biggest traction issue regardless of the overall boxblade weight. In other words the "hook" is what will stop you. The extra blade weight will enable you to hold a grade much better without having the whole box ride up as much.

My 820 tractor is the only one I have with R1 tires the other two have R4 tires which are better in my locale.