Rear Blade King Kutter HD Rear Blade

[longrange2]

I have a Yanmar 2620D, 30 Hp on the way and need to begin collecting a few implements. I am looking at a King Kutter 7' heavy duty rear blade that has angle and tilt adjustments. This seems like a really well built blade and weights almost 700 pounds. I will be using the blade for grading a gravel drive and snow removal.

Being new to tractors my question is will this blade be too heavy and is it a bit of overkill for what I will be using it for? I want to grade the drive, not remove it! I would think the extra weight would be a bonus over the medium duty blades I have been looking at but wanted some other opinions before I make a purchase. I have been looking at Midwest Equipment 22 series blades and a Land Price RBT2072.

 

[Zinno87]

I think that a 7' heavy duty balde for a 30 hp tractor would be overkill. What were you quoted for the blade? I'm also in the market for a 7' blade and have been looking at the Woods HBL84. It's a 7' blade that weighs in at about 530 lbs. It's rated for up to a 75 hp cat. 2 tractor, so I think it should be fine with my 48 hp cat. 1 tractor. I was quoted $1065 + tax.

 

[Z-Michigan]

Look closely at the welds on a KK box blade, then at any of the pricey brands, and I think you'll see why you're better off with the pricey brands.

I have seen the following prices:
72" box blade: KK $650, Woods $1000
84" box blade: KK $700, Woods $1200

Those are for the KK "heavy duty" and the Woods "medium duty"; IMHO the Woods medium duty is heavier duty than the KK "heavy duty".

Midwest and Landpride would be fine too, though I can't find Midwest locally and Landpride always seems to be the most expensive.

If you want inexpensive, I would get the 72" regular duty box blade from "Farm Force" now sold at TSC - same basic design and price as KK but made better. If you want quality and durability, I would get a 72" from Woods, Midwest, Landpride, Brushhog, Modern, etc.

 

[Foodplot]

I have a heavy duty 6' blade on my 34 HP Kubota. Wouldn't want any larger for manueverability purposes. This blade easily covers the tire width, even at a moderate angle, and is perfect for two-pass grading on our gravel access roads, which are slightly crowned.
Don't know where you are, but in my neck of the woods there are several farm equipment consignment auctions, as well as farm property auctions each year. Rear blades are common at these (half a dozen at the last auction I attended) and typically sell for a fraction of their new cost. Mine, which is as heavy duty as I've seen in a non-hydraulic six footer, and is adjustable for angle, tilt and rotation, was less than $100, including replacing some pins.

 

[dtd24]

Not sure how long your driveway is, but I have a 7' standard for my 40 hp and it works great for snow removal and light grading. The HD may be aggressive.

 

[Nuru]

Not sure how long your driveway is, but I have a 7' standard for my 40 hp and it works great for snow removal and light grading. The HD may be aggressive.

NY and New England snow. You gotta love it to work in it.