question about box scrapper & rock bucket?

[MF RED in MT]

Hi everyone,

I got a question: after this winter is over with, I am considering purchasing a rear box scrapper (Woods # BSE4, 48" wide), and a rock bucket or a attachment to the lower front of the MF bucket that could be used like a rock bucket . I think my property in Montana grows these rocks in the ground. All ideas would be great since I am a brand new tractor owner. Thanks, KC

 

[Johndeere3720]

So will you use the boxblade to remove rocks?

 

[JDGreenGrass]

So, what's your question.??

 

[MF RED in MT]

Hi Johndeere3720 & JDGreenGrass,

Sorry that I didn't make my question clear. I am thinking a box scrapper would be a handy attachment to re level my gravel driveway every year?
The question I have is do you and others that have experience with this attachment think this is a worthy attachment to relevel a gravel driveway?

On the rock bucket, I have a lot of rocks in the ground on my property and I thought this would be an easy way to remove the rocks. I have noticed an attachment to my MF front bucket that may do about the same as a completely new rock bucket. My question is to anyone with expericence with this type of attachment, which one and which brand would be the best bang for the buck, and if they really do help remove rocks easy from the ground, ok?

Thanks, KC

 

[JDGreenGrass]

MF....I don't have either attachment but I do have a rear blade that is doing a good job of restoring my gravel driveway.

I have built up a nice crown to the center of the drive by angling the blade and pulling the edges back into the center. The blade also produces a nice flat surface that I pack down by driving over it with my truck. I am very happy with the blade. I can move a lot of material with it.

The box blade or box scraper has scarifers that dig in and loosen the material and then the blade leaves a nice surface. I think the box scraper is heavier and I also think that the box will carry more material than the rear blade.

Lots of opinions here that favor one over the other.

I would also add that motoring along SLOWLY is key to a great finished product.

Have fun.

 

[dcyrilc]

I was considering a box blade for my driveway until I found that I could get end panels for my JD blade which came with the tractor. I don't need scarifiers and can always add weight if needed. So far, my only complaint with the blade is the material I loose off the side and the end panels should solve that problem.

 

[MF RED in MT]

Dcyrilc, that might be a good solution for me? Were your side wings for the bucket a lot cheaper than a box scrapper or about the same? I really like the idea of looking forward instead of behind me when I tune up my gravel driveway up in the spring. Thanks for the idea, KC

 

[dcyrilc]

Dcyrilc, that might be a good solution for me? Were your side wings for the bucket a lot cheaper than a box scrapper or about the same? I really like the idea of looking forward instead of behind me when I tune up my gravel driveway up in the spring. Thanks for the idea, KC

I haven't bought them yet, but they're $170.00 for each side from the JD dealer. I'm going to make a cardboard maukup (don't think I spelled that right) to use as a jig and have a local shop make make me some out of 1/4" plate. Shouldn't cost more than $30 or $40 per side.

The attached pic is from the JDparts website. This should be a relatively simple thing to create.

 

[MF RED in MT]

dycrilc,
Opps, I meant side wings for my front blade not bucket. Thats another great idea to have the parts fabricated by a local company. I have had replacement parts fabricated for my wood burning stove and they were made faster,better, and cheaper than ordering the O.E.M.'s from the stove company. KC

 

[Barry Bowen]

Box blades are great for redoing driveways. I use an 8 footer, bought it cheap and brand new at an auction for $250 5 years ago. As they build up loose material in them, they really spread it out into the low spots. You do not need to use the rippers that come with them, you can hold them up out of the way. Box blades also have a cutting blade one the back, but be careful as you can easily over power box blades or scraper blades trying to cut with them in reverse. An alternative to the box blade, if you do not need to do any cutting to reshape you driveway is to take a scraper blade and turn it around backwards so that as you drive forwards it is back scrapping the ground. This will also help fill in the low spots, but does not do anything to keep materials from rolling off the ends.

As for the "rock buckets", they are basically a waste of money. They take way too much time to get anything done. You do not get acres per hour done, rather they take hours or days per acre. Better just to take your regular loader and get out and pick up the rocks if it is a small scale, or spend thousands to get a rock picker and the 100+ HP tractor it takes to run them. Even the rock pickers take a lot of time to get the job done any way. Usually the ground needs to be pretty dry for the rock pickers or rock buckets to work well and get the dirt to sift through them. Good Luck.