Rear blade options

[turkish]

I'm in need of a rear blade for road maintenance in the hilly loess soils of SW MS. I am reasonably confident a blade (not box blade) is what I need, as I need ability to crown, create water bars, and dig shallow ditches. These are deer camp (ATV) roads that don't need to be perfectly smooth -- just need to control drainage some. My tractor is a 35hp 4wd with loader and loaded rear tires, whose color will remain anonymous.

Due to the need for ditches, I feel some offset ability is a must. I need no hydro functionality. So far, I'm set on a Rhino 500, but I haven't priced one yet. I read alot on my searches about Midwest brand blades, but can't find their website -- are they still around? What other input do you guys have?

 

[HCJtractor]

the Monroe Tuf-line look good but I'm not sure if they sell those in your area. i also have seen the Gill (Woods) brand but the Tuf-line looks beefier. It's on my wish list.

 

[94BULLITT]

Do not get a woods rb72 it will be to light duty for your tractor. I have a tuffline gb4-72. It is can be tilted 15 or 30* and it is offsetable 2 feet. The woods hbl-72 is also a nice blade.

 

[Piston]

I have a Land Pride light duty rear blade and I hate it. It's the only light duty implement I have (it came with the tractor when I bought it) and I hardly ever use it. I want to sell it to buy something more heavy duty.

Nothing against Land Pride, I love my heavy duty box blade, it's just that the rear blade is light duty, so don't go light duty. :thumbsup:

 

[GregbkH]

I have the Land Pride RBT 3584 all hydraulic. It is very heavy duty. I've done quit a bit of grading, ditching and road work with it. Make sure you get skid shoes with it.

 

[Thomas]

I been useing Woods RB72 for years not yet a problem...good angle pitch for ditching.

 

[coobie]

We live on a private self maintianed road about 1.5 miles long.I bought a 7ft king kutter heavy duty model that you can also offset.The blade is about 10 years old and has held up very well.Whatever you purchase get the most HD blade you can afford.coobie

 

[easygo]

If you are doing road maintenance I would suggest the gauge-wheels or skid shoes on a heavy duty blade. I think that would provide smoothest results. I have an old fairly heavy 6ft blade that I use mostly for snow. When I redid the drainage in my driveway a few years ago it was a bit of a pain as I have no wheels or skid shoes on mine. I think it is a KingKutter but it is old and no id marking survived.

 

[LD1]

As others mentioned, you are going to want a heavy duty blade for grading and ditching. But how heavy duty remains the biggest question. And a lot depends on your tractor...or in other words, traction. There are 35HP tractors that only weigh ~2000lbs and then there are some that weigh 4000lbs. That makes a BIG difference in choosing a rear blade. AS does tires.

So if you could clue us in to how much the tractor weighs and wether you have R-4's or Ags.

Other than that, I would get a blade that not only offsets, but tilts. That makes it nicer for ditching. You can get some tilt out of the side link adjustments, but having the blade itself tilt is pretty helpful.

As far as the offset, for ditching, I'd stay away from the "sliding" blades. The ones that the moldboard "slides" out to the side. Instead...get one that the offsets with the hitch. That way the contact point you are pulling against on the blade is still in the middle.

Here is an example of what not to get IMO...Tilt and Angle scrape blades | Free Shipping within 1,000 miles! unless you have the ~2000lb 35HP and R4's

And this is the style of offset that would be stronger...SO-6 Swinging Offset Tractor Scrape Blade 72"

And as always....typically the heavier the blade....the less chance you will destroy it...and the better it will work.

 

[turkish]

The tractor is a Kubota L3400 with R1s. So maybe 3500lbs?

Any input on the Rhino 350 or 500? Is Midwest still around?

 

[LD1]

The tractor is a Kubota L3400 with R1s. So maybe 3500lbs?

Any input on the Rhino 350 or 500? Is Midwest still around?

Just looked on rhino's site....

It appears the 350 or 500 will both fit the bill nicely. And are both rated for well above what our light 35HP tractors can dish out. And they are in the ~400lb range, so they are built well.

I dont see much differrence between the two, but if cost isnt that much, I'd get the 500. It is rated for more HP, but gives almost two feet of offset and the 350 is only one foot. Might make all the difference when you start ditching.

Also, the offset is in the hitch like I mentioned earlier. Stay away from the slider ones. I had a 7' slider. Nice for snow, but wouldnt last long with any real dirt work.

 

[MrChris]

Recently picked up a used Rhino LR blade, older version of 500. Nice, heavy, well designed blade. Rhino has been making blades forever. Just be sitting down when you get pricing on a new one! I believe you have to unbolt and reposition the blade to offset on the 350. The 500 you just pull a pin and swivel left or right. The solid 2" kingpin on the 500 is important difference also.

 

[Piston]

I have the Land Pride RBT 3584 all hydraulic. It is very heavy duty. I've done quit a bit of grading, ditching and road work with it. Make sure you get skid shoes with it.

That's the exact blade I would love to have. :thumbsup:

 

[LD1]

That's the exact blade I would love to have. :thumbsup:

ITs only money and we cant take it with us

 

[MtnViewRanch]

That's the exact blade I would love to have. :thumbsup:

Me too, :drool: I would love to have that blade to use behind my smaller tractor. For the OP, this blade is also available without the hydraulics and can have all mechanical adjustments. My last quote was $2100 without any hydraulics.

 

[Piston]

ITs only money and we cant take it with us

:laughing: I said the same thing to myself just before I bought a pontoon boat last week. My toy funds are pretty slim right now :laughing:

Brian,
I thought you HAD that blade?

 

[turkish]

Sounds like I'm gonna remain blade-less until I can find a deal on a used one.

 

[LD1]

Good deals do come along. Keep an eye on c-list. A lot of ones you find on there are very light duty. Stuff made for 8n's ad such. But good ones do come along. A year or so ago I got a King Kutter HD blade. 7' and 700lbs. I dont think I can hurt it any with my little L3400

 

[GregbkH]

Me too, :drool: I would love to have that blade to use behind my smaller tractor. For the OP, this blade is also available without the hydraulics and can have all mechanical adjustments. My last quote was $2100 without any hydraulics.

I paid $2500 with all the hydraulics.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

:laughing: I said the same thing to myself just before I bought a pontoon boat last week. My toy funds are pretty slim right now :laughing:

Brian,
I thought you HAD that blade?

No, I HAVE a Land Pride RBT45108. It is a 9 foot wide 1160lb unit, that I use behind my 75hp tractor. I want an RBT3584 to use behind my smaller tractor. Sometimes bigger is not always the answer. Sort of why I have multiples of a lot of implements, same type, just different sizes.