Rear Blade or Box Blade - Which One?

lantxinNETX · Jan 20, 2014

I can only buy one of these this year - and I have to make the decision in the next 72 hours. (Has to do with delivery to my remote property . . . .)

I have a Mahindra 4035HST. I do have a second hand rear blade that I bought last year from a friend for $100. Snagged one corner of it on a stump and bent it! Straightened it against a tree a little, but it ain't perfect! Didn't do it any good when I hit it with the FEL Saturday evening at dusk either.

I have about 600 feet of gravel driveway to maintain. About 1500 feet of very slightly improved dirt trails (more like just double-tracks from 4-wheelers) that I want to level out and top with gravel at some point. And I have another 1000 feet or so of a trail that I cut through my woods last year with the tractor and a chain saw. Need to grade this a little better for use as a walking trail and a UTV trail. I have a virtually limitless supply of chips from my PTO chipper (thank you, December ice storm) that I want to spread on the trail thru the woods.

On the drawing board for future (like next year) is another 2000 feet or so of gravel road to prepare from scratch. And then further down the road is a house building project.

By that point I will probably own both, but for right now, if you could only buy one (rear blade or box blade) which would it be? (I'd get a 72" box or an 84" rear for my 72" wide tractor).

Thanks!

Martin

wolftree · Jan 20, 2014

As you already have a rear blade, even if it is not the best condition, I would suggest the box blade.

jenkinsph · Jan 20, 2014

I would buy or build a landplane first since you have a rear blade to get by with. Next buy a better rear blade as the next implement. Not sure you need a box blade for the work you described. A land plane grader scraper with rippers would be the best choice.

/pine · Jan 20, 2014

This debate could go on for months...That said...

Almost all will tell you that the learning curve for a rear blade is much more mellow than it is for a box blade...but that is because the box blade can do so many things...

IMO...the longer/more you use a box blade the more you will lean about its usefulness...same goes for the rear blade but you will keep learning about the box blade long after you have mastered the rear blade...

Regardless of the type blade...Top and Tilt will make either one 75% more efficient for even an inexperienced operator...the % increases with experience...

Good Luck...

jimainiac · Jan 20, 2014

I guess it's a personal choice and there are pro's and con's to each type blade, but after having a rear blade for years and having just got a box blade this fall, I'd vote for a box blade. I like the heavier weight, and the fact that it pulls the dirt (or snow) along without spillage to the sides.
My tires are about 72" and I had a 7' rear blade, but the box blade I got is 6', and that makes it easier to get around in the woods and in tight places. I think the fact that you can also grade, with care, in reverse, is a plus for the box blade.
But if you do go with a new rear blade, it's good to got with a good heavy duty one, as you already found out.

MtnViewRanch · Jan 20, 2014

jimainiac said:
I guess it's a personal choice and there are pro's and con's to each type blade, but after having a rear blade for years and having just got a box blade this fall, I'd vote for a box blade. I like the heavier weight, and the fact that it pulls the dirt (or snow) along without spillage to the sides.
My tires are about 72" and I had a 7' rear blade, but the box blade I got is 6', and that makes it easier to get around in the woods and in tight places. I think the fact that you can also grade, with care, in reverse, is a plus for the box blade.
But if you do go with a new rear blade, it's good to got with a good heavy duty one, as you already found out.

I have a 1000lb roll over box blade (ROBB), my rear blade weighs about 1200lbs. It is very common to have rear blades weigh less than box blades, but it does not have to be that way. The dirt just spills over with ALL of my implements. So in the end I suppose it really comes down to what the capabilities of the operator, the implements and the machine working those implements is.

All I can say to the OP is that I have a ROBB, a rear blade, a land plane grading scraper (LPGS) and a landscape rake. All true heavy duty implements. When I start a new road, I use my dozer. :laughing: But if I didn't have the dozer, I would use my rear blade for the initial grading and shaping of the road. I would then use my ROBB if material needed to be cut out (high spot) or filled in (low spot) Once that was done, I would use the LPGS to get the road dialed in to where it would be smooth and even. Depending on conditions if the landscape rake would be used at all in the initial build.

Now understand that this is me with the circumstances that I have. This may not apply in your situation.

diesel lover · Jan 21, 2014

Controversial topic.... my dad and I have a worn back blade and a very sturdy heavy duty rear blade. A machine operates completely different with a loose rear blade that pivets all over vs a tight one... I feel your pain!

Short story here is box blades work wonders for gravel work. Never had one then all the sudden we did and wow!! What a series difference. Not the best for snow removal but they sure do work none the less. I prefer a box blade over the two for snow.

Question how repairable is your box blade? Please insert picture or video

diesel lover · Jan 21, 2014

Controversial topic.... my dad and I have a worn back blade and a very sturdy heavy duty rear blade. A machine operates completely different with a loose rear blade that pivets all over vs a tight one... I feel your pain!

Short story here is box blades work wonders for gravel work. Never had one then all the sudden we did and wow!! What a series difference. Not the best for snow removal but they sure do work none the less. I prefer a box blade over the two for snow.

Question how repairable is your box blade? Please insert picture or video

TripleR · Jan 21, 2014

There are pages of information and opinions on this as mentioned and I don't think there ever was a consensus as needs and conditions as well as operator skills vary. We haven't used our back blade in years, but my father in law used it all the time. We use a combination of box scraper and wheeled drag scraper. We often move large amounts of dirt in addition to road maintenance. If I was just going to be maintaining existing roads, I would seriously consider a land plane grader like the Land Pride GS25, several brands are available; just not familiar with them. GS25 Series Grading Scrapers | Land Pride

Sadly, I find the more implements I get and the more I learn, the more I seem to "need".

IXLR8 · Jan 21, 2014

You might think about rental for some of these rarely used implements. My local dealer rents a Landplane with scarifiers for $50/day, for the 1-2 times a year I would need to use it, I will rent rather than paying $2000 for a new one.