SubCompacts . . purpose of box blade implement

[AxleHub]

Greetings,

I'm somewhat confused why so many have or recommend having a box blade attachment for a sub compact tractor?

I understand counterbalanced weight for scut fel units . . But there are lots of ways to do it . . cheaper and easier. And if you have a long gravel road . . ok then back dragging a long road doesn't equal a box blade. But many don't have gravel or frequent need to level gravel.

But I guess I don't understand why such a high percentage of recommendations are for a box blade . . Especially on sub compacts. What else is it useful for?

 

[Sysop]

It is the overall versatility. They dig. They smooth. They plow snow. They push piles of stuff around. A few creative additions they can be useful as tool carriers. Adding a 2" receiver up top increases the usefulness even more with the many things that can be used, carried, and pulled. There is little out there that is as useful in as many ways as a boxblade, that also weighs as much, and that also fits as snugly to the rear of the tractor.

Lots use them as a way to protect them from doing things that would damage their loader. Such as digging hard/compacted materials, or back-dragging to smooth things out.

 

[TMR]

Good question. I am debating the Kubota BX series vs the B series. A couple of my early basic uses would be pulling a box blade to both cut down dirt uneven sections in a trail that needs developing and also pulling over small to medium roots and small bruch stumps in the trails I am building...note/not tree stumps...just moderate 2-3" brush stumps. My thought is I could end up damaging the brush blade and should get either the medium or maybe the heavy duty version.

If I get the heavy duty version then I get a little concerned that the BX series lack the weight and strength in the three point to handle it well????

It is one thing spreading loose gravel or loose dirt...I am concerned it is another challenge leveling portions of the ground and also pulling roots and brush stumps out of the ground with the box blade...and the BX*series???

I do not want to go much bigger or heavier due to where I will go with the tractor and damage to the ground.

I will be interested if you get a good discussion going...Thanks...Tom R

 

[TMR]

Good question. I am debating the Kubota BX series vs the B series. A couple of my early basic uses would be pulling a box blade to both cut down dirt uneven sections in a trail that needs developing and also pulling over small to medium roots and small bruch stumps in the trails I am building...note/not tree stumps...just moderate 2-3" brush stumps. My thought is I could end up damaging the brush blade and should get either the medium or maybe the heavy duty version.

If I get the heavy duty version then I get a little concerned that the BX series lack the weight and strength in the three point to handle it well????

It is one thing spreading loose gravel or loose dirt...I am concerned it is another challenge leveling portions of the ground and also pulling roots and brush stumps out of the ground with the box blade...and the BX*series???

I do not want to go much bigger or heavier due to where I will go with the tractor and damage to the ground.

I will be interested if you get a good discussion going...Thanks...Tom R

 

[Fawken]

Everything. It's all I had other than a bush hog for 28 years. Then I built a FEL, but still the box blade is the implement I'm most comfortable with. I welded a giant hunk of railroad rail and a 2" ball on mine years ago and it is a great anvil in the shop or in the field. Also used as a pipe bender, welding bench, and to carry feed sacks and shavings when the FEL bucket is full. Makes a real loud noise to scare off dogs when you drop it on the asphalt. If you can only have one implement make it a GOOD, heavy, box blade. Or get nothing at all.

 

[fd1122]

Also an excellent counterweight. Mine stays on all the time. Except for when I need my chipper, snowblower, landscape rake, or rear blade.

 

[duggie]

This is a new term for me. An Aussie.
Can someone post a pic of a box blade?
I have a rear TPL mounted blade that swivels to push or pull or at angles etc but dont know of the "box blade"
Is it different?

Duggie

 

[Sysop]

This is a new term for me. An Aussie.
Can someone post a pic of a box blade?
I have a rear TPL mounted blade that swivels to push or pull or at angles etc but dont know of the "box blade"
Is it different?

Duggie

Compact Tractor Box Scraper by Everything Attachments

 

[bcp]

This is a new term for me. An Aussie.
Can someone post a pic of a box blade?
I have a rear TPL mounted blade that swivels to push or pull or at angles etc but dont know of the "box blade"
Is it different?

Duggie

Found one in your language.

Bruce

 

[Fawken]

Box blade:

 

[duggie]

Well that was quick.
Thanks for the pics. I have never seen one over here but it sure looks a usefull implement. I have drop down rippers on my angle blade but that idea looks better.
The guy in the video sounds like a Kiwi but I can understand him OK I used to be one myself.

Duggie

PS..
I will have to get out more.
I googled it and they are available here as well.
MMM havnt been to a Machinery show in years.

 

[newbury]

Good question. I am debating the Kubota BX series vs the B series. A couple of my early basic uses would be pulling a box blade to both cut down dirt uneven sections in a trail that needs developing and also pulling over small to medium roots and small bruch stumps in the trails I am building...note/not tree stumps...just moderate 2-3" brush stumps. My thought is I could end up damaging the brush blade and should get either the medium or maybe the heavy duty version.

If I get the heavy duty version then I get a little concerned that the BX series lack the weight and strength in the three point to handle it well????

It is one thing spreading loose gravel or loose dirt...I am concerned it is another challenge leveling portions of the ground and also pulling roots and brush stumps out of the ground with the box blade...and the BX*series???

I do not want to go much bigger or heavier due to where I will go with the tractor and damage to the ground.

I will be interested if you get a good discussion going...Thanks...Tom R

A little OT but if you are debating B vs BX and want to pull 3" stumps and build trails why would you get a BX? BX's don't have the clearance.

That's why I got my B7610, and Woods BH70X, primarily for trail building.

 

[JD15302155870]

I haven't used mine in years. A good scrape blade is much better for smothing gravel driveways. The only thing I used my box blade for was burning piles, It's very useful for pushing trees into the fire to keep the fire burning. Have to be careful though. My BIL got his hung up pushing into the fire and couldn't get it out before he burned both rear tractor tires.

 

[nybirdman]

The box blade has to be sized for the tractor for sure.The advantage of a box over a scraper blade is that the box blade can be set up to loosen the top layer and refill/re-grade.I have both and they have their uses but my rear scraper is used mostly for snow removal.

 

[Sprinklerman]

I have a 4 ft box blade for my bx 24 , I dont use it much , but when I do it works well .

 

[AxleHub]

One of my reasons in asking about these box blades is that it seems so many own one but many don't use them at all or very little.

I can see in starting a yard or during 1st landscaping. I'm just not sure how it works for snow because you can't tilt it and its tough on driveways and sidewalks I would think . . Isnt it ???

And they are heavy. Fine for counterweight . . but so is a set of dumbbell weights on a dumbell bar. Now trail making makes perfect sense or leveling backfill during construction . . or tearing up and ruining a lawn.

I'm listening . . I just don't understand why if they are so handy - why so many have them and don't use them.

Unless I'm not grasping how you can be gentle with them. A fel is rough and yet sensitive too.

I'm amazed how dealers actually automatically package them in some instances in their quotes on a sub compact .

But I'm listening.

 

[Fawken]

. I'm just not sure how it works for snow because you can't tilt it and its tough on driveways and sidewalks I would think . . Isnt it ???

And they are heavy. Fine for counterweight . . but so is a set of dumbbell weights on a dumbell bar. Now trail making makes perfect sense or leveling backfill during construction . . or tearing up and ruining a lawn.
.

Yes you can raise them. And for plowing or pushing (mostly dirt n'gravel- no snow here) I go in reverse about half the time. Looking at your machine with turf tires like that I'm guessing you might fall into the category of folks who seldom use one though.

 

[AxleHub]

Yes you can raise them. And for plowing or pushing (mostly dirt n'gravel- no snow here) I go in reverse about half the time. Looking at your machine with turf tires like that I'm guessing you might fall into the category of folks who seldom use one though.

We poured 360 cubic yards of concrete in construction of our house. Thats done. 12 full pallets of landscape blocks . . Now done. 6 x 15 yard trucks of quarry boulder size rock for our wall and breaker rock and gravel by the dozen truckloads. 125 yards of black dirt, 100 yards of sand 80 yards of compost, 2000 rolls of sod and 240 net pounds of grass seed and trenches a full sized van could drive in unseen for 550 feet. But thats all done now. My new subcompact is to maintain it . . turf tires and all we didn't watch then . . we worked . . we won't watch now either

 

[Fawken]

Sounds great. And I would be in that category now except for this girlfriend who loves horses. They tear up pasture, fences and poop a lot.

 

[CDN Farm Boy]

I'm listening . . I just don't understand why if they are so handy - why so many have them and don't use them.

What makes you think that? Did I miss a poll for how many are parked and how many are used?
I'd say more of the opposite opinion on here, and I don't mean just this thread.

Unless I'm not grasping how you can be gentle with them. A fel is rough and yet sensitive too.

I've used a rear blade for 30 yrs and just got my first box blade 2 weeks ago. I was leveling off a load of fill in my yard and could easily adjust it within a 1/4" if I wanted to. Being gentle has nothing to do with the blade and all about how gentle you can be with the 3pt lever. If you had a Top N Tilt you could change the pitch side to side of it and a hydraulic toplink also can be nice for easier fore-aft adjusting -- but you don't need either to use one