Comparison torn between rear blde and box blade

[alflen52]

I am going to purchase a 3pt blade for my bx2200,but am torn between a 5 ft. rear blade or a 5ft. box blade,i know the box blade is twich the price,it will be used for snow removal,leveling along a river bank and filling in a wet area.

 

[atsah]

Probably the blade is better suited for snow and angled river bank, you would need one that tilts, also one that offsets is very useful for keeping your tractor away from a ditch and will keep you away from the edge of a ditch...

 

[sandman2234]

Well, if you were near me, I would offer you a used box blade (sorry 6 foot, not five). I haven't used it in years, but I am in the market for a rear blade but the costs of the heavy duty Cat II or III ones are cost prohibitive compared to a box blade. If I were in your shoes, a rear blade with removable ends might be a good investment, or so I am told when it comes to working with snow.
David from jax

 

[Shaneard]

Boxblades aren’t fun for snow removal, if going forward they fill up then it’s hard to get all the snow out. If going backwards your neck will be hurting not long after starting. For your uses listed I vote blade first then eventually you can find you a used 5’ box blade and save some money rather than buying a new one.

 

[oosik]

The rear blade will be much more universal in use than the box blade. Both require quite a lot of practice to become truly proficient - but everyone starts at ground zero and goes from there.

Two things to acknowledge - with ground engagement implements - weight is definitely your friend and - when you angle your blade to plow - you will automatically loose plowing width.

Example - a 72" rear blade angled at 45 degrees will plow a 50" path - same blade angled at 35 degrees will plow a 60" path.

These widths are approximate because I calculate them on paper.

BTW - box blades have a very definite and good use - unfortunately because they can not be angled - snowplowing is not one of their good uses.

 

[Steppenwolfe]

I'm not sure your BX will pull a 5 ft box blade. That is a lot of weight. Also, box blades don't work at all with wet soil.

 

[/pine]

box blades are not the best choice for snow...Also if you do not have hydraulic top and tilt it's another reason to go with the rear blade over a box...although T&T also makes using a rear blade much easier...

Good luck...

 

[/pine]

...box blades don't work at all with wet soil.

Not sure what the earth is like there but I won't even attempt to groom an unpaved road or driveway unless there has been a decent rain in the last 24 hours...there is a certain MC where it (gravel/dirt) is so much easier to work with than when overly dry or really muddy...
Working overly dry material tends to separate the fines from coarser gravel...

 

[Steppenwolfe]

Not sure what the earth is like there but I won't even attempt to groom an unpaved road or driveway unless there has been a decent rain in the last 24 hours...there is a certain MC where it (gravel/dirt) is so much easier to work with than when overly dry or really muddy...
Working overly dry material tends to separate the fines from coarser gravel...

I agree, but to drag and infill properly it has to be just right with a box blade...

 

[Paystar]

My hydraulic angle rear blade was a waste of money as far as I'm concerned. It sits more than it's used. A loader and a box blade are the two most useful attachments you can have. They can do everything. I built and maintain a mile of bushroad with mine.

I use a blower for snow because I am in an area that gets 13 feet of annual snowfall, but one day I tried my box blade on my 300 foot long driveway in about 4 inches of snow and I was quite surprised how well it did. It just kept rolling the snow inside it. Sure some did spill over the top as I went but it worked better than I would have thought. Got to the end, lifted and it all dumped out.

 

[oosik]

I think a person should use the implements that works best for them. For me it is the rear blade. I, thank God, do not get 13 feet of annual snow. I do have a mile long driveway and don't even consider plowing until there is eight inches or more accumulation. Otherwise, it is, for me, a waste of time, fuel and my energy. Plus, its likely that the driveway will not be frozen hard until we have at least eight inches.

Been here 36 plus years - greatest snowfall at any one time has been less than two feet. Two feet is just a fun plowing job.

 

[Tractorable]

It seems to me that for the folks who live in more temperate climates, have gravel driveways, and get light snows (under 1ft), that a rear blade with gauge wheels would be great for snow removal.

Set it about an inch or two above the surface, drop the 3pt, pull the pin on the angle (pitch?) setting to let it float side to side, then drag it through the snow with some speed removing the snow but not the gravel.

Alas, none of the rear blades I see for sale have gauge wheels except for the high end hydraulically operated ones. Landscape rakes come with gauge wheels, why not rear blades?

 

[finn1]

I clear snow with a front mounted blower, but over the winter the mat builds pretty thick.

A box blade is great for scraping the crown off the mat on gravel drives, or, come spring time, scraping the mat from asphalt surfaces

I leave the box blade on for ballast.

For reference, we had about 305” last year, if I remember correctly.

 

[Thomas]

Some back blades offer end boots or you can make set.

 

[nyone]

The bx2200 prob dosnt have enough power to pull a 5ft box blade full of dirt so get the back blade.

 

[CobyRupert]

The bx2200 prob dosnt have enough power to pull a 5ft box blade full of dirt so get the back blade.

Do you mean weight?

 

[ruffdog]

If I had this type of soil and I was doing more earth moving, I would have a box blade. For me, the mostly snow work and occasional earth moving, the blade is best. Good video:

How to Use a Box Blade - YouTube

 

[alflen52]

picked up the rear blade this morning,i am sure it will do everything I need.thanks for all the input ,I regard it very highly.

 

[FatTire]

If I were in your shoes, a rear blade with removable ends might be a good investment, or so I am told when it comes to working with snow.
David from jax

I bought end plates ("gathering plates") for our Landpride rear blade this year. They really bridge the gap between rear blade and box blade, and then you have the rear blade for ditching and snow removal.

 

[atsah]

picked up the rear blade this morning,i am sure it will do everything I need.thanks for all the input ,I regard it very highly.

Which blade did you buy?