Various BoxBlade Uses

   / Various BoxBlade Uses #1  

3RRL

Super Member
Joined
Oct 20, 2005
Messages
6,931
Location
Foothills of the Giant Sequoia's, California
Tractor
55HP 4WD KAMA 554 and 4 x 4 Jinma 284
Over the years new threads keep popping up seeking the answer to "What implement to use for...? or which implement is better for this or that?" Those that come to mind are boxblades, rear blades, road graders, rock grapples or bucket grapples etc., and the list goes on.

I've learned a lot on this forum about specialized implements. There is no doubt that each implement has it's strong points for particular uses. But with budget constraints or limited storage space, that option may not be available or practical for some of us. I thought this thread might become helpful to those wondering what they can do, particularly with their boxblade. Knowing what I know now, I wish I could have that stuff too, but all I have is a boxblade and no other blade, so that's what I use...not by choice but more by circumstance.

Let me explain...
When I first got my tractor, I ordered a box blade and some other stuff, not really knowing what they were used for. Maybe not knowing worked in my favor because I started using the boxblade for everything I could think of. My ignorance freed me to discover ways to make the boxblade do what I wanted. You heard the expression "when all you have is a hammer, every job looks like a nail".

In reading another thread where canoetrpr said this "I originally ordered a rear blade for driveway work and some light grading around the property. I've since changed my mind and put a box blade on order." it got me to thinking to post some ways I've used mine. It might help someone figure things out?

By no means am I implying that a boxblade is better than any other blade, so don't go there. I just wanted to point out what CAN be done with a boxblade if you put your mind to it. I'm hoping others will post some pictures and share how they use theirs.

Here are some of mine.
These show how I cut ditches, crown and smooth the road.





You can also do a pretty good job of building and grading pads and cutting new roads with the boxblade.





You can even use it as a poor man's plow for your food plots and fields. Smooth, rip and cover your seeds.





Hope all these photos are OK, but a little visual goes a long ways.
These pictures will never solve the riddle of "which implement is best for ..." but they help show what can be done with a boxblade. If you can afford to get other implements, by all means do so, but it goes to show you that there are a lot of things you can do with just a boxblade. They might not turn out as good or get done as fast like when using the better tool, but you can do it and get somewhat good results and some self satisfaction by using what you got.
 
   / Various BoxBlade Uses #2  
Great action shots especially those gutters your cutting into the side of your road, you sure put your box to some good use.
JB,
 
   / Various BoxBlade Uses #3  
Why didn't you show using it to push huge mountains of snow around?

I've used mine for that...

jb
 
   / Various BoxBlade Uses #4  
3RRl Thanks for the great pictures. I have been planning to by a box blade in the next couple of months for my tractor to "fix" my driveway. Its on a decent hill and has been getting steadily worse for the two years I've been there. Its to the point that my 2wd ranger will only make it up on a good day and my 4wd chevy won't make it on a bad day. I want to recondition it with a box and have some good rock hauled in once its finished. One concern I have for useing the box blade is that my property is fairly rocky and there are a few decent size rocks in the middle of the driveway that I'd like to remove if I'm going to the trouble of doing all this. Have you had any experiance with bigger rocks with your blade. The rocks I have are maybe 4-6 inches thick from what I can tell but can get up to (roughly) 2 foot in diameter. Not sure how they will go over with a box. I don't have a FEL to try to scoop them up and remove them but if the box will pull them out of the ground I can shove them into the creek thats 15' away. Also does anyone have an idea on what size box blade a 3000 ford will pull. I've had my eye on a 6' tsc model. Not sure if thats too big for the tractor.
 
   / Various BoxBlade Uses #5  
A picture is worth a thousand words; Thanks for posting.
 
   / Various BoxBlade Uses #6  
Heck I'm a firm believer in the box blade, it's the only (rear) attachment I have :D

To be effective one needs to have a Top and Tilt so you can make adjustments on the fly.
 

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   / Various BoxBlade Uses #7  
I've had the same box blade since 1963 on a Ford 4000. I believe it is called a Hytico and has hydraulic teeth. It's as good forwards as it is backwards. I've been trying to find a similar product for the front of my ASV, but no luck.

jmf
 
   / Various BoxBlade Uses #8  
3RRL - thats an excellent post! Thanks so much for the pictures.
 
   / Various BoxBlade Uses #9  
Rob,

Very impressive set of pictures. I'm not a big fan of the box blade, but realize it's a good all around tool with practice. I just never learned to work it very well myself and turned to other tools to get the job done.

Have you started on your food plots for this year?

Eddie
 
   / Various BoxBlade Uses
  • Thread Starter
#10  
Wow,
Got a lot of replies already so I see it was worth posting.:)
Glad you like the pictures.

john_bud said:
Why didn't you show using it to push huge mountains of snow around?

I've used mine for that...

jb
Maybe you missed this part where I said:
"I'm hoping others will post some pictures and share how they use theirs. "
That's your calling there John, a perfect opportunity to show how you kill those snow mountains.

Of all the replies, I see only Rebel posted a photo of his nice Landpride boxblade so far. Come on guys, anybody got any action shots? How about other uses of the boxblade? I saw some that had tow hitch balls on them. Others of guys cutting roads like I've done. Where are they? We can get them all in here and use this thread to send new guys to.

Eddie, my food plot is super soft from the heavy rains we've had. I had the Silverado and Kama buried in it a couple weeks ago so I've stayed off it for now. I did see that a lot of the wheat and oats are sprouting up though. They are from when I moved last Dove season. If it gets thicker, I might just let it go this year and see what happens. You'll see it when you come to visit in March.

Most of my boxblade use has been as you saw in the pictures, but I made some gauge wheels for my boxblade shown near the end of this thread Hydraulic Quick Attach Gauge Wheels so I could spread decomposed gravel over my dirt road. I'll take some photos this weekend to let you know how that goes. I figure to spread 1" lifts and compact each lift. I'm trying to get at least 4" down on some areas.
Anybody else use gauge wheels on their boxblade?
 
   / Various BoxBlade Uses #11  
nice thread, read your previous post on your box blade use, seems like it has been worth every penny to you.
 
   / Various BoxBlade Uses #12  
Rob, I would have but for 2 reasons, that snow is long pushed away and the door to the shop has frozen to the ground! Frost heaved up and water dripped down meeting in the middle are the sliding doors that are glued to the permafrost that is heralding in the next ice age (contrary to what Big Al has to say - it's been 15-25 degreed F COLDER than average here the last 2 winters).

I'm looking forward to the weekend, it's supposed to warm up to where molten water exists in the wild. Ye-aaah sure, as if!

My son came in after school having played on the 6' tall snow hill in the front yard. He was down to his T-shirt, sweating and complaining about the high temps. It was 22F ...

jb
 
   / Various BoxBlade Uses #13  
Hey Rob, I should have practiced more before I bought my other implements. :D Would have saved me a lot of money, wait I bought some of the others first. Oh well, they all work good. Here's a few pics.;)

Road Boss Road grader, The best implement to maintain a dirt road in my opinion.
FEL being used as a dozer, works good, but not as good as a dozer.
Gannon rollover box blade being used as a dozer, works good to clear brush. This way you save your tires.
Post hole digger and set the pole with the FEL.
Fence stretcher hooked to my landscape rake.
102" flail mower after job was done.
Rear blade cutting in a temporary water line and back filling.
 

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   / Various BoxBlade Uses
  • Thread Starter
#14  
That's what I'm talking about Brian, thanks for sharing all those pictures. You sure got a lot of neat stuff.
I love that road grader, man your road looks like a freeway! I see you use your rear blade much like I do in cutting those ditches. They sure are handy too. It's a good thing I didn't get one with the tractor, not knowing any better, I probably would've used it for a dozer blade up front.

John,
Yikes, it's still 22F at your place? Shees, that would be a major freeze out here. It's been a cold wet Winter for us too though. We finally got some 75F weather today. I only had to wear a light jacket.:)
 
   / Various BoxBlade Uses #15  
3RRL said:
That's what I'm talking about Brian, thanks for sharing all those pictures. You sure got a lot of neat stuff.
I love that road grader, man your road looks like a freeway! I see you use your rear blade much like I do in cutting those ditches. They sure are handy too. It's a good thing I didn't get one with the tractor, not knowing any better, I probably would've used it for a dozer blade up front.

John,
Yikes, it's still 22F at your place? Shees, that would be a major freeze out here. It's been a cold wet Winter for us too though. We finally got some 75F weather today. I only had to wear a light jacket.:)

Light jacket in 75 degrees?:confused: So you don't get sunburned?:D
 
   / Various BoxBlade Uses #16  
3RRL said:
\

John,
Yikes, it's still 22F at your place? Shees, that would be a major freeze out here. It's been a cold wet Winter for us too though. We finally got some 75F weather today. I only had to wear a light jacket.:)


Rob, Can you clean up the mess? You know, all the spilled salt that didn't quite get rubbed into the wound!

;)

Actually, when it's sunny and there is no wind blowing, it's very comfortable even around 0F with just a T-shirt and no coat. Was just commenting on that with Nanuk of the North when he and I were out spearing walrus the other day....

jb
 
   / Various BoxBlade Uses #17  
3RRL said:
You'll see it when you come to visit in March.

Rob,

The kids are excited about seeing Disneyland. Steph is excited about seeing the coast and the Hollywood sign. I'm excited about seeing your attachments and the house!! :D

Two more weeks.

Eddie
 
   / Various BoxBlade Uses #18  
Rob, I've questioned you before on your uses of the boxblade. Great looking work! I must still not have enough practice. I have not added any weight yet, and that seems to be the popular thought on why I'm not getting the performance I want out of it.

However, I do have a photo of a new use. How about managing raging fires and hot coals! :D I could have used one modification....an extension that puts the blade about 20' further from my back side. :) It was a little risky for keeping your tires in one piece too. I got lucky.

IMG_8861Small.jpg


tony
 
   / Various BoxBlade Uses #19  
Tony that looks like you are getting ready for a big Luau to roast some pigs in the coals. Or just going to have some hot cross buns?:D
 
   / Various BoxBlade Uses #20  
Here are some pic's of what I did today with my trusty Box Blade :D

The pictures show the final stages of establishing a flow line for drainage around my new shop building.
 

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