What Size Box Blade?

[Lutzy48]

I have a 26hp Ford 1710. I need to buy a box blade to construct and maintain several hundred feet of gravel driveway. How big of a box blade can I use? I was thinking 5 ft. but would go to 6 ft. if the tractor would handle it.

 

[tman1020]

6 foot is a bit much for it. Light work u might b ok But with the rippers down in hard pack or low traction you will struggle.

 

[jeff9366]

You need a Box Blade a tad wider than your rear tires, so you have enough rooms for the tractor to move forward and back in any shallow trench you create. (building foundation)

If you can pull a Box Blade much wider than your rear tires, you did not buy a heavy enough Box Blade. You need at least one hundred pounds of Box Blade width for every twelve inches of rear tire width. Heavier is better.

Does your Ford have four wheel drive? What tires?

Do you have a loader for front weight?

What is your soil?

LINK: Search Results - Box Blade Size? - TractorByNet.com

PHOTOS: Rollover Box Blade

 

[Lutzy48]

The tractor is 4wd with ag tires.

 

[Baby Grand]

How wide from outside sidewall to outside sidewall at the rear tires?
My L3240 has the rims set 63" wide with R1s and I was able to find a 66" Cammond that works great behind it.

 

[MESSMAKER]

5 foot

 

[motownbrowne]

If you've got 4wd, ag tires, and enough weight, you should be able to handle 6'. It just won't be as fast. Weight of your tractor is an important variable in this equation.

 

[Lutzy48]

You need a Box Blade a tad wider than your rear tires, so you have enough rooms for the tractor to move forward and back in any shallow trench you create. (building foundation)

If you can pull a Box Blade much wider than your rear tires, you did not buy a heavy enough Box Blade. You need at least one hundred pounds of Box Blade width for every twelve inches of rear tire width. Heavier is better.

Does your Ford have four wheel drive? What tires?

Do you have a loader for front weight?

What is your soil?

LINK: Search Results - Box Blade Size? - TractorByNet.com

PHOTOS: Rollover Box Blade

To further answer your questions, I do have a FEL with 60" bucket. The soil is sandy clay. Best to do the work in late spring before it gets too hard.

 

[Lutzy48]

How wide from outside sidewall to outside sidewall at the rear tires?
My L3240 has the rims set 63" wide with R1s and I was able to find a 66" Cammond that works great behind it.

I just measure the wheels and the out to out is right at 60". I think a5'-6" unit would work out well. Just depends on cost.

 

[jeff9366]

I just measure the wheels and the out to out is right at 60". I think a5'-6" unit would work out well. Just depends on cost.

Yes, 66" will be just the right width. Get a HEAVY Box Blade or you will be disappointed.

 

[FTG-05]

I have both a 6' box blade and 6' bushhog for my L4330 (36 pto hp, 4wd). Especially for the BB, I wish I had gone 7'.

You can always go slower or take a smaller bite or do something to mitigate a 6' BB. What you can't do is make a 5' into a 6', especially if it's still inside the wheel width of your tractor.

Go 6'.

Good luck!

 

[Threepoint]

Since your rear tire width is 60", a 5' BB will cover the tracks just fine. I think if you try to go any wider with your tractor, you'll either lug it down or lose traction when you fill your BB with material. Trying to use the scarifiers would make it much worse.

IMO, BB's work best when the material fills the box. It's always amazed me how they work. The material churns over and over and somehow manages to spread out nice and smooth in its wake. Out of chaos comes order. In the soil conditions you describe, you should be able to fill the box without trying. It's true that you can't make a 5' BB into a 6'. But you also can't make a 6' into a 5', as a practical matter, unlike with a rear scraper blade. 5' will work for you, 6' may not. It's not a happy feeling to take a nice load in a box blade and stop dead in your tracks.

 

[Lutzy48]

At this point after reading all of your much appreciated comments and other threads on this topic, I have decided that I will go with the 60" box blade. Thanks to everyone that commented.

 

[sweettractors]

At this point after reading all of your much appreciated comments and other threads on this topic, I have decided that I will go with the 60" box blade. Thanks to everyone that commented.

Over the long term, I think you will be pleased with the 5 ft box. Ken Sweet