Why do I want gauge wheels?

[greg_g]

Is there something that a boxblade can do that a good landscaping rake with accessories cannot?

Box blades have scarifiers that will penetrate, as opposed to the rake tines that will just scrape. BBs will help cut new trails, rakes will tidy them up and help keepem clean. That's why I have both.

//greg//

 

[Raddad]

Top of the line rakes can be equiped with drop down scarifiers, drop down blades and end plates allowing them to do everything a box blade can do, except push backwards. In addition it has gauge wheels giving it all the features that they bring to the table. For flexability with out changing impliments the high end rakes can't be equaled by a box blade. With these rakes you get:

A rake with gauge wheels.
A blade with gauge wheels
A scarifier with gauge wheels.

Pluse you can use them in the same pass! There is no contest for versatility, performance and ease of use.

 

[greg_g]

Top of the line rakes can be equiped with drop down scarifiers, drop down blades and end plates allowing them to do everything a box blade can do, except push backwards.

Sounds interesting, but I often do use my box blade like a baby bulldozer. Actually, I do some light duty pushing with the rake sometimes too.

Just for curiosity sake though, can I get a seven foot "top end rake" for the same $1400 total that I paid for my current rake and box blade ? Since I installed PEC hitches, I never much considered that changing implements was a significant factor any more.

//greg//

 

[Raddad]

I don't know all the cost issues but it still wouldn't be apples to apples because you can't buy gauge wheels for your box blade anyway. Any cost compairison would be irrelevant. I can't believe a scarifier and drop down blade costing as much as an entire box blade. Stop at a Land Pride dealer and get the prices for everything from Land Pride so you don't have an inferior box blade and rake compaired to Land Pride. This thread is about the origional question and for his use the rake with a drop down blade, scarifier and gauge wheels is what I think would be best. Thank you

 

[john_bud]

Thanks for all the good advice--a lot to absorb for a newcomer. I am beginning to conclude that a York-type rake with accessories might be the best approach, usable not only on trails in the woods but also for lots of landscaping purposes and driveway maintenance. Is there something that a boxblade can do that a good landscaping rake with accessories cannot?

Topshop

In qualified hands either is able to do some spectacular work. In marginally qualified hands, a high quality heavy box blade can also do some very good work. Back blades and rakes take just a bit more experience to operate effectively. More finesse and forethought about what you are doing is needed.

For your purposes, I agree that the rake with accessories is probably good. The only area where the box is clearly (to me) superior is in cutting a new trail or major renovation of an older one where serious digging and earth moving is needed. But, the rake with accessories in conjunction with the FEL can get the job done, too. Just a bit more effort.


jb