I have used my 6' regular drag blade (for lack of a better description) for years and just use it for my gravel drive, pulling gravel back on the crown of the road. It is a cheap swivel/ angle type but more than serves the purpose. I just got the new tractor with FEL and was thinking of getting a box blade for the added rear weight for loader work but not really sure of all the advantages of a box blade over the rear blade for my use. Or should i just build a concrete ballast box for weight and forget the Box Blade. Andy
Box Blade vs 6'rear blade?
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patrick_g
Elite Member
I have a 6 ft HD box blade and it will do many things that my rear blade does and a whole lot more that the rear blade can't. If I could only have one it would absolutely definitely be the box blade. I use it for ballast for the FEL too. I have TNT and that makes the box blade fantastically versatile. It helps with the rear blade too but I use the box many hours for every hour of use of the rear blade. FEL in front and box in rear is a potent combo.
Pat
Pat
TripleR
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Like patrick_g, we have both and I don't remember the last time I used anything other than the box blade. I will get it out some day I am sure, but it doesn't get much use; lots of differing opinions on this.
schmism
Super Member
I have both but my HD rear blade out weighs my inexpensive box blade by 200lbs. plus it hangs off the back of the tractor another 3' so it "adds" even more weight that way.
BB are nice for cutting and moveing material, (what they were designed for) but they arnt nearly as usefull for maintaining gravel area's as a rear blade is.
You could get a BB for rear weight, but keep in mind how much it weighs compaired to the rear blade you currently have. (ie youll likely have to get an HD BB or add weight to a light duty one like i did)
BB are nice for cutting and moveing material, (what they were designed for) but they arnt nearly as usefull for maintaining gravel area's as a rear blade is.
You could get a BB for rear weight, but keep in mind how much it weighs compaired to the rear blade you currently have. (ie youll likely have to get an HD BB or add weight to a light duty one like i did)
s219
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If you need to angle a blade for any reason (say to migrate material from edge to center on a road) then the rear blade has a key advantage. I think a box blade is more versatile overall though. That is what I use, and it has been great so far. If I have to do something in the future where a rear blade makse sense, I will buy one.
savageactor7
Platinum Member
I have a 6' back blade...Rhino I think, but I'm on the look out for a box blade with those ripping teeth. They can revitalize a gravel driveway and remove potholes among other useful applications a plain blade can't do.
This observation is not a knock on the very useful back-blade that's useful for snow removal and grading loose material.
This observation is not a knock on the very useful back-blade that's useful for snow removal and grading loose material.
OP
andy33
Bronze Member
Thinking about it, I rarely use my blade straight, its always angled to some degree for pulling rock back on the driveway and the lift arm is cranked down for that downward horizontal angle to dig a little if needed. The more i look at them(box blade) I assume there is no (angling) adjustment like the rear blade, other than the teeth depth or top link angle. Maybe I'll build a weight box and invest in a post hole digger instead!
TripleR
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You can adjust for an angle with your 3PH, one of our grader blades doesn't have the ability to swivel and the other does.
I just got TnT on my new tractor to keep from getting on and off to adjust, but adjust you can.
Nothing wrong with a weight/ballast box no matter what you have.
sandman2234
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TripleR has my tastes... I like that rear blade he had pictured. I just sold the tractor (with duals) that is pictured, but would still like to have that rear blade. I have a boxblade sitting unused because I have a dual blade grader that does all the road maintenance I used to use the boxblade for and a rear blade that offsets and angles like the one pictured would bring the road materials that wash into the ditches back to the center of the road and keep the ditches clean. My 3pt setup doesn't angle quite enough for the grader to do that.
David from jax
TripleR
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Just gotta love those big John Deeres.:thumbsup:
That tractor belongs to one of our renters and he will do any work needed, I just like to do it myself though sometimes you just can't beat the right equipment and experienced operator.
We used a 10' drag scraper to establish most of our roads, but to maintain them, it is too cumbersome.
patrick_g
Elite Member
As I have hydraulic TNT I can do just about anything with my box blade that a rear blade can do and more. This includes moving gravel from edges to center of driveway, vice versa or spreading it equally. I have a rear blade, I can use it, but I typically don't. Had I known how little use it was to me I wouldn't have bought it. One advantage of the rear blade is it is LIGHT and easy to hook up. I have Pat's Easy Hitch system and I often store my box blade on a dolly so it is not a challenge to put on or remove from tractor.
Pat
I would vote box blade. I prefer something on the 3 pt that has multi functions rather than just added weight. When moving dirt with the FEL it just works out better to first move the dirt, gravel, etc. and then turn the tractor around and smooth it out with the box blade.
grnspot110
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I prefer my old JD #80 rear blade! Box blades have their place, but an 80 will do more for road work than a BB, unless you need to move a quantity of dirt a distance. The 80 will angle, reverse, off-set &/or tilt as needed! I have this 80 at home & two at the farm; one reversed & braced, for dozer work & one off-set & angled for working the dirt road.
I have a BB (of sorts) that I made from a King Kutter blade, seldom use it!
I have a BB (of sorts) that I made from a King Kutter blade, seldom use it!
Attachments
AmericanTractorDriver
Bronze Member
I don't have either blade, but EverythingAttachments.com has a great video showing various uses for the box-blade and how to set it up for a variety of tasks you might like to perform. May help you decide if it's worth purchasing?
(Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with them in any way, but find their videos to be very helpful.)
(Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with them in any way, but find their videos to be very helpful.)
mikehaugen
Elite Member
I have a an old IH 7ft rear blade, it is made to pivot using a hydraulic cylinder but the cylinder is missing and the blade is frozen in place just slightly off of perpendicular. I find it fairly useless unless I am working with loose dirt or gravel. I drag it down my gravel driveway and it doesn't do anything because the drive is pretty well packed. The only thing that I really use it for is snow removal now, and it is a pain in the neck (literally). I am considering buying box blade to hopefully start some leveling of some places in my yard that are bothering me. I like the idea of the rippers to break up the ground.
