How much HP to pull LPGS?

Poopdeck Pappy · Jul 3, 2014

Just wondering how much power a LPGS takes compared to a box blade or other implements. I've got a Kioti DK50SE with HST (about 49 HP), and I wonder how big of a LPGS it would handle. 8 foot, 10 foot, 12 foot?

My Gannon 6' box blade gives my tractor all it wants and, in the right conditions, can stop the tractor dead in its tracks. But I know a LPGS doesn't take nearly as big a bite as a box blade can, especially a beast like my 1100 pound Gannon.

k0ua · Jul 3, 2014

Poopdeck Pappy said:
Just wondering how much power a LPGS takes compared to a box blade or other implements. I've got a Kioti DK50SE with HST (about 49 HP), and I wonder how big of a LPGS it would handle. 8 foot, 10 foot, 12 foot?

My Gannon 6' box blade gives my tractor all it wants and, in the right conditions, can stop the tractor dead in its tracks. But I know a LPGS doesn't take nearly as big a bite as a box blade can, especially a beast like my 1100 pound Gannon.

This is just a guess as I don't have one, but I would say you would be good with an 8 footer. But they weight quite a bit and have 2 sets of blades, sooo.. I would not think 10 or 12 foot would work. Again no experience here, just logic.

murphy1244 · Jul 3, 2014

I have a 6 footer Land Pride with scarifiers.

oosik · Jul 3, 2014

I easily pull my Land Pride GS2584 with scarifiers with my Kubota. Cost and immediate availability kept me from getting the GS2596.

Now that I have the 7' grading scraper - I'm glad I did not go bigger. I would have had real difficulties using it on a couple of the sharp & twisty trails I maintain on my property. It still is quite a bit of attachment swinging around out back. Its not the weight, its the total size that sometimes bangs around off the bigger trees along side the trails. One thing for sure, all my trails are now at least 7' wide!!

MtnViewRanch · Jul 3, 2014

Poopdeck Pappy said:
Just wondering how much power a LPGS takes compared to a box blade or other implements. I've got a Kioti DK50SE with HST (about 49 HP), and I wonder how big of a LPGS it would handle. 8 foot, 10 foot, 12 foot?

My Gannon 6' box blade gives my tractor all it wants and, in the right conditions, can stop the tractor dead in its tracks. But I know a LPGS doesn't take nearly as big a bite as a box blade can, especially a beast like my 1100 pound Gannon.

Just like everything, everything is relevant. Can you pull a 12 footer, absolutely. If and I say this jokingly, if you could find one that weighed very little, maaaaybe about 600lbs, you might be able to pull it. If you were to get a heavy unit that weighs 200lbs per foot width, a 6-7 footer is all you can handle and actually work it.

To give you something to refer to, I have a 5 footer that weighs about 800lbs, I pull it with my 5000lb 32HP Mahindra 3215 HST. It is a very good match IMO. Heavy enough to work well and is what I consider about the max that I can really work with the tractor. I have a 7 footer that weighs 1400lbs. I pull it with my 12,000lb 75hp Mahindra 7520. Maybe, I could get by with an 8 footer, but the 7 footer has no problem stopping the tractor with all 4 tires spinning.

Another example is, I sold a hydraulic top link to the Goodyear proving grounds down in Texas to use with their 180hp John Deere tractor that they pull a 10 foot Road Boss LPGS with. This is a tractor that has probably 5-6 times the pulling power of your tractor and they are only pulling a 10 unit, but it is a very heavy unit.

So everything is relevant. In my opinion, your tractor is good for a 1200-1400lb unit that is 6-7 foot wide. If I was purchasing for your tractor, I would be looking at the heaviest 6' unit that I could find.

Something else that I always find odd is that so many people figure that these things don't move any dirt. If the ground is moist, I have no problem moving well over 3 cubic yards of earth. That is a little bit of weight in itself not even considering the drag that it puts on the tractor.

Good luck with your search and your decision.

k0ua · Jul 3, 2014

Oh wow, there is a lot of dirt in there!.. No wonder it takes a horse of a tractor to pull an 8 foot. Thanks for the info.

Poopdeck Pappy · Jul 3, 2014

Thanks for all the replies. I figured an 8 footer would be the max, and that a 7 footer would be a better match. I just saw a 12 footer on craigslist here, and it set me to thinking . . . . which is always a dangerous thing.

k0ua · Jul 4, 2014

Poopdeck Pappy said:
Thanks for all the replies. I figured an 8 footer would be the max, and that a 7 footer would be a better match. I just saw a 12 footer on craigslist here, and it set me to thinking . . . . which is always a dangerous thing.

I can just see you now with your new 12 footer, all 4 tires spinning in the dirt, and not moving an inch. and a sad look on your face!:laughing:

jenkinsph · Jul 4, 2014

Pappy a 6' heavy duty would be a good fit with 6' skids imo. I pull an 8' but it is a real load to do so when it fills up with dirt (about 2 yards).

Threepoint · Jul 4, 2014

k0ua said:
I can just see you now with your new 12 footer, all 4 tires spinning in the dirt, and not moving an inch. and a sad look on your face!:laughing:

But for the first couple of feet, it should work. So Pappy will have bragging rights with the 12 footer.

Unless you'll be working mostly on wide flat roads, I think I'd stay with 7', maybe 8' max, for the maneuverability factor, if nothing else. A neighbor offered to give me a medium-duty 8' box blade for our approx. 1 mile of stone driveway. I played with it for a couple of weeks. My 45 hp NX4510 pulled it quite well full (would start to lose traction on 15% grade), so that size in a landplane/grader should be easy for a DK50. But it made it much more difficult to maneuver, even though my rear tread width with Triton R3s is already 82". Opted for a 7' Woods BSM84, and it is a delight to use.

Poopdeck Pappy · Jul 4, 2014

k0ua said:
I can just see you now with your new 12 footer, all 4 tires spinning in the dirt, and not moving an inch. and a sad look on your face!:laughing:

LOL. Yes, there I'd be with a big question mark over my head wondering why I wasn't going anywhere! :laughing:

bdog · Jul 7, 2014

I looked at an 8' Road Boss and the thing is huge. Not just wide but long as well. I wouldn't be surprised if it weighed close to your Gannon. I did not buy it because I think they cost too much for what they are. I bought a 10' drag type box scraper with the gauge wheels on the back. It was half the price of the Road Boss and I like it. I am pulling it with a much larger tractor than yours though. 7' would be ideal for you I think. How much was the 12'?

Poopdeck Pappy · Jul 7, 2014

The 12' was $1,500, which was an excellent price for one that size. But, alas, it was way too big for my tractor.

I saw an 8' Category 2 LPGS recently, and it was enormous. The sides on it were about 36" tall. So I know what you're saying about the 8' Road Boss. There are definitely different grades/levels of LPGS out there.

MtnViewRanch · Jul 7, 2014

Poopdeck Pappy said:
The 12' was $1,500, which was an excellent price for one that size. But, alas, it was way too big for my tractor.

I saw an 8' Category 2 LPGS recently, and it was enormous. The sides on it were about 36" tall. So I know what you're saying about the 8' Road Boss. There are definitely different grades/levels of LPGS out there.

I think for the most part, the most common affordable LPGS have 12"- 16" tall sides. Taller sides get you into an industrial rated unit that is going to weigh in at 150-200lbs per foot width.

For your Kioti, find something that is in the 1000lb+ range and you should be fine. I still say 6'-7' is the best working size for your tractor.

Just my :2cents:

Poopdeck Pappy · Jul 7, 2014

Brian, I think I'd prefer the 7' one just to have a few inches of overhang outside the rear tires. Not much, but enough to grade outside the tire tread.

MtnViewRanch · Jul 7, 2014

Yes sir, nothing wrong with being a bit wider than your overall tractor width.

:thumbsup:

94BULLITT · Jul 7, 2014

Poopdeck Pappy said:
Thanks for all the replies. I figured an 8 footer would be the max, and that a 7 footer would be a better match. I just saw a 12 footer on craigslist here, and it set me to thinking . . . . which is always a dangerous thing.

If the price is right on the 12' it could be cut down to a 7.'

Oliver1655 · Jul 7, 2014

I concur with 6' if you will be digging with it. A 7' if the cutting edge will be close to the same level as the skids.

I recently built an 8' plane which I pull with a 70 hp tractor with fluid filled tires. This is a good match. When it loads up like when I am cutting out the berm between 2 tire tracks I know I have a load. Road speed around 3 miles per hour seems to be what several members here have found to work well for them.

When the ground is moist & the blades are cutting in you will find it as previously mentioned, it will carry a lot of dirt. You will find it doesn't take much of a cutting edge depth to maintain a road/driveway. 1/4" if the ground has some moisture to allow the blade to cut in instead of skating on top. Too much moisture & the dirt will pile up instead of spilling over. It won't take you long to determine when it is the right amount of moisture in the roadway. The moisture will also allow the new surface to pack in.