Buying Advice Help with Tractor purchase - newbie

[kminnick]

The Dealer is offering me a Landpride BB1284 (84") box blade (new) for $750 and a Landpride 1884 (84") rotary cutter for $1800 (slightly used). Are these good numbers? Thanks,

 

[MtnViewRanch]

I don't know anything about the mower other than it is not listed on the LP website, as well as the BB1284.

Pretty much anything that is less than $1500 is not going to last very long behind a 75hp tractor. You really need to be looking at a box blade that is around 1000lb minimum if you want it to hold up behind a bigger machine.

Just keep in mind that these implements are a lower cost for a reason. Typically bigger tractors equal bigger, heavier more expensive implements.

 

[kminnick]

I don't know anything about the mower other than it is not listed on the LP website, as well as the BB1284.

Pretty much anything that is less than $1500 is not going to last very long behind a 75hp tractor. You really need to be looking at a box blade that is around 1000lb minimum if you want it to hold up behind a bigger machine.

Just keep in mind that these implements are a lower cost for a reason. Typically bigger tractors equal bigger, heavier more expensive implements.

That's a good point. Do I really need 84" wide box scraper or rotary cutter? That might be overkill too. I hadn't thought about needing a lot more steel in the ground if you're putting 75 hp to it.

There are diminishing returns just like any engineering challenge. You can price yourself out of getting anything (or building it yourself - which is what I commonly do).

 

[sd455dan]

That's a good point. Do I really need 84" wide box scraper or rotary cutter? That might be overkill too. I hadn't thought about needing a lot more steel in the ground if you're putting 75 hp to it.

There are diminishing returns just like any engineering challenge. You can price yourself out of getting anything (or building it yourself - which is what I commonly do).

I would look for a used Gannon box blade- lots of weight and strength, and as far as grapples go I am a big fan .
use it more than almost any thing else, even used it this morning to unload 17 large square bales @ 1200# each and then stack them 3 high in the barn, best multi-use tool for a tractor IMO...

 

[kminnick]

I don't know anything about the mower other than it is not listed on the LP website, as well as the BB1284.

Pretty much anything that is less than $1500 is not going to last very long behind a 75hp tractor. You really need to be looking at a box blade that is around 1000lb minimum if you want it to hold up behind a bigger machine.

Just keep in mind that these implements are a lower cost for a reason. Typically bigger tractors equal bigger, heavier more expensive implements.

Here is the rotary cutter:

RCR1884 Rotary Cutters | Land Pride

I'm guessing the box scraper is a 84" version of the BB12 series. Quite wimpy now that I look at it: BB12 Series Box Scrapers | Land Pride

 

[kminnick]

I would look for a used Gannon box blade- lots of weight and strength, and as far as grapples go I am a big fan .
use it more than almost any thing else, even used it this morning to unload 17 large square bales @ 1200# each and then stack them 3 high in the barn, best multi-use tool for a tractor IMO...

I do have the option to buy his used Gannon Box Blade with hydraulic 3-way. I forget the size, but he said the blade is $4K+ new and the cylinders are $1K/set to replace. I can pick this up (not literally) for $1800.

 

[TripleR]

How wide is that grapple?

I believe the one on the M8540 is 6', not sure on the L5740.

As to the cutter and box scraper, both are too light duty for that tractor, I use a BB2584 on our M8540 only as a counter balance and I added weight to it, for any work I use the HR3584 at 1100 pounds. I would jump on the Gannon real quick. I paid about $4k for my LP which looks just like a Gannon.

I wouldn't want anything less than a RCR18xx, my preference is an RCR2672 for my L5740 and a 10' pull type on our M8540, we use a Woods DS1260, Bush Hog, Rhino etc. makes good cutters. I've worn out lighter cutters and prefer the heavier duty ones.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Here is the rotary cutter:

RCR1884 Rotary Cutters | Land Pride

I'm guessing the box scraper is a 84" version of the BB12 series. Quite wimpy now that I look at it: BB12 Series Box Scrapers | Land Pride

Here is what I'm looking at, does not show an 84" unit. :confused3:

Ok, dummy me, :ashamed: I just stopped at the 18 series and didn't bother scrolling down any further to the 1884 listed out by itself.

Still would not get it, to light duty.

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

I do have the option to buy his used Gannon Box Blade with hydraulic 3-way. I forget the size, but he said the blade is $4K+ new and the cylinders are $1K/set to replace. I can pick this up (not literally) for $1800.

Gannon Box Blade with hydraulic 3-way doesn't make sense. Is it a box blade or a rear scraper blade?

If it is a box blade, it will have one hydraulic cylinder for raising and lowering the ripper mechanism. 3-way hydraulics would be on a rear scraper blade for angle, offset and tilt.

And, just to state the obvious, the hydraulic cylinder on the box blade requires one set of rear remotes, while the 3 cylinders on the scraper blade require 3 sets of remotes.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Gannon Box Blade with hydraulic 3-way doesn't make sense. Is it a box blade or a rear scraper blade?

If it is a box blade, it will have one hydraulic cylinder for raising and lowering the ripper mechanism. 3-way hydraulics would be on a rear scraper blade for angle, offset and tilt.

And, just to state the obvious, the hydraulic cylinder on the box blade requires one set of rear remotes, while the 3 cylinders on the scraper blade require 3 sets of remotes.

I think that the seller may have a top & tilt set that should be going with the tractor anyway, and is considering those the other 2 cylinders. :confused3:

 

[kminnick]

I think that the seller may have a top & tilt set that should be going with the tractor anyway, and is considering those the other 2 cylinders. :confused3:

Yes, that is correct (at least that I see in the picture). Only one cylinder really runs the box (or rippers). The side plates on this look like 1/2", versus the 3/16" on the Landpride BB12 series. I had no idea how expensive all the implements are for these 'Swiss army knives'... Seems like you could make a box blade pretty easy if you are good at welding and know someone with a 2D plasma cutter.

 

[kminnick]

I think that the seller may have a top & tilt set that should be going with the tractor anyway, and is considering those the other 2 cylinders. :confused3:

Yes, that is correct (at least that I see in the picture). Only one cylinder really runs the box (or rippers). The side plates on this look like 1/2", versus the 3/16" on the Landpride BB12 series. I had no idea how expensive all the implements are for these 'Swiss army knives'... Seems like you could make a box blade pretty easy if you are good at welding and know someone with a 2D plasma cutter.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Yes, that is correct (at least that I see in the picture). Only one cylinder really runs the box (or rippers). The side plates on this look like 1/2", versus the 3/16" on the Landpride BB12 series. I had no idea how expensive all the implements are for these 'Swiss army knives'... Seems like you could make a box blade pretty easy if you are good at welding and know someone with a 2D plasma cutter.

Well, it must not be real easy, or everyone would be doing it vs paying $4K for them new. You would think that some manufacturers would copy them and sell them cheaper, but no, they try to copy (some actually have) and guess what, theirs are $4K also.

Like I said earlier, bigger tractor equals bigger more costly implements. They just go hand n hand. You live in California as do I, you don't buy a million dollar house and expect to only pay $1000 in property taxes.

Oh, and it's not just the box blades for the 75hp tractor that are expensive, it's every implement that is properly sized.

 

[kminnick]

Well, it must not be real easy, or everyone would be doing it vs paying $4K for them new. You would think that some manufacturers would copy them and sell them cheaper, but no, they try to copy (some actually have) and guess what, theirs are $4K also.

Like I said earlier, bigger tractor equals bigger more costly implements. They just go hand n hand. You live in California as do I, you don't buy a million dollar house and expect to only pay $1000 in property taxes.

Oh, and it's not just the box blades for the 75hp tractor that are expensive, it's every implement that is properly sized.

Things are priced to what the market will bear. If you can get $5 for your orange juice, why would I sell mine for $1 (unless I'm trying to establish my name)?

So, I have contacts with laser CNC cutters & have CAD software and large (250amp) TIG & MIG Lincoln welders. What I don't have is access to see what any of this looks like. Not a whole lot of 'farming' in the middle of the Mojave desert and hence very few tractors. It may not be economical, but quite often I manufacture my own stuff just for the fun of it! I'm strange that way. Take care,

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Things are priced to what the market will bear. If you can get $5 for your orange juice, why would I sell mine for $1 (unless I'm trying to establish my name)?

So, I have contacts with laser CNC cutters & have CAD software and large (250amp) TIG & MIG Lincoln welders. What I don't have is access to see what any of this looks like. Not a whole lot of 'farming' in the middle of the Mojave desert and hence very few tractors. It may not be economical, but quite often I manufacture my own stuff just for the fun of it! I'm strange that way. Take care,

As far as a Gannon box blade, keep an eye out for a used one. 6 footers are fairly common and once in awhile a 78" or 84" pop up, all usually between $1000-$1500.

 

[k0ua]

We got our first grapple about a year ago and can't believe how handy it is especially since my "ground crew" has grown up and moved on. We bought our second grapple a few months later when we found out how handy it was and got tired of hauling it back ad forth between farms then my brother bought one for our other farm; love them.

Yeah and I had to convince yah to get that first one:laughing:

 

[TripleR]

Yeah and I had to convince yah to get that first one:laughing:

Yep, between you and Richard, I didn't have a chance. I bet if you go back far enough you'll find posts where I said I didn't need one.

 

[kminnick]

I'm buying the Gannon (per you guys recommendation). Hydraulic control and I think 7'. Looks very heavy.

 

[TripleR]

Looks like a heck of a good buy.

 

[kminnick]

So far, I'm getting a lightly used rotary cutter (Landpride 84"), the Gannon box blade, SSQA HD bucket, and SSQA forks. I have my eye on a couple of grapples that I will need to choose between. I think initially, I will control it from one of the 3 rear remotes. Looks like ~$750 to plumb in the joystick thumb control. Trying to decide if a rock or a root grapple is more versatile. Any opinions?