Paladin Kodiak Box Blade

[BigPapi]

I have an opportunity to buy a 4' Paladin Kodiak standard duty box blade to use with my Kubota BX. This model only has 3 scarifier shanks, unlike most other box blades that size that have 4. Wondering if anyone on the site has any experience with one? Curious if heavy duty enough and if the 3 scarifiers will be adequate. Will be using on gravel road and general leveling.

 

[cglaser104]

I've got exactly that box blade on a MF GC1710. Your tractor itself isn't strong enough to hurt this unit given how light it is. I've used mine for dirt grading and stone driveway maintenance for the last 3-4 years and other than some paint wear she's the same now as she was then. I've hooked roots and rocks and whatnot under the ground and the blade holds up and stops the tractor. Like you I was weary of "standard duty" but it's been everything I needed it to be.

 

[BigPapi]

I've got exactly that box blade on a MF GC1710. Your tractor itself isn't strong enough to hurt this unit given how light it is. I've used mine for dirt grading and stone driveway maintenance for the last 3-4 years and other than some paint wear she's the same now as she was then. I've hooked roots and rocks and whatnot under the ground and the blade holds up and stops the tractor. Like you I was weary of "standard duty" but it's been everything I needed it to be.

Thanks for the info, will definitely look into this unit further! Hopefully you can tell me what the Kodiak weighs? I tried looking it up on their attachments page, but unfortunately they don't list the weight there.

 

[Gee Ray]

I have a 5 foot Standard Duty Kodiak since 2005 that I used behind a MF 1528. I now use it behind a L 2501 Kubota. The box itself is "light in weight". I hang 100 pounds of weights on it and it has held up well in the soft Florida soil.

 

[BigPapi]

I have a 5 foot Standard Duty Kodiak since 2005 that I used behind a MF 1528. I now use it behind a L 2501 Kubota. The box itself is "light in weight". I hang 100 pounds of weights on it and it has held up well in the soft Florida soil.

That's also one of my concerns, especially when using it on the gravel road. I will call the seller early next week to see if I can nail down the Kodiak's weight.

 

[cglaser104]

I saw the number once and it was low. Like 200lbs low. I don't use added weight. If I need a little extra I use toplink adjustments and/or rippers to get into it.

 

[BigPapi]

I saw the number once and it was low. Like 200lbs low. I don't use added weight. If I need a little extra I use toplink adjustments and/or rippers to get into it.

That is a little concerning since a similar sized box blade, like the Land Pride BB1248 weighs 316 lbs.

 

[cglaser104]

Box blades are an engineering aberration. Almost anything else you'd design you'd do with the intent to make it as light as possible while maintaining strength. Box blades you don't mind the extra weight to help it dig in. In the end it's not poorly built...the welds are good looking and well placed, everything looks true and square.

It also depends on steel quality. For instance, building something with AR400 vs A536 steel in the dimensions and thickness results in one item being almost 4x stronger.

 

[Vigo327]

As far as the 3 ripper shanks, i think it depends how deep you are trying to dig in with them. In general i suspect a bx would have a hard time pulling in a lot of ground conditions with the rippers all the way down. However, if only scratching lightly you'd probably be fine with 5 of them (I have 5 on a 60" bb behind my B6100 which is similar size to BX).

There have been times I have put only the middle shank all the way down to try and hook up a big rock. In that case, having one centered (3 shanks) vs 2 a bit off-center (4 shanks) is slightly preferable because it won't cause the tractor to try to turn/rotate when you are snagged on only the one shank and trying to pull. But that's a fringe use-case, pretty dang minor factor. I think you'll be happy enough either way, really.

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[Rich B1]

I don't have this specific brand 4' box blade with 3 rippers, but do have a King Kutter XB series version that is 4'. With the NH TC21D, it does handle the 3 rippers ok as long as you don't go to fast or try to go too deep on the first cut.

I have never run out of power ripping or moving material. I run out of traction. YMMV.

 

[cglaser104]

I agree with that end, I run out of traction before anything else using R4 tires in dirt & stone. This happens both if the box fills full with stone or clay and if I've got the rippers all the way down in hard pack ground.

 

[Vigo327]

If you run out of traction when the box fills up, try pulling up on it with the 3pt. Don't lift it, just pull up on it a bit. If you've got a 700lb box of stuff and you pull up on it by 500 lbs, the box doesn't come off the ground (so your material stays in) but you put 500 extra pounds worth of traction on your rear tires and can often continue moving. I've found you can actually lift a full box maybe an inch off the ground and 95% of your material will still stay in the box, but it gives your rear tires more traction and slides easier over the ground. In the pic I posted earlier the 60" box is full and I was pulling it across the ground in that position. Tilting the box back with a hydraulic top link also makes it drag a bit easier when full.