Box Blade or Grader Blade for 2305

[SI2305]

I have a question for all those 2305 owners out there.

I am considering buying a box blade and a local 3rd party dealer is selling 4' and 5' models for about $300. Is a 5' Cat 1 Box Blade too big for the 2305 3 pt. hitch? I would buy it to maintain about 600 feet of gravel driveway and to aid in the construction of some large flower beds.

Additionally, I have considered buying a 5' grader blade ($150) to do all of the same as mentioned above. The biggest advantage that I can think of is that a grader blade seems better for removing snow. I live in Southern Illinois and snow is something of a sporadic winter event. The local JD dealer keeps telling me that a box blade is better for my uses. I appreciate any input from more experienced tractor owners than myself.

Thanks,

SI2305

JD 2305
LX 4
200cx

 

[SI2305]

I have a question for all those 2305 owners out there.

I am considering buying a box blade and a local 3rd party dealer is selling 4' and 5' models for about $300. Is a 5' Cat 1 Box Blade too big for the 2305 3 pt. hitch? I would buy it to maintain about 600 feet of gravel driveway and to aid in the construction of some large flower beds.

Additionally, I have considered buying a 5' grader blade ($150) to do all of the same as mentioned above. The biggest advantage that I can think of is that a grader blade seems better for removing snow. I live in Southern Illinois and snow is something of a sporadic winter event. The local JD dealer keeps telling me that a box blade is better for my uses. I appreciate any input from more experienced tractor owners than myself.

Thanks,

SI2305

JD 2305
LX 4
200cx

 

[JDFANATIC]

SI,

I think that 60" box blade would be too much for the 2305. Most here have had success with the 48" or 50" models. Also, some have said that the light-duty shallow models are a better match.

For years I maintained a gravel drive a bit longer than yours with a York rake (it had a fold-down grader blade). The advantage of the box blade over the rake or the blade is that the scarifiers can dig out the potholes that will form. The other methods will just fill them, and they will continue to re-form. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[JDFANATIC]

SI,

I think that 60" box blade would be too much for the 2305. Most here have had success with the 48" or 50" models. Also, some have said that the light-duty shallow models are a better match.

For years I maintained a gravel drive a bit longer than yours with a York rake (it had a fold-down grader blade). The advantage of the box blade over the rake or the blade is that the scarifiers can dig out the potholes that will form. The other methods will just fill them, and they will continue to re-form. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[orlo]

Hi:

I can't speak of the box blade (I still want to get one), but I have a 72" (6') Frontier grader blade on the back of my 2305 and it works great. I've used it to grade a dirt road down a grade and scrape the side of a hill to make the road wider. 2305 (R4's) pulls it fine with maybe a little adjustment on the steering to keep it straight.

I also use the 72" blade for snow removal - Again it works great. I do have the 47" snowblower but the blade let's me scrape the snow right down to the ground. For light snow I sometimes just use the blade alone.

 

[orlo]

Hi:

I can't speak of the box blade (I still want to get one), but I have a 72" (6') Frontier grader blade on the back of my 2305 and it works great. I've used it to grade a dirt road down a grade and scrape the side of a hill to make the road wider. 2305 (R4's) pulls it fine with maybe a little adjustment on the steering to keep it straight.

I also use the 72" blade for snow removal - Again it works great. I do have the 47" snowblower but the blade let's me scrape the snow right down to the ground. For light snow I sometimes just use the blade alone.

 

[SI2305]

JD Fanatic,

Thanks for the input. This is largely what my dealer told me. With a little luck, the driveway will only be gravel for about 2 more years after which it will be paved. Given that it has survived a year and a half without any potholes I am not all that concerned about them.

I am concerned about snow removal. How does a box blade compare to a grader blade for snow removal? My first experience with clearing this driveway happened less than one month after we moved in. It was December of '04 and we woke up to our first snowfall in our new house--12 inches!!! My wife told me I had better get started so I used my JD L-120 w/46" snowblade! I was totally unprepared--not enough fuel, no chains. It took me three hours and I got the poor little L-120 stuck more times than I can remember--I pulled it out by hand! The L-120 would only go about 20' after which it would just stop I I would have to dig it out. After this I decided we had to get a REAL tractor. I know this is long winded, but I am really interested about the snow removal as a part of maintanance. Again, thanks for any input.

JD2305
LX4
200cx

 

[SI2305]

JD Fanatic,

Thanks for the input. This is largely what my dealer told me. With a little luck, the driveway will only be gravel for about 2 more years after which it will be paved. Given that it has survived a year and a half without any potholes I am not all that concerned about them.

I am concerned about snow removal. How does a box blade compare to a grader blade for snow removal? My first experience with clearing this driveway happened less than one month after we moved in. It was December of '04 and we woke up to our first snowfall in our new house--12 inches!!! My wife told me I had better get started so I used my JD L-120 w/46" snowblade! I was totally unprepared--not enough fuel, no chains. It took me three hours and I got the poor little L-120 stuck more times than I can remember--I pulled it out by hand! The L-120 would only go about 20' after which it would just stop I I would have to dig it out. After this I decided we had to get a REAL tractor. I know this is long winded, but I am really interested about the snow removal as a part of maintanance. Again, thanks for any input.

JD2305
LX4
200cx

 

[jdeerestl]

48" cat. 1 box is plenty for the back. great for gravel drives, almost worthless for snow removal on blacktop.

 

[jdeerestl]

48" cat. 1 box is plenty for the back. great for gravel drives, almost worthless for snow removal on blacktop.