Box blade suggestions

[dmbtree82]

I take delivery of my JD 1025r on Monday morning and want to get a box blade for it right away. I think the blade will mainly be used while we're getting ready to build our house and then probably minimal use after that. I'm going to try getting a driveway in with it and then leveling off a 100'x100' area for a swing set and stuff for my kids. I can get the frontier from my JD dealer for $750 or another place has a Mahindra. I believe both will have three rippers, but from what I was able to find researching it seems the Mahindra has about 30lbs over the frontier. Does anyone have a suggestion of either of these?

Money is an object and I'd like to have it very soon, so options are limited. I liked the EA blade, but it seems like they're about 4 weeks behind so I wouldn't have it until mid june. Thanks.

 

[GeneD14]

Make sure the box blade that you get has a strong set up for the 3 point lower hitch pins. Some cheaper blades have the lower pins just held on with a big hex nut. Your tractor's hitch arm slides over it and it is held in place with a hitch pin. As soon as you snag a tree root or rock it bends the pins and won't function properly.
You want the heavier built box blade that captures each pin between 2 metal flanges. Your lower lift arms go between them and then a pin slides through. This is a robust set up an will take many years of abuse.

 

[JKR]

I got a BB for my 1025R from TSC. It is a 5' for $349 on sale. So far I had no trouble cleaning out a 100 x 150 foot lot.

 

[dmbtree82]

I thought about the TSC one, but was worried about the 1025r handling the 5' width. Thinking about it more I can always take out a couple of the rippers. What kind of work were you doing with yours? Any leveling or driveway digging?

 

[JKR]

So far I only use 3 ripper out of 5. What I like is the 5' box. It wider than the rear tires and the 1025R pull the box full of dry dirt.
When I raise up the back of the box 1 to 2 inches the box empty out faster than I though and the ground looks good.
I did use all 5 ripper to loosen some hard pack dirt. Then went back with no rippers and pulled the dirt. Again no problem with the 1025R.
I do have 5' back grader blade. It works good but not like the BB.
When I was finish with the box blade I use my 6' rake from TSC with gage wheels. I set the wheels to have the rake just touch the ground. Then rake the dirt. It got all my small rock and stick off the working area.
Now it was time to seed , fertilize and lime the ground. Done.

PS the BB price was $429 and the Rake was $349
The wheel set came from Rural King for $161.

http://www.ruralking.com/tarter-lan...5&cadevice=c&gclid=CJOa7P_jsb4CFS8V7AodMh0Atw

 

[dmbtree82]

JKR,

How is the BB when the dirt has some moisture in it? My other thing is that right now the TSC one is not on sale and is still $600, I can get the Mahindra for under that.

 

[JKR]

I can pull the BB with damp dirt as along as I can get traction. If the BB is half full there was no problem.
The 1025R has enough power to pull the 5' BB of dirt or rock. It's the ground that you are on will be the problem.
My brother has a Volvo BL60B I got that stuck on 1" of slick mud dirt and all the tractor did was spin the wheels. I had to use the back hoe to get off
that slick crap.

 

[dmbtree82]

Still torn about the 4' or 5' BB. I checked out the Mahindra BB yesterday and it seems pretty well built I think. I was going to snag it, but then got to talking to a guy there about the wheel width. The specs for the 1025r show the rear tire width at 47.25". I know I probably want the BB to clear the tires; am I cutting it too close with the 4'?

 

[jeff9366]

Tractor tire widths are always spec'd with ag tires. If you order R4s they will be 4"- 5" wider than 47.25".

Box Blade width is one of those HOW MANY ANGELS CAN DANCE ON THE HEAD OF A PIN? decisions.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Split the difference and go with a 54" unit.

 

[dmbtree82]

54" would be nice, but they seem to be a tougher find.

 

[JKR]

I would just get the one that cost the lease. That's what I did. I did a search and found the one from TSC.
I didn't care what one I got. JD website on build your own tractor, has both 4 or 5' BB for the 1025R. So if both re offered both will work.

 

[94BULLITT]

Go with a 48'' box blade.

4 Foot Xtreme Duty Compact Box Blade by Everything Attachments

 

[dmbtree82]

I'd like the everything attachments, but they're 4 weeks out and I don't want to wait that long.

 

[94BULLITT]

I'd like the everything attachments, but they're 4 weeks out and I don't want to wait that long.

Sorry I did not read the last line in your original post.

If you go with the JD you can get it added to the tractor loan. You should get an imatch and the JD box blade should be imatch/qh compatible. The JD box blade is probably a woods or land pride.

I think the Mahindra stuff is made by Kodiak. The only bad thing about it is it may not be QH compatible.

 

[Cherokee140]

I am following this with interest. I need a new one. The old one I had has just fallen apart. I think Fred Flintstone used it behind a dinosaur. In looking I want to be able to use it with my new tractor...a BX, but I also want to use it behind my older 8n and big JD70. I know the older machines are much more heavy, but I do want to have the ability to get into tight spaces, that is why I bought the BX...if I am out in the field I will likely use one of the more heavy machines, so the little one with the back hoe can work on digging up trees.

 

[jeff9366]

Make sure the box blade that you get has a strong set up for the 3 point lower hitch pins.
You want the heavier built box blade that captures each pin between 2 metal flanges. Your lower lift arms go between them and then a pin slides through. This is a robust set up which will endure many years of abuse.

Technically, this pin-between-two-ears is described as a Clevis hitch, and I entirely agree with your advice.

Photo #1/Orange CLEVIS HITCH (Disc Harrow)

Photo #2/Yellow NON-CLEVIS HITCH (Disc Harrow)

 

[RG1]

Tractor tire widths are always spec'd with ag tires. If you order R4s they will be 4"- 5" wider than 47.25".

Not with a 1 series machine. The R1's are the same size and width as the R4's. same with many other smaller CUT's or at least very close. Many of them have rims designed to center the wheel/tire over the axle flange regardless of which tire is used, so width is very close to the same normally.

 

[RG1]

Delete please. Accidental double post

 

[RG1]

I would just get the one that cost the lease. That's what I did. I did a search and found the one from TSC.
I didn't care what one I got. JD website on build your own tractor, has both 4 or 5' BB for the 1025R. So if both re offered both will work.

That isn't necessarily true. I have brochure here from back when the 4X10 series was introduced. They show the tiny 4010 be compatible with an 8' box blade. Nobody in their right mind would believe that, yet it's right there on page 25. Point is, just because JD info might say it somewhere doesn't necessarily make it true.

The 1 series may have enough power for a 5' BB, but traction/weight is much more of a limiting factor than lift capability or HP. Use a 5' wisely and you won't have too many problems. Just don't try to make a big tractor out of a little one, and load it to the max.