Box blade

[TripleR]

I understand you get what you pay for, but at some point you have to rationalize it too. Even if you are well off, does it make sense to spend a lot of money on something, just cause you can? Especially when it is a hobby for most of us. For the pros, it eats into their profits.

Different strokes I guess. I have friends and family with big diesel trucks to pull enormous camper trailers to far and distant places where they spend thousands of dollars being buffeted by salt water and getting sand in their shorts while telling me they can't "afford" or won't waste their money on the kind of tractor, equipment, ATV, car etc. I have.

How many of us buy vehicles with the base package, roll up windows, geared transmission etc., where do we draw the line?

I try not to judge how other people spend their money or their motives, glass houses and all.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Totally. I'm just saying that the percentage of customers looking to spend big money for box blades and scrape blades is not very high. The percentage is even lower for those with compact tractors.
Travis

You said totally, but did not explain why. Well I will explain why. My main reason for recommending ROBB is for the seconds that it takes to engage the rippers. Not minutes, no getting off of the tractor, basically no trouble at all, no hydraulics required. This simply can not be said for the std box blades and the individually lowered ripper shanks.

The better-easier performance that you can get from something, there is a much better chance of getting the desired result faster and easier.
The additional weight and strength is something that many first timers do not understand and therefore purchase the economy unit because it is fine and they are told that. Yes the std models work, but with what types of material and how well with those different types of circumstances?

There is a place for everything, but unless someone says that there is a $$$$ limit, I don't recommend economy anything, been there, done that, has bitten me EVERY SINGLE TIME.

 

[EverythingAttachments]

You said totally, but did not explain why. Well I will explain why. My main reason for recommending ROBB is for the seconds that it takes to engage the rippers. Not minutes, no getting off of the tractor, basically no trouble at all, no hydraulics required. This simply can not be said for the std box blades and the individually lowered ripper shanks.

The better-easier performance that you can get from something, there is a much better chance of getting the desired result faster and easier.
The additional weight and strength is something that many first timers do not understand and therefore purchase the economy unit because it is fine and they are told that. Yes the std models work, but with what types of material and how well with those different types of circumstances?

There is a place for everything, but unless someone says that there is a $$$$ limit, I don't recommend economy anything, been there, done that, has bitten me EVERY SINGLE TIME.

I don't really recommend economy anything either.
We'll be offering a hydraulic shank box blade from our factory REAL soon, but i'll probably still recommend as I have been unless someone says they're in the business or in need of something special like that.
Travis

 

[Zerk]

Different strokes I guess. I have friends and family with big diesel trucks to pull enormous camper trailers to far and distant places where they spend thousands of dollars being buffeted by salt water and getting sand in their shorts while telling me they can't "afford" or won't waste their money on the kind of tractor, equipment, ATV, car etc. I have.

How many of us buy vehicles with the base package, roll up windows, geared transmission etc., where do we draw the line?

I try not to judge how other people spend their money or their motives, glass houses and all.

My point isn't the cost, but justifying the difference in prices. I am not saying I can't afford it.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

My point isn't the cost, but justifying the difference in prices. I am not saying I can't afford it.

Typically when talking about NEW implements, the costs are directly related to the quality & true duty ability of the implement. A $1000 box blade doesn't even come close to a $2000 box blade as well as the $2000 box vs a $4000 box blade. Will they do the same thing, you bet. For how long and how quick is a different story, even though they can all be used behind the same exact tractor.

As far as justifying the cost difference, only the purchaser can do that based on what their circumstances might be. Just to many variables to make an accurate call with little other info that is typically provided.

 

[ovrszd]

Different strokes I guess. I have friends and family with big diesel trucks to pull enormous camper trailers to far and distant places where they spend thousands of dollars being buffeted by salt water and getting sand in their shorts while telling me they can't "afford" or won't waste their money on the kind of tractor, equipment, ATV, car etc. I have.

How many of us buy vehicles with the base package, roll up windows, geared transmission etc., where do we draw the line?

I try not to judge how other people spend their money or their motives, glass houses and all.

Me too Larry. I'm not very good at it. But when I post a preference in regards to new vs old or small vs large I am always talking about me.

My neighbor at the farm is the poster child for your references to friends and family. He has a $250K Motor Coach. He borrows my brush cutter and tractor because he can't afford a cutter for his own tractor........ :confused3:

 

[ovrszd]

Typically when talking about NEW implements, the costs are directly related to the quality & true duty ability of the implement. A $1000 box blade doesn't even come close to a $2000 box blade as well as the $2000 box vs a $4000 box blade. Will they do the same thing, you bet. For how long and how quick is a different story, even though they can all be used behind the same exact tractor.

As far as justifying the cost difference, only the purchaser can do that based on what their circumstances might be. Just to many variables to make an accurate call with little other info that is typically provided.

Well stated Brian. And the problem with forums is there's no way to prove it to the unknowing.

 

[Licklog]

Have kobota l3301. Need to purchase box blade. 60 or 72" wide. Have r4 tires . Which one would work best?

Rule of thumb for me on implements is 1 foot for every 5HP. If you go much over that you will really create a drag especially on any incline.

 

[TripleR]

My point isn't the cost, but justifying the difference in prices. I am not saying I can't afford it.

And my point is what one can "justify" is going to be an individual thing and I don't believe I said you couldn't afford one.

In your previous post you indicated it makes no sense for people to buy something expensive "just because they can." Many of us buy the best we can afford because it simply works better. I spent more in total on less expensive box scrapers that did not meet my needs than on the one that does, so it would have made more sense to have bought quality in the first place.

For a long time, I discounted advice from much more knowledgeable people than I such as MtnViewRanch, jenkisph and others and took a more economical route and now have several that are only used for counter ballast or need two or more tractors going at the same time.

I think I've about worn this out, so I'm done.

 

[PhysAssist]

You said totally, but did not explain why. Well I will explain why. My main reason for recommending ROBB is for the seconds that it takes to engage the rippers. Not minutes, no getting off of the tractor, basically no trouble at all, no hydraulics required. This simply can not be said for the std box blades and the individually lowered ripper shanks.

The better-easier performance that you can get from something, there is a much better chance of getting the desired result faster and easier.
The additional weight and strength is something that many first timers do not understand and therefore purchase the economy unit because it is fine and they are told that. Yes the std models work, but with what types of material and how well with those different types of circumstances?

There is a place for everything, but unless someone says that there is a $$$$ limit, I don't recommend economy anything, been there, done that, has bitten me EVERY SINGLE TIME.

As a novice "hobby" owner of a small entry level CUT [Kubota B2320], I spent at least weeks, if not months combing this and other forums, reading and re-reading threads, looking and talking to dealers, and asking a lot of questions before buying our 48" Gannon Earthcavator RO-BB [a discontinued, but new on pallet model] from a dealer I found online in a Mesa, AZ equipment yard for under $300 [and spent another $100+ in shipping] to get the most versatile and easy to use [read- short flat learning curve] implement possible.

Some of the advice that helped the most, was offered from a guy [who without a dog otherwise in the fight] could have used the opportunity to seek a profit by recommending a standard BB, something that would either require, or at the very least, benefit greatly from the product/service that he sells here, and he DIDN'T take that opportunity, just as he didn't with the OP here.

If I'm not being clear enough yet, I'm talking about Brian.

EVERYbody raves about his Top and Tilt kits, and if you are going to buy a standard Box Blade, you would be doing yourself a BIG favor to have him put a TnT on for you, but instead of recommending one, he recommended a RO-BB, the one kind that works well withOUT TnT.

He didn't say that the OP had to buy it NEW, he just gave an example, which he knew would be appropriate for the OP's tractor.

BTW, we love, love, love our RO-BB, and it has enabled us to get done everything Brian [and a few others] said it could, and more, and to quote a prior poster it is [as all RO-BB's deem to be] fundamentally ineradicable!

RO-BB's are great for the novice who doesn't have hours or days to figure out how to finesse a standard BB and doesn't have the youth to get off and on all day long to lift and lower scarifiers.

My two cents is hereby spent.

Thomas

 

[ovrszd]

And my point is what one can "justify" is going to be an individual thing and I don't believe I said you couldn't afford one.

In your previous post you indicated it makes no sense for people to buy something expensive "just because they can." Many of us buy the best we can afford because it simply works better. I spent more in total on less expensive box scrapers that did not meet my needs than on the one that does, so it would have made more sense to have bought quality in the first place.

For a long time, I discounted advice from much more knowledgeable people than I such as MtnViewRanch, jenkisph and others and took a more economical route and now have several that are only used for counter ballast or need two or more tractors going at the same time.

I think I've about worn this out, so I'm done.

See,,,, there ya go again Larry,,,,,, being mature and knowing when to quit....... I think I'll go with ya this time......

 

[lostcreekranch]

Here is a great price on an 84" ROBB from Sweet Farm Equipment. Pretty sure that is Ken Sweet, a member of TBN.

New Dirt Dog Ro 84 Rollover Box Blade Can SHIP Cheap Fast | eBay

His price is over $200 less than best price I have seen. 84" is what I'm looking at but, I'm sure they will have good pricing on a smaller ROBB.

The OP might email him and check.

sweet@scrtc.com

 

[Zerk]

I just believe at some point you are approaching saturation on value vs worth. Especially on a big hunk of steel. I understand duarbility, performance, and ease of operation, but some point I wonder if the 4k is that much better then the 2k. Will it last twice as many years? I kinda doubt it.

 

[davrow]

I think I'm thrifty and spend money on tractor stuff wisely.......

My Wife thinks I have too much tractor stuff........

Hear hear! Very much my situation.:laughing:

 

[PhysAssist]

Here is a great price on an 84" ROBB from Sweet Farm Equipment. Pretty sure that is Ken Sweet, a member of TBN.

New Dirt Dog Ro 84 Rollover Box Blade Can SHIP Cheap Fast | eBay

His price is over $200 less than best price I have seen. 84" is what I'm looking at but, I'm sure they will have good pricing on a smaller ROBB.

The OP might email him and check.

sweet@scrtc.com

Hi Rick,

That's a nice find- and Ken seems to be a really straight shooter too.

He was even willing to work with me on arranging discounted shipping one to me, but the Gannon I found was less than he could get to.,

It's interesting that the RO-BB you posted isn't listed on the Sweet's own website: Sweet Farm Equipment - New & Used Farming Tools & Equipment | Tractor Equipment, Implements

The ways of the interweb always astound me.

Thomas

 

[sdef]

Travis, do you understand the reasoning for recommending a ROBB instead of a box blade such as the ETA unit you have recommended?

I do like a lot of the ETA implements and own the HD 7' rake with wheels- which is a quality piece of equipment I like a lot. In my experience any OEM that makes good items I would consider purchasing never make all of the items I consider best for my usage nor the best bang-for-my-buck. Three years ago I seriously considered the HD ETA BB, but in the end wanted a heavier unit and a ROBB also.

I have a 72" Dirt Dog ROBB weighing ~ 710# and in my heavy clay and rock soil nothing less would work nor last very long. As far as I am concerned, a ROBB is far easier to use than the typical BB. To change function simply lift the blade with the 3PH, pull the ROBB handle (have a rope attached to mine) and set the ROBB down while moving slowly to rotate it to the next position. Very simple, effective and normally no adjustments required. Each function is dedicated with no interference from any of the multi function components. I have wished for a heavier ROBB in my soil, but nothing lighter would have worked. I have bent a scarifier shank sideways a little bit when it got wedged between the top of a buried 500#+ rock (one of many) I discovered while grading my new driveway and broke the digging tip off a scarifier early on (factory defect I believe). I guess the lighter weight BBs would work okay in soft soil but would probably just skip across the top of the ground at my place.

I purchase the heaviest built implements I can afford, which are usually new as those available locally on CL are usually the typical TSC type of implements and not appropriate for my uses. Oh, and they are usually bent at some places, unlike my equipment.

 

[Fallon]

I have a L3200 with loaded R4s, so for all intents & purposes identical to yours...

I pull a 72" King Kutter behind mine. It works pretty well. I wish it was heavier at times. But I can pull a full box of loose material, although its at its traction limits when it starts spilling towards the tires.

It failed to bite into the road to take out some washboard, but a heavier or narrower one of the same weight probably would have. It was the county road, so I didn't want to drop the scarfiers & really chew stuff up.

So I'd reccomend a slightly heavier 65" if you can get one. The 72" King Kutter wouldn't be to bad, depending on what you are doing, especially for gravel road maintenance.

 

[DarrellSimpson]

I have had a whole bunch of hrs. spent with a box blade scraping out feeding and loafing barns on a huge dairy as a kid , I can tell you that a cheap box blade is easy to hurt . I could use a cheap one all day long to drag cow poo and dirt to the fields , but the second I thought about grading in reverse brackets and braces bent , When we finally bought a real expensive 8 ft. box blade with the rippers the rippers hung on the barn wall most of the time . But I cant tell you how nice it was to be able to grade in reverse and sometimes use the rippers . I have a little BX2200 now and would just love to be able to afford the box blade that can tilt , have rippers , and have a reverse cutting blade , but for now I do what I can with the front end loader .

 

[Zerk]

So what is a good brand?

 

[xring100]

I just believe at some point you are approaching saturation on value vs worth. Especially on a big hunk of steel. I understand duarbility, performance, and ease of operation, but some point I wonder if the 4k is that much better then the 2k. Will it last twice as many years? I kinda doubt it.

I realize your tractor is smaller but i could destroy a $2000 box scrapper in an afternoon. A Gannon like this is nearing $4K has bolt on replaceable side plates weighs close to 1400lbs and is intended for daily work on skip loaders around 20,000 lbs. Id say the life span is infinetly longer.
Shanks also have easily replaceable points not welded or brazed in place.

Id want a RO type if not going the hydraulic route. Manually setting each shank on my Grading Scraper is a pain but easier to access than the box scrapper