Box Blades...need advice

[couchsachraga]

Greetings..
I've used the search feature and read a bunch of posts, but can't find anything that helps me out. I'm trying to decided if a medium duty woods box blade is worth the extra $$. Standard duty is $750 or so, medium is $800. Meduium duty weighs 700lbs. I'm comparing it to a KingKutter...weighs only 500lbs, but it costs half as much ($400 or so).

Tractor is 33hp diesel, 4wd. Soil is VERY hard and rocky (adirondacks).

Thoughts?

Thank you for your time / opinions....
Adam

 

[_RaT_]

There have been a few posts in the past about folks destroying their boxblade when it got hung up on a rock or stump buried in the ground. I would always want as much steel in the boxblade as I could get within the limits of the tractor. You will find that there will be plenty of times that even the medium duty will bounce around like mad and will be happy you did not go even lighter. What is the width, I'm guessing 72". Whats 50 bucks?

 

[Henro]

While it is possible to add weight to a KK box blade, if you are planning to work it a lot, you will probably be better off with a heavy, stronger on to begin with.

The KK is really too light in my opinion. Attached is a picture of my easy solution, but when the box is full the blocks get in the way and it would be better not to have them there...

If you plan on using you box blade a lot, you will appreciate having a heavy duty one, I would bet.

 

[couchsachraga]

Thank you for your help! Knowing that the Woods has 200 lbs more steel in it I know it should be better, but the medium duty woods ($800) is literall TWICE what the King Kutter ($400) is.... I called some of the great folks who post here (CCM, e-mailed Carver), and it seems that a Mid-West or Pyramid blade would end up costing about 800 once it was shipped here anyway.

Any other opinions /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif?

Thanks,
Adam

 

[Panache]

I use my BB as my counterbalance for my loader. I have a Landpride heavy duty. I had an LMC I put a barrel of concrete on as a weight.

 

[Indydirtfarmer]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Greetings..
I've used the search feature and read a bunch of posts, but can't find anything that helps me out. I'm trying to decided if a medium duty woods box blade is worth the extra $$. Standard duty is $750 or so, medium is $800. Meduium duty weighs 700lbs. I'm comparing it to a KingKutter...weighs only 500lbs, but it costs half as much ($400 or so).

Tractor is 33hp diesel, 4wd. Soil is VERY hard and rocky (adirondacks).

Thoughts?

Thank you for your time / opinions....
Adam )</font>

I've wasted a few "cheaper" box blades over the years. Bent 'em up so bad they ended up in the scrap pile.... Last spring, I bought the medium duty Woods box. (84") I've hooked into a couple rocks that stopped my (7100lb, 60HP) tractor dead in its tracks. That would have wadded up any of the King Kutter (or several other cheap-o)boxes I've owned.

The Woods box didn't flinch...

In addition to MORE steel, I'd guess the use BETTER steel, and MUCH better design. I'm a big fan of Woods products, and getting to be MORE of a fan as I add more of their equipment to my inventory.

 

[rdln]

The extra weight doesnt just counterbalance whats in the bucket but will also help you get whatever in the bucket due to the extra bite the rear tires can get with morre weight.

 

[creeper]

Pay the $50 extra. It will be well worth it and for twice the price, you are getting twice the tool.

 

[have_blue]

I put many, many hours on a 72" Bush Hog that weighed in at 650 pounds. I think you would need at least that for rocky areas. Make sure the 3 point hitch pins are supported at both ends (box style).

 

[KennedyDiesel]

I have a Frontier (Woods) 1172. It is Med duty with floating tailgate and weighs in at 628# IIRC. To me the choice was a no brainer as I tend to use my equipment hard at times.

The HB series is same as what I have:

http://www.woodsequipment.com/turf_grounds/commercial/landscape_equipment/box_scrapers/med_box_scraper.asp

 

[couchsachraga]

Thank you all! I think I'll be going with the Woods...CFO permitting /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif Thankfully it's for one of her projects /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[SacandagaBrad]

Adam,

While have yet to get a box blade, I do have other Woods attachments and have been happy with them. The extra $$ spent should get a unit that will last as long as you do.

Where abouts in the Dacks are you located? A lot of areas have buried boulders that will stop a D8, as I'm sure you're aware!

Brad

 

[couchsachraga]

The place this will get used is near where I grew up in Johnsburg (up near Gore, or about 15 min SW of Gore anyway). These days I live down in Queensbury, as it's closer to work (which is not so great when i need to take my dump truck up north to work on my barn. Gas prices these days!). I'm VERY familiar with the ledges and such, as well as the glacial till, swamps, and all sorts of great terrane up here. I was SHOCKED when building my place in Queensbury-dug the ENTIRE foundation, and...it...was...just...sand. Not ONE rock. At all. Strangest thing I've ever seen compared to the Adirondacks (and Johnsburg in particular /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif )

 

[aloha]

I have been very happy with my standard duty Woods box scraper, model GB60. It is extremely well built. But if the dealer had offered the medium duty for $50 more, I hope I would have had the sense to take the upgrade.

 

[SacandagaBrad]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( and...it...was...just...sand. Not ONE rock. )</font>

Yup, you were probably along the edge of glacial lake Albany, extends through Ft Edward and south. Very nice sand to work in.

We spend a lot of time at Gore, just 50 miles for us. We're lucky to live that close to good skiing.

Who have you found in the area to deal with on Woods attachments?

 

[couchsachraga]

Rodick up in Schroon Lake. You'll have a hard time finding them on the web (they have NO web presence), but they're a good bunch of folks. My parents have ordered parts for the Farmall Cub for years through them, and many other folks with "older" tractors rely on them for their expertise. I believe they're also a Kioti dealer.

In case you're curious Falls Farm and Garden in Hudson Falls had a Land Pride (standard duty) for about the same price, and Salem Farm Supply had a Bush Hog unit, again about the same price.

Gore is some great skiing-I really never skied their much in high school (couldn't afford it), but these days I do try to get up there quite a bit on weekends.