box grader experience?

jabbahop · Nov 4, 2009

has anyone used the box grader from skid steer solutions or something similar? I need something to help on my long steep gravel driveway. It gets washboarded frequently and washouts occasionally. Wondering if this will be a better solution than my plow/bucket.

thanks

Gadgetnut · Nov 4, 2009

I have the box scraper from SSS and use it to maintain my gravel roads. I use it to scrape and level ruts and potholes and it works particularly well to spread out gravel. A friend of mine brings me 5/8 minus gravel in his dump truck and drops the load on my roads as he's driving and I use the ToolCat / box scraper to spread it out. Does a nice job.

Johndeere3720 · Nov 5, 2009

I have a tractor mount boxblade and it works great for gravel driveways. It is however more manuverable on a SS.

speedy67 · Nov 29, 2009

Being that your drive is steep and you are having problems with it washing out. Have you thought of using a different material instead of 'regular' gravel? How about some reclaimed asphalt if it's avaiable in your area? You will need to put down a pretty good layer to get it to bind to itself. 3 to 4 " after it is compacted. If money is tight, you could just start with a couple bad areas and add more in the fllowing year(s) In order to keep the proper finished grades, it may be necessary to sub-cut some of the existing 'bad' area, and use that material to top up adjacent areas.

melgibson · Nov 29, 2009

Go to the 'Shop Made Box Blade' post on 4-1-09 in the Toolcat forum for one solution; the link below may work and be easier:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/toolcat/140578-shop-made-box-blade.html

ndnewbie · Dec 2, 2009

I asked my local rep about this recently. He indicated alot of farmers buy a 6-8' length of scrap "I-beam", tip it so the sharp edges face down, cut or weld spots for chains to be attached at the ends, and fill the top trough with cement for added weight. Apparently it works well. I haven't done it yet, but like the idea of dragging something rather than risk tweaking my lift arm by hitting something with a box blade on front. I do not have rear hydraulics.

melgibson · Dec 7, 2009

I agree, although you don't have to worry so much about the box blade as with a scarifier. The box blade is intended to move and spread material, not cut like a dozed blade. On the other hand, the scarifier is used to dig into hard material and break it up- if it is on the front and you push it you will undoubted hit something which stops the machine. It would seem that this kind of force could indeed damage the single boom on the Toolcat.