Box Scrapers

[Huskerfan]

Does anyone have advice on using a box scraper to assist in the rough grade and leveling of a large lot for a landscape to be put in at a new church going up in my area? I have volunteered to help out with my BX2200, FEL, and 50 inch Kuhn tiller. I could use the box scraper later for other projects. My dealer recomends the Woods 48 inch boxscraper at 400lbs.
He feels it is a tougher unit than the similar albeit lighter Kubota and Landpride units and is cheaper at $475 vs. $650 and $500. I saw the King Kutter at TSC and was unimpressed with the flaws in craftsmanship. Think The BX can handle the Woods? Would it be useful?

Huskerfan

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Thanks for volunteering at the church.

You may wish to check this website: www.midwest.net/~jimmc/index.html

Made next door in S-Illinois, Powder painted your color, much lower cost. Only a question of time before your dealer handles those..!
The model BB20-48 ( if it cover your tires ) likely the First Choice for you. Same weight as the Woods.

Whatever you buy, enjoy it !

 

[TresCrows]

I think that weight may be to much for the BX based on my experience with my mighty BX. I think 300ish lbs in a 48 inch or maybe 350 or so in a 42 inch. J

 

[Anonymous Poster]

If weight is too much at 400 lbs, consider a BB15-48 at 309 lbs. How close the unit is to the tractor MAY also be a factor.

You good folks know your "toys" better than us steel hackers. and we always TRY to make what you want.

That is why we always have "model diarrhea" according to our accountants and bankers...!

Whatever you buy enjoy it.

 

[TresCrows]

When I said the weight was to much I am not talking about the BX not being able to lift it--it can and would easily. What I am talking about is in using the implement that the weight of the 400 lbs boxblade would cause it to bite in more aggresively than a similar but lighter blade filling more quickly with soil and loading the machine down. That is why I said a more narrow box could be heavier but being more narrow it's "drag" would be roughly equal to a lighter but wider box. Some more rhetoric that I have in fact verified with both my tractors.
I think a 400 lb 48 inch box is to large to work well though in light soil or driveway grading it might be OK but as a general purpose unit you will want something that more nearly matches your tractors available power and traction. J

 

[kcook]

How much does the Kubota Box scaper weigh?

KCook

 

[Huskerfan]

The Kubota box scraper weighs 275 lbs at $675.

Does anyone know how to order a First Choice if there isn't a dealer in my area of Iowa or know the pricing? The BB15-48 for subcompacts may be just the machine that my BX needs if the price is right. Trescrows, any comment on this? Thanks.

Huskerfan

 

[Will]

There is a good chance that there is a dealer near you, but they may not know it. Just call First Choice (888/945-3102) they'll contact a dealer in your area that they do business with, and you'll get a price quick enough. I think the owner of the company, Pieter van den Berg has been selling equipment for many years, but since the First Choice line is new, there are a lot of dealers who don't know exactly what they are selling.

 

[TresCrows]

Yes, Huskerfan, I think the First Choice unit would work well with the BX, I assume that is the one they made for the subcompact market. A big honking box will require more traction and power than you have available and will limit the work you can do. Just right is always better than to big. J

 

[tdenny]

Huskerfan,

I would recommend giving Pieter a call. If you have any questions regarding most equipment he can probably give you a definitive answer. The man knows his attachments.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I purchased the 48" Woods box scraper late last year and just love it. I did all the leveling around our new home last fall and numerous jobs this spring. My BX2200 handles it great, the weight of the box blade is not a concern during operation, but it is a factor when comparing the different brands. The better built units will show it in their total weight, it is also a good idea to go with a name brand for parts availability down the road.

 

[orangeman]

Just another comment on the box blades, I purchased the Bar Tires from my dealer for use with the box blade. They made a huge difference over the turf tires and the cost was reasonable at $425 for the complete set. Huskerfan, the price you were quoted on the Woods 48 box blade is a great deal, I paid $575 for mine with freight and handling, I believe the list price is around $695 with freight included.

 

[Wood_Butcher_Dav]

I have a Land Pride 48" box blade that I bought with my tractor and it was less than $400.00. Another thing to keep in mind is the top link adjustment. This will make it more or less aggressive in digging into the surface.

Dave

 

[TresCrows]

Yes, the top link adjustment must suit the task. That is why some guys who use the box a bunch install hydrualic toplinks so they can vary the top link length as they work. I will do this in time. Said another way, there is no one length for a top link when used on a boxblade, it must be adjusted for grading, or digging, or leveling, or smoothing and these settings vary depending also upon you are working in reverse or forward. I dig and grade forward, smooth and level and spread in reverse. It happens that with my box that the geometry is such that when it is about right for digging in forward it is pretty good for smoothing and spreading in reverse. My box is the swing back type. Learning to use the box in reverse is key. It allows you to use one setting of the top link to accomplish multiple tasks. I also use it to bulldoze in reverse such as to push up cut down brush into a pile or push out dirt I have dropped from my loader in piles.
I, not being the argumentative type, still contend that there is a "just right" size for the boxblade for each tractor and for the BX based on my experience I would not be able to get full use from something in the 400 lb range.
I, grasshopper, have mastered the box, I can say that confidently, it no longer holds any mystery. That is not rhetoric, it may be a boast but it is also fact /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif . J

 

[Hootie]

I don't know about everyone else but I have holy heck hookin'-up the BB. The Woods I have is great to work with, I guess it is my ignorance when it comes to re-attaching. The MMM pto reatachment gives me fits also. Anyway, I'm learning. Having a blast.
Hootie

 

[Wood_Butcher_Dav]

Mine is set up the same way... I dig going forward and spread going backwards. I'm not completely master this yet, but I'm having fun trying. My blade is 48 inches wide and around 300lbs. I can stop the tractor if I take to big of bite when working dirt.

Dave

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I also have the Woods box blade and it works great, I have done numerous jobs grading for seedbed prep. I just run mine level so the skids are running flat on the ground and let the scarifiers and blade do its work. Hook up is a breeze since I installed the freedom hitch on my implements, now I just back up to the attachments and hookup without ever leaving my seat. I would highly recommend this quick hitch to anyone that does any switching of 3-point attachments!!!

 

[Will]

When comparing 48" box scrapers, be sure you aren't comparing apples and oranges. There are two ways you can make a box scraper heavier. The first way is to increase the thickness of all of the metal. This is great if you use your box scraper like a miniature bulldozer and try pushing stumps around or digging out buried rocks. The other way of increasing the weight is to increase the other two dimensions of the scraper, that is to make the height and width of the side plate bigger. This is the way to go if you mostly use the blade to push around lighter material.Both options are out there. I saw a 60 inch box scraper the other day that was made of fairly lightweight material, but the side plates must have been nearly 2 feet by 2 feet. There's no way that my B2410 could budge if I had that filled with dirt,So, just figure out what you going to do it, and then compare weight, dimensions, cost, and everything else that matters to you.

 

[texasbx]

I have a Cammond 54", weighing in at 350#. I have turf tires, so in soft soil it loads up pretty fast and I lose traction. I've managed to move quite a bit of dirt (around 6 or 7 semi truck loads) with little problem. The BX handles it effortlessly. The nice thing about this blade is both sides of the cutting edge are hardened steel and unbolt for replacement. It has 4 scrapers. Cost was $380, but I got it for the 48" price because the 48" was on back order. Check it out at www.cammond.com

 

[sss]

I got a 42" Landpride for my BX2200 and it works great - the box blade just covers the wheel track. It weighs around #310 lbs and cost $300 in S. Texas at a local dealer. I can fill the box up near the top and still keep the tractor moving. Its built like a rock. I read earlier in a post there's some way to adjust the stopping point of the 3pt arms - that should make using the BB a whole lot easier.