HD Box Blade?

[MtnViewRanch]

That's good to hear. However, I heard on here that they went out of business and their website is dead.

I guess that it was down for awhile, there were some family related problems. All is suppose to be good now.

Here I am helping out a competitor. :mur:

 

[JimP]

I think MtnViewRanch is right on. After reading lots of TBN threads I picked up a used 78 inch Gannon 4x4 BB with hydraulic scarifiers off Craigslist a few months ago. It weighs around 1400 lbs. It is a previous model but parts are still available from Woods and except for some scraped paint and light rust it is sound. Frankly, it would be pretty tough to wear one out. The 78 inch width is just short of my full width with rear tires set out.

I am using it on a 5240 Grand L, so 52 hp, R4s and about 6000 lbs with loader and loaded tires. Yes, at full drop in the right NE soil the box can stop the tractor, so I control the bite with three point height and toplink adjustment. I think this would be the same whether you have a 800 or 1400 lb BB. The hydraulic scarifiers have been more useful than I anticipated. Drop them in hard ground for a few passes to break it up, retract and move the soil, all without getting out of the seat. Come up to a rock or small stump - drop the scarifiers and pull it out, retract and scrape.

The BB weight makes a HUGE difference in traction and loader capacity. With the BB on I can drive through mud that would have me stuck with only the loaded rears. And the weight also balances the loader capacity nicely. Used HD BBs are out there.

 

[jenkinsph]

I agree with Brian a 49hp tractor is capable of utilizing a heavy duty boxblade if it has enough weight. Hydraulic scarifiers are handy, if you use them alot it makes sense to have them. If only occasional use I would put the money on a heavy duty box with topntilt kit, best bang for the buck.

 

[MossflowerWoods]

The BB weight makes a HUGE difference in traction and loader capacity. With the BB on I can drive through mud that would have me stuck with only the loaded rears. Used HD BBs are out there.

JimP,

I was wondering about the traction with heavy BB or ballast box on 3pt.

I have a boggy spot (might have a couple actually) and when LstInThot was here with his tlb (smaller & lighter than my tractor) he was "floating" on the mud way better than I was. I was sinking a bit.

Simple physics would tell me that if I add MORE weight (I had 860 lb stump grinder on 3pt) I would sink worse.

I can see how better balance can definately help the traction equation, esp in 4wd...

Hmmm... Interesting... I need to find one of those used HD BB's and test this out.

Thanks,
David

 

[Herkypilot]

I have a BH SBX 72 and I believe it weights about 550lbs. Not considered a lot but with loaded tires and this BB attached, my loader will not lift enough weight to take the back wheels off the ground. When the loader is about max'ed out, I don't feel the rear is too light. I also have loaded rear tires, so maybe that's the difference. So far all I've done is some driveway cleanup to get the gravel to come to the surface that was covered up with grass. Worked well for that.

HP

 

[JimP]

Hi David,

I apologize if I am hijacking the OPs thread.

I am clearing some very wet areas now. I have a cabbed 5240 with 50% beet juice loaded R4s, about 800 lbs in the rear tires. With no weight in the back and a few logs in the grapple the rears spin in 2wd. 4wd gets me out. With the BB on I can get farther in 2wd and 4 wd. The tractor will "sink" in mud with or without the BB, no way I would say it floats over soft ground. With the BB I just have more traction with the rear wheels. The same is true on solid ground, the rear weight allows the rear wheels to bite. I am going to try snow plowing with the BB on to see if there is any improvement over the 800 lb sander I used last year.

 

[scoutcub]

There are a lot of variables to consider. As an example, I have a 1000lb Gannon roll-over that is 81" wide. There are times when my 12,000lb 75hp tractor will not pull it. Should I get lighter duty implements because there are times when my tractor won't handle it? There are 8' wide boxes out there that are called heavy duty and weigh less than 600lbs. My 66" wide Gannon roll-over that I use behind my 32hp tractor is about 700lbs and I have the same exact problem with it. There are conditions when it will stop the tractor. Should I have lighter duty boxes for both of my tractors?, NO, I just raise the box a little and go on or use Draft Control and not even worry about it. I can pretty much say that if I had lighter duty implements, most of them would be on the scrap pile.

But all of this is up to each individual, all any of us can do is suggest what has and has not worked for them or others that they know of.

What exactly is a roll-over? Advantages over a regular box blade?

 

[KYDan]

Hi David,

I apologize if I am hijacking the OPs thread.

I am clearing some very wet areas now. I have a cabbed 5240 with 50% beet juice loaded R4s, about 800 lbs in the rear tires. With no weight in the back and a few logs in the grapple the rears spin in 2wd. 4wd gets me out. With the BB on I can get farther in 2wd and 4 wd. The tractor will "sink" in mud with or without the BB, no way I would say it floats over soft ground. With the BB I just have more traction with the rear wheels. The same is true on solid ground, the rear weight allows the rear wheels to bite. I am going to try snow plowing with the BB on to see if there is any improvement over the 800 lb sander I used last year.

Don't worry about it. This is a good informative discussion for me. I have pretty much decided that I am going with the manually operated Bush Hog brand of either the rollover or the extendable shank box and leaning more towards the extendable shank version as it weighs roughly 100 lbs. more than the rollover and I don't see any necessary advantages to the rollover. If I don't want to scrape and only want to scarify I believe I can crank the top link up and raise the blade so it doesn't extend to the ground and just set it to drop the scarifier teeth a couple of inches into the ground to rip it and get the surface rocks that are small enough for it to pop them out. If I hang up on a larger rock I will pop it out with the loader bucket. At least that is the current plan.

 

[McGeesEquip]

Here is a link I wish you will check out. I got over 50 different box blades listed. If you are thinking about that Bush Hog box blade take a look at the Dirt Dog line up.

Thanks.

 

[RDrancher]

Here is a link I wish you will check out. I got over 50 different box blades listed. If you are thinking about that Bush Hog box blade take a look at the Dirt Dog line up.

Thanks.

I looked at Dirt Dogs site a few months back and wondered if you verify that they manufacture box blades for Bush Hog.