Is a box blade the correct attachment??

[Odonnks]

I Read the high points of the "Beginners Guide to Box Blades" thread and have a question if this is the attachment I need.

My primary need is an attachment that will allow me to rip and grade a section of pasture that my wife wants to use as a riding ring.
This area is on a slight slope with uneven areas throughout its length.
Width is about 80 ft and length is about 160 ft. The only vegetation is sod. Across the 80 ft width the change in elevation is about 1 1/2 ft.
My tractor is a 50 hp Kioti DK.

I don't want to level the slope so much as to allow pooling of rainwater. Right now it drains nicely.

Is a box blade the right tool for this ?

Thank you !

 

[Odonnks]

Also, what size of blade is too big for a 50 hp tractor ?

Thank you !

 

[jeff9366]

First, it would be best to mow the proposed ring area as close to the ground as possible. Scalp it.

If you do not have a mower of some type available, spraying with Roundup/Glycophosphate would be the alternative. This is a ten day kill.

Maybe scalp the level areas, Roundup/Glycophosphate the remainder.

You need something to tear up the pasture grass. A Moldboard/Turning Plow would be good, or a Disc Plow or a PTO powered roto-tiller. (Not a Disc Harrow.) A plow and PTO roto-tiller should be "rentable". A roto-tiller would likely work BEST.

The rippers/scarifiers on a HEAVY Box Blade will do. (Rear/Angle Blade and a HEAVY Landscape Rake are alternatives.)

(( If the budget is tight, and if you have an FEL, a Ratchet Rake FEL attachment might work, but it will take more time.))

Then you may be ready to pull dirt with the Box Blade if you roto-tilled, or you may have to let the ground dry a few days, then rip it again, dry, rip.

If you are going to have two sub-strata stone and chip layers put it for a professional quality ring, turn it over to a specialty contractor at this point. It is difficult to get the surface and drainage correct. If the surface is not correct the Vet will be visiting to treat hoof problems.

Your want you Box Blade as wide as your rear tires or perhaps twelve inches wider. If it is any narrower than tires you will eventually encounter a situation where you want to pull dirt repeatedly from one area, but the tractor tires will not fit in the incipient trench/excavation.

The key parameter, however is Box Blade weight. As you know, Three Point Hitch does not apply down pressure. The weight of the Box Blade is the down force. BUY HEAVY.

 

[jenkinsph]

A box blade will work to make small cut and fills if smoothing is what you wan't. I would use a 6 or 7' box blade with a DK50.

I do a lot of this type work so I would till the area in most cases, then grade with a box blade to move most of the dirt. Last I use a land plane grader blade to get a smooth finish.

 

[Fred Barbour]

My advice would be to have a pro come in with a bulldozer and have him initially carve out your riding ring to the right grade. It is very important to get the slope right so when it rains your drainage works properly.

I suppose you could do this with a box blade if you take your time. If you are new to using a box blade you will have problems as there is a learning curve with these attachments.

I put a riding ring in 15 years ago and had a cat do the initial work. Thereafter a road grader came in and spread 4 inches of base material and after he was done it looked like a parking lot. I then spread 3 inches of washed sand mixed with sawdust. Fifteen years later my ring is still in excellent shape (with regular care).

Your initial work is critical and if it is not done right you will regret it. Once your riding material is put on it is next to impossible to fix the base.

Your initial expense getting a professional will be well worth it!

Fred

I Read the high points of the "Beginners Guide to Box Blades" thread and have a question if this is the attachment I need.

My primary need is an attachment that will allow me to rip and grade a section of pasture that my wife wants to use as a riding ring.
This area is on a slight slope with uneven areas throughout its length.
Width is about 80 ft and length is about 160 ft. The only vegetation is sod. Across the 80 ft width the change in elevation is about 1 1/2 ft.
My tractor is a 50 hp Kioti DK.

I don't want to level the slope so much as to allow pooling of rainwater. Right now it drains nicely.

Is a box blade the right tool for this ?

Thank you !

 

[YardBikeBob]

My primary need is an attachment that will allow me to rip and grade a section of pasture that my wife wants to use as a riding ring. Is a box blade the right tool for this ?

Thank you !

Well, if you're looking for a justification to buy a box blade, then YES by all means! A box blade is a very handy tool. I use mine extensively to maintain drives, trails, and parking areas. It can even contour a field pretty good given enough time. But, no, it won't turn a field into a smooth riding track. I've tried.

Sadly, you have to kill and remove the grass first. The grass becomes root clumps that a box blade just cannot break down into smooth material for spreading and smoothing a field. I've used my BB to tear up an unused area to try to get dirt in the FEL to fill in tire ruts and it just doesn't do the job very well.

Search for posts with the word "lawn, tiller, cultivator" and you'll see posts like this: Smoothing Land.

As for the size of box blade, at least a 6 footer for a 50hp tractor and as heavy as you can find. With the rippers extended you run out of traction long before you run out of motor.

Bob

 

[Trey318]

If your gonna be removing grass your gonna need a very heavy blade. My old j bar blade weighs 700 pounds and it just won't rip grass. My 1500 pound Gannon on the other hand will roll the sod. It's all about weight