What do I need?

[Enidguy]

I'm a little new to this earth moving stuff and need some guidance. I have about 700 ft of gravel driveway that is badly in need of some new gravel. What attachment will do the best job of spreading and smoothing my drive? I would like to have something that will be useful in doing other things around the place such as some landscaping?

Enidguy

 

[ikline]

Even though I do not have a gravel drive. From what I have been reading on TBN for the last year, I believe a box blade would work good for you. It has multiple uses. (Again no experience, just from learning here.)

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Probably a box blade with adjustible scarifiers will do the trick. Box Blades will level smooth and spread pretty effectively and are probably the most common tool used for maintaining a gravel drive. I'm assuming you have a front end loader to place new gravel down the drive, because a box blade won't transport the new gravel. If you don't have a FEL, then I would have the new gravel delivered by slowing spilling it while the truck is moving down the driveway so it the delivery guys distributes it for you. But do preliminary work to repair the drive first before the new gravel is topped over the drive. If the initial repairs are done first and the new gravel is slowly spread by the delivery truck, you can go back over it with the box blade (scarifier teeth removed) and level it off pretty easily.

 

[Enidguy]

I do not have a FEL so that was a concern of mine. I guess you kind of need to get up on top to move the stuff around with the box blade? Another display of my ignorance-what are scarifiers?

Thanks

 

[MicroPilot]

The black "teeth" are scarifiers.

 

[JayC]

Scarifiers are the "teeth" that are on the bottom of the blade. They aid in loosening up dirt and other materials. The scarifiers can be removed so that grading can be done without tearing up the ground. Some of the larger boxblades have hydraulic scarifiers which is really nice.

 

[Enidguy]

OK, I see-they dig up the ground a little so the back blade can smooth. Any suggestions on a blade for my little NH TZ?

Enidguy

 

[JayC]

A 48" boxblade would be sufficient. I think Woods and King Kutter make implements designed for sub-compacts.

Woods Equipment Company

My 1000th post. Cool! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[PineRidge]

Our drive is roughly 750 to 800 feet of gravel. The box blade makes short work of smoothing out the whoop-de-doos that pop up in the drive because of large trucks coming and going all the time. Once in a while I will also hit it with the landscape rake turned in reverse for minor smoothing chores. But still the box-blade is the best tool for your needs. It will also come in real handy for other needs around your property.

 

[Maurice]

I have a land pride blade that has side plates that I can add and remove at will. I like the set-up because I can have a rear blade when I need it and I can have an 'almost' box blade ( no scarifiers) when I need it. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Works great for me.

 

[zuiko]

You could have the gravel delivered and spread on the driveway (just by having them dump it while driving forward), then go over it with the box blade to smooth it out.

 

[green4710]

Count this as my vote for a box blade. We did about 1500 feet of driveway, and a huge parking lot with gravel. The box blade worked great, smoothed it out fine. Any high spots from the truck, either used the FEL or put the teeth on the box blade down. So many uses for a box blade, you wont be disappointed.

 

[Mark4510]

When I have more roadbase delivered I take the route the Zuiko suggests.
Tell them about how deep you want it, they will open the dump gate a certain amount and when they drive off it will spread itself out. The only real issue here is you need to make sure that there is nothing overhead that they can get caught up on such as trees or power lines.

I might suggest that if you are going to get multiple loads that they wheel roll it to compact it for you.

Remember, all this takes time and the driver might not be able to help with this but if you do it on a hot day something cool to drink might just convince them. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I mostly use my box scraper for 600-700' of gravel road and it works well. However, dont underestimate the capabilites of a good set of box springs from an old bed....... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Best of luck.
Mark

 

[Enidguy]

Thanks for all the input-sounds like a box blade is the ticket for this and many other things.

 

[fire72]

Definitely have your delivery driver tailgate the gravel out for you. A good driver can spread it well enough to save you a bunch of work.

Also consider a rear blade. For grading my driveway I prefer mine to my box scraper. The box scraper has the advantage of being able to cut more to level out big bumps and dips, and it can drag more gravel at a time. The rear blade is less aggressive, and works better for me for routine maintenance, since I can angle it to distribute gravel to the sides as needed. Use whichever fits your situation best.

 

[Soundguy]

Get a box blade. Aside from a front end loader.. I consider it the 'swiss army knife' of tractor implements. It has dozens of uses. Plus can be modified for a few more.. like adding a trailer hitch ball to it. .etc..

Soundguy

 

[Enidguy]

Do any of you guys have any experience with the brand of implements Atwoods sells? I believe they are called King Cutter or something. Looking at the box blades they have, they seem to be pretty heavy duty, with cast scarifiers and heavy guage materials. The 60 inch one sells for about $359.
One of the replies I got from you all suggested a 48 in.-do you think the 60 in would be to large for my NH TZ24DA?

 

[Typhoon]

Hello. I would do a little more brand related research before you make your purchase. I have a couple of buddies that have King Kutter box blades, and they all regret the purchase. Now, don't get me wrong, im not saying that a KK brand is not a good box blade. I don't like to say anything negative or positive about a specific brand unless I have used it myself. And I have not. I am just relaying word of mouth. Personally, I use my boxblade more than any other implement, and I am not really happy with mine. I bought a cheap one and I wish I would have saved for a better one. I dont have a KK brand, but it is a generic brand. I plan on picking up a LandPride blade sometime in the near future.
Good luck with your purchase! Inspect the welds and support brackets closely.
-Brad

 

[Soundguy]

The ripper teeth I've seen on the KK box's look like cold rolled to me.. but I have seen cast teeth on other things.

I have an old old old oxen 60" box blade I got on the side of the road for 100$.. it is what I would call 'light duty' as it looks less rigid than a KK.. yet I've never managed to mangle it with a NH 1920 or my old fords. And I drag enough material to brake traction on the tractor. And while I know it isn't great.. I also push quite a bit of material too.

I think if anything the welds are the problems on lots of newer equipment. Many I see don't have full seam welds.. just partial welds here and there. That old oxen is full welded.

My KK brush mower is holding up good, and It cuts rocks and woody stumps and dirt mounds and brush... so KK as a manufacturer, is at least doing something right.... though I DON'T own a KK box blade.

a tc 24 might be ok with the 60" box . I use my old 60" on my old ford 8n.. which was 27 hp back in 1952.. Your tc24 is more hp due to the age of my N.. and is generally a superior machine.

Sure.. you can stall the wheels with a big pull on a 60".. but if you take it in a couple cuts you can get more work done. It is nice having an implement that covers your rear tire tracks.

Soundguy

 

[AndyM]

<font color="blue"> a tc 24 might be ok with the 60" box . I use my old 60" on my old ford 8n.. which was 27 hp back in 1952.. Your tc24 is more hp due to the age of my N.. and is generally a superior machine. </font>

He has a TZ24, not TC24. My TC18 is the same size as a TC24, and I have great difficulty using my 60 inch box blade on it. His subcompact TZ24 will definately not be able to use a box blade that large.

Also, since he has a subcompact, and is looking at a King Kutter, he should take a look at King Kutter's XB line, implements that are exclusively made for subcompact models.

Rather than trade my 60 inch box blade for a smaller model to be able to use it on the TC18, I exclusively use my box blade on the 8N, and it does a great job. I've recently gotten quite good at using it, and not only use it to break up dirt and do grading work, but I also use it to move dirt from one side of the yard to the other, since I lack a front end loader. It's a pretty neat tool for $250, and I recommend a box blade to anyone doing any sort of landscaping work! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif