Box Scraper Which one to choose

[LS Tractor Owner]

I am in process of getting a box blade for general work and working on re- grading a neglected shared driveway. My choices are between the following:

1) A 5' "standard duty" that weighs 400#, made of 1/4" plate, 5 ripper shanks, and 3/8" front and rear fixed blades. Cat. I hitch (typical pins)

2) A 5' "medium duty" that weighs 575#, made of 3/8" plate, 5 ripper shanks, and 1/2" front and rear blades with the rear blade being able to "pivot" or "float". Looks to have a much heavier Cat. I / Cat. 2 hitch. (H style mount w/ clevis pin).

I'm leaning towards the second one due to the weight and heavier construction. I have never used or even saw a box blade with a "floating" rear blade. Is this a good feature? Is it any more useful?

https://www.armstrongag.com/app/download/3447016/BB+-+STANDARD+BOX+BLADE.pdf

https://www.armstrongag.com/app/download/3446700/MBB+-+MEDIUM+HINGED+BACK+BOX+BLADE.pdf

The medium duty is $250 more... Having a hard time deciding.

 

[jeff9366]

I trust you do not plan to draw the Box Blade behind the Craftsman CTS6500.

The Three Point Hitch has no down pressure. Implement weight per foot of width provides soil cutting power. Buy #2.
My Bush Hog (brand) 5' Rollover Box Blade weighs 630 pounds = 126 pounds per foot of width. Cuts very well.

Box Blade should be 6" to 12" wider than the outside-to-outside width of your rear tires.

A hinged rear blade on a Box Blade is useful when large volumes of dirt have to be moved.

TWO VIDEOS: Everything Attachments Category I & II Hinged Back Box Blade - YouTube

Why Use A Floating Back Box Blade - YouTube

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

Thanks Jeff. Kinda my thoughts about the weight. And you are correct, I won't be pulling it behind the Craftsman :laughing::shocked: thanks for the link.

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

Anyone with first hand use of a box blade with pivoting rear blade?

 

[Wolfy]

6 to 12" of extra width is not going to help you if you have steep terrain. I can tell you I just bought a Landpride BB1560 and am very happy with it, heavy and built solid, it works great.

 

[Cataclysm]

Anyone with first hand use of a box blade with pivoting rear blade?

I run a 6' Modern Ag BB with a tailgate quite a bit on a 55hp tractor. (what you guys are calling a pivoting rear blade). Its a trade off like anything else. The tailgate lets you have all the weight on the cutting edge going forward and it works very well. It is harder to control depth because generally it wants to cut or dig in. If the surface I am cutting is hard enough I use the draft control to help control cut depth. Draft control works pretty well most of the time. Spreading gravel/sand with a BB with a tailgate is pretty hard to do.

With the fixed rear blade its much easier to tilt the BB back and let some of the weight rest on the rear blade. Doing that helps control depth especially on softer surfaces like spreading gravel/sand.

I would choose a BB with a tailgate every time but I run equipment almost everyday.

 

[oosik]

I have a Bush Hog roll over box blade. It's 72" wide - my rear tires are 80" wide. Doesn't seem to be much of a problem. Whenever I use it I just make two cuts at every depth. Easily opens a path wide enough for the rear tires to fit into.