Snow skis on a box blade.

[Foxrunfarms]

I usually have the stopper set or a dot on my 3 point lever to know when to stop my rear blade or box blade. I see some rear blades have skid shoes, or snow skis on like a front atv or pick up truck blade. I saw on other fourms a person did with with their box blade.

I kind of had a similar idea but use round shoes that would rotate.

That way I can set the blade down and kind of have it float so I don't have to eyeball the lever each time or have a constant height leveling fresh gravel.

I was just wondering if it's a dumb idea and if I do it, if the shoe would be better in the front or middle.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

yer just copying what 99.44% of all snowplows have on them......
... but only 39 days left until SPRING !!!

 

[Foxrunfarms]

yer just copying what 99.44% of all snowplows have on them......
... but only 39 days left until SPRING !!!

Yes. 1 huge snow storm here. Last Friday night a tornado touch down an hour south of me........we're suppose to have a foot or 2 of snow on the ground and single digits in February.

 

[The Evil Twin]

If you are working on a gravel surface, use the skis. The pucks will probably dig in. They'd do fine on pavement though.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

You don't add shoes to a box blade to let it float.
You adjust the angle of attack so that the back blade hits before the front blade.
That's how you float a box blade.
If your trying maintain a gravel driveway, a land place beats the living snot out of a box blade.

 

[mikester]

Putting gauge wheels on the back of your blade and a hydraulic top link will give you excellent fine grading control, great for levelling your driveway.

I don't see any benefit to adding skis to a box blade with rippers. Kind of like shovelling the snow off your driveway by hand before using the snowblower.

 

[Foxrunfarms]

If you are working on a gravel surface, use the skis. The pucks will probably dig in. They'd do fine on pavement though.

I never had a major issue with the

If you are working on a gravel surface, use the skis. The pucks will probably dig in. They'd do fine on pavement though.

The only time I had issues with the pucks sinking in on my atv blade was when the spring thawing occurred..... which I probably shouldn't have been plowing anyways.

 

[Foxrunfarms]

You don't add shoes to a box blade to let it float.
You adjust the angle of attack so that the back blade hits before the front blade.
That's how you float a box blade.
If your trying maintain a gravel driveway, a land place beats the living snot out of a box blade.

I use the back blade for pushing into the snow bank also so I try to keep it level but understand what you mean.

 

[Foxrunfarms]

Putting gauge wheels on the back of your blade and a hydraulic top link will give you excellent fine grading control, great for levelling your driveway.

I don't see any benefit to adding skis to a box blade with rippers. Kind of like shovelling the snow off your driveway by hand before using the snowblower.

From what I read guys likes the skis to have the box blade float a little better so not to pick up gravel.

A hydraulic toplink has been mentioned numerous times and something I'll definitely look into.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

I use the back blade for pushing into the snow bank also so I try to keep it level but understand what you mean.

This is where a hydraulic top link comes into play, you would lean the blade forward when reversing and you would lean the blade backwards when reversing.
But really a box blade is less than ideal for moving snow.

 

[Foxrunfarms]

This is where a hydraulic top link comes into play, you would lean the blade forward when reversing and you would lean the blade backwards when reversing.
But really a box blade is less than ideal for moving snow.

It's my 1st season with the tractor for snow. Plowing snow professionally for about 10 years with a skidloader and 1 ton truck so the lx2610 is kind of down grade in size for my personal needs. I have a rear blade, the box blade and loader for the job and been playing around what workes for me. I don't like the rear blade not being able to get close to doors or gates, and windowing the snow or making burms. The box blade I can pull the snow away and drag it to where I want it, but it can get full fast, or stick. Pros and cons to each piece but for my needs and preferences I prefer the box blade.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

It's my 1st season with the tractor for snow. Plowing snow professionally for about 10 years with a skidloader and 1 ton truck so the lx2610 is kind of down grade in size for my personal needs. I have a rear blade, the box blade and loader for the job and been playing around what workes for me. I don't like the rear blade not being able to get close to doors or gates, and windowing the snow or making burms. The box blade I can pull the snow away and drag it to where I want it, but it can get full fast, or stick. Pros and cons to each piece but for my needs and preferences I prefer the box blade.

Well the snow is about done then you can worry about it next year!

 

[Foxrunfarms]

Well the snow is about done then you can worry about it next year!

Not sure about that. Only had 1 major storm this year. Instead of single digits and a foot of snow on the ground beginning of February there was a tornado just south of me. So maybe we'll get snow in June. All joking aside yeah I'm not too concerned until next season. I'm thinking about pushers, or tamers, and a 3 point blower to tackle next winter.......plenty of time to think.

 

[Tim Horton]

At one time, in my ..Good Idea... note book I had plans to build ski type skid shoes like the picture in post #1... Also a trailing blade... Both that would bolt to my cheap auto, farm store box blade to use it as a better alternative to move snow with than the 3pt rear blade I had at the time.. The trailing blade to turn the box blade into a land plane type attachment... My thinking being to make one attachment the foundation for 3 individual attachments... Hoping to save a bunch of $$...

 

[mikester]

From what I read guys likes the skis to have the box blade float a little better so not to pick up gravel.

A hydraulic toplink has been mentioned numerous times and something I'll definitely look into.

Isn't picking up gravel what box blades are designed to do? Moving earth is their strong point vs fine grading.

Get a cheap blade if you only want to move snow. I can imagine getting snow out of the box blade being a PITA

 

[fried1765]

Isn't picking up gravel what box blades are designed to do? Moving earth is their strong point vs fine grading.

Get a cheap blade if you only want to move snow. I can imagine getting snow out of the box blade being a PITA

YUP !

 

[Foxrunfarms]

Isn't picking up gravel what box blades are designed to do? Moving earth is their strong point vs fine grading.

Get a cheap blade if you only want to move snow. I can imagine getting snow out of the box blade being a PITA

The shoes would be removed for earth moving. I'm referring to picking up gravel moving snow. As mentioned I have a rear blade also and don't prefer it. I either wax the box blade or brush on old oil and the snow slides right off.