Box Blade

[old and tired]

It's been a long time since I was looking for implements, they seem to have dried up. But I did get a 6 footer, box blade (no name that I could find). It's been really good and helped build a road to my creek. Got it for $250 and I'm sure I could sell it for more, now...

You have to be really quick since resellers will buy it cheap and just mark it up... It's hard to find good deals nowadays....

 

[Runs With Scissors]

I don’t have time to read the replies right now, but one thing that concerned me was the way the ripper teeth are attached.

Personally, I would not have one that takes “special clips” to hold the shanks in place. I would only buy one that uses simple “pins” to hold the teeth in place.

I passed on a Landpride model for this very reason.

(Unless you can weld and could convert it…)

..just my .02

 

[Shawn T. W]

What should I be looking for? I'm a newbie so take it easy on me.

I just need something for driveway and trail work that is functional.

While you have been given good advise, I'll throw a monkey wrench in the gears with a question ... Are " maintaining" or "building new"?

For maintenance, which I'm guessing is what you really want to do ... I'd consider a "Land Plane" ... 60" - 72" some have rippers too, if you want them ...

 

[Branch Collector]

It's been a long time since I was looking for implements, they seem to have dried up. But I did get a 6 footer, box blade (no name that I could find). It's been really good and helped build a road to my creek. Got it for $250 and I'm sure I could sell it for more, now...

You have to be really quick since resellers will buy it cheap and just mark it up... It's hard to find good deals nowadays....

You could definitely make money on that now, especially if you have the rippers.

 

[Branch Collector]

While you have been given good advise, I'll throw a monkey wrench in the gears with a question ... Are " maintaining" or "building new"?

For maintenance, which I'm guessing is what you really want to do ... I'd consider a "Land Plane" ... 60" - 72" some have rippers too, if you want them ...

Yes maintaining. I'll add new trails over time but primary goal is maintenance for now.
I've looked at land planes briefly. Not as many for sale and more expensive but would definitely be nice to have one day.

 

[old and tired]

I take it that you are looking for a 5 footer... Not sure where (region) you are in NC...

This is a 6 footer for $300... https://raleigh.craigslist.org/grd/d/buies-creek-box-blade-ft/7883431911.html

Agri-Supply has replacement rippers for about $42; https://www.agrisupply.com/box-blades-scraper-blade-parts/c/1900076/

 

[Elliott in GA]

Why not look at a Tractor Supply 60 inch box blade. It is made in the US (probably Tarter?), and it is under $1,000 new (you $900 was your budget).

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/countyline-box-blade-5-ft-2131645

There are many TS stores in NC.

 

[trikepilot]

I echo many of the arguments above. Keep an eye on FBMP and CL and you'll find one. Decide up front if QH compatibility is important to you and buy accordingly. Buying heavy is also good advice as I have had to add weight to mine to get it to work well in certain situations. Make sure that the BB is wider than you rear wheel width so you can use it to cut into a bank for a sidehill trail or just get up close to objects. Pins for the rippers is a great heads up suggestion. Once you get a rear blade, you WILL WANT a rear hydraulic toplink to make on-the-fly adjustments so much easier. I have a ton of trails - or "Kubbie roads" as we call them - here that I have made. For maintenance... the box blade is great for the heavy work but I have found a 5ft wide drag harrow with 3/8in tines to be the easiest for grooming them clean and smooth.

 

[Runs With Scissors]

Once you get a rear blade, you WILL WANT a rear hydraulic toplink to make on-the-fly adjustments so much easier.

"Amen" to this.

And if you want to avoid "leakdown", get a DPOCV on the cylinder BEFORE you buy one.

Damn near impossible to retrofit one. (ask me how I know )

 

[nbryan]

I don’t have time to read the replies right now, but one thing that concerned me was the way the ripper teeth are attached.

Personally, I would not have one that takes “special clips” to hold the shanks in place. I would only buy one that uses simple “pins” to hold the teeth in place.

I passed on a Landpride model for this very reason.

(Unless you can weld and could convert it…)

..just my .02

The BB1560 has the round pins, which are spring clip held.
I somehow lost a pin once and subbed a heavy bolt until it showed up again.

 

[Branch Collector]

They sell so fast. I've had a lead on 2 that were gone in 12 hours before I got a reply to my message.

Tractor supply is an option. I assumed they were lighter weight 'cheap' model compared to something higher priced, but I could be wrong. Has anyone used one? I would like QH capable for future options even though I don't have one yet.

 

[BAP]

Agrisupply sells box blades too. Similar to Tractor Supply or Running’s.

 

[Blue2Orange]

I don’t have time to read the replies right now, but one thing that concerned me was the way the ripper teeth are attached.

Personally, I would not have one that takes “special clips” to hold the shanks in place. I would only buy one that uses simple “pins” to hold the teeth in place.

I passed on a Landpride model for this very reason.

(Unless you can weld and could convert it…)

..just my .02

Purchased a used LandPride when I downsized to the BX. Couldn't pass up the price for the few scratches and one of shanks showing a bit of rust. QH compatible. The clips stink. Replaced them with a set of L style shank holders. Simple and inexpensive fix to the poor system LP uses.

 

[JonM]

The best reasons to NOT buy a used box blade: 1. You like new things. 2. You are not concerned about cost.

3. you dont want to go immediately into emergency repair mode part way through the first use....

price out a new one before you buy a used one. ESPECIALLY if you have to rent a trailer or drive a long distance. if you dont know current cost of new its easy to "get a deal" and spend a hundred more than new in transport cost if you dont know current pricing.

 

[chim]

While any purchase should be researched, the box blade (for me) wasn't very involved. Didn't need something to pass along to the grandkids or something that weighed 1,200#. The intended use was transforming 1-1/2 acres of corduroy textured cornfield into more grass to mow around 2013. Found a used 5' King Kutter and resold it when finished. That was the only time I needed a box blade in the 35 years since we built here. It was used for a few weeks and resold without losing much if any money when the work was finished.

 

[Simplemike]

They sell so fast. I've had a lead on 2 that were gone in 12 hours before I got a reply to my message.

Tractor supply is an option. I assumed they were lighter weight 'cheap' model compared to something higher priced, but I could be wrong. Has anyone used one? I would like QH capable for future options even though I don't have one yet.

I have one from Rural King that's 48" wide and a tiller from there that's
also 48" for my BX2380 and they both work great.