If you have a gravel driveway and there's a big hump down the middle, the perfect tool to remove the crown is a box blade. A box blade will cut the center part down and spread it while digging up the compacted parts where your tires run. It'll bring the gravel up to the surface and freshen it up and make it look new again.
There are a lot of companies that make box blades. Mostly, there are three categories. First is the major attachment manufacturers make various options. Bush Hog, Woods, Land Pride, and Rhino are major manufacturers who offer multiple box blade options, and my experience is that they offer a premium product, with, even their cheapest model being a step above the no-name bargain brands.
All of those manufacturers offer a basic model for the homeowner, and upgraded model for more aggressive use, and a premium model for the professional who is using the box blade for a living and possibly models in-between. There will be a wide variance in price from their basic model to the top-of-the-line, and if they're displayed together on a dealer's lot, you can see the difference.
The second category of box blades are the ones offered by tractor manufacturers. Kubota owns Land Pride, so any Kubota-branded box blade you see will be the same as the LP. All of the other manufacturers, to my knowledge, don't build their own blade. They'll go to another manufacturer and have them build one, paint it their colors, and slap their decal on it, and that's what they offer. Why do they ever mess with box blades?
The answer is because of financing. If you're buying a new tractor and want to add a box blade, the tractor manufacturers will offer you their brand, if you want a different brand, they won't finance it, without blending, or averaging together, the tractor low rate with standard low rate. So, there's a big incentive to buy a Deere, New Holland, Mahindra or Massey blade with those brands of tractors.
Finally, there are tons of no-name brands out there, some at farm stores and there could be ones available from local manufacturers. Quality, and pricing, on those is all over the place.
When buying a box blade, look at the quality and thickness of the metal, the strength of the welds, and the weight of the blade and tell a lot about how good it is. It's one product that you can "eyeball" and tell how good it is.
A good box blade will have a strong, heat-treated cutting edge that's replaceable. If there's a big difference in price between two blades, the quality of the cutting edge could be a reason. Also, look at the strength of the ripper teeth, and how they're mounted.
Finally, make sure you get a box blade that's a little wider than the rear tractor tires so it cuts out your tracks. If you occasionally go in tight areas, don't go overboard on the width. Also, make sure that any box blade you purchase will fit any quick hitch you might buy.
In the end, you'll have to determine which box blade option is best. I've seen customers do just fine with the cheapest ones made, other customers who tore up an inexpensive model requiring an expensive re-welding and reinforcing project. The latter customers would have been better off to invest a little more up front and get a heavier blade. When shopping, see what the price difference is between the bargain blades and the more premium blades. Sometimes a slightly larger investment in the beginning saves a lot of expense and hassle down the line.
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