JD 445 With a Category 0 Box Blade worth it?

ROWDY

Member
I just recently purchased this 445. I have been kicking around of getting a 48" cat 0 box blade for this. However thinking again; is this unite big enough to handle one worth spending $800.+? Or would one for a bigger tractor be more worth while? If you have one on this size of tractor, how do you like it?
 
A 48" CAT 0 box blade would be a good match for the 445.

That tractor just doesn't have the weight to pull the wider ones.

I have a Large Frame Bolens with a 22 Hp. Mitsubishi Diesel, an Eaton 11 hydro, and hi/lo range rear end. With Rim Guard in all 4 tires, wheel weights, and my skinny butt in the seat it's right at 1800# which is about 2x the weight of that Deere, and I wouldn't go more than 48" with it.
 
I think that you are asking the wrong question.

Should it not be........Is a 48" box blade the right size for grading a 5 acre property I am going to change from a rough field to a manicured lawn?

OR

Is a 48" box blade a good tool to maintain a 500 foot gravel driveway?


In other words, it is essential to match the tool to the job and then match the tractor to the tool.
 
OldBuzzard- We have a couple old large frame Bolens around here too. They still are used for mowing and snow removal. I was wanting this 445 to reduce their load.

-As far as I know, category 0 is only available in 48". I don't think I want to go any bigger for this.

-Over all, I believe its "most" use would be for stone to fill in pot holes. Some other usage I was thinking of would be; snow, debris landscaping spots in the woods.

To clear up the question; can this tractor do something with a box blade with about 500LBS on the tractor? Or would I just be spinning my wheels?
 
No matter what size of tractor you have, it must be set up properly to do the job. In this instance, traction is very important and so is proper weighting of the tractor.

You will have to choose between using Ag style bar tread tires or putting 2 link tire chains on your turf tires. You will also need to install liquid ballast in the tires and RimGuard is the best choice because it provides the most pounds per gallon outside of using that horrible Calcium Chloride mixture.

Wheel weights are also essential and so is a suitable front counterweight kit such as a bracket with suitcase weights.

Theoretically, the 48" box blade is sized for your tractor but I suppose there will be times when the load in the box will overcome the amount of traction you have. You may have to make shorter pulls from high areas so that the box does not fill up as much.

Box blades do not make great snow removal tools unless you have a snow blower or blade on the front of the tractor to clear the path down to bare gravel or pavement. Box blades were designed to cut down high areas, capture the material and hold it until a low spot is encountered. The material will then exit the box because the sides of the box are sitting higher than the pothole.

They work great as a landscaping tool and as a gravel driveway maintainer.
 

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