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Land plane or Box Blade for grading?

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26K views 15 replies 7 participants last post by  Sam_French  
#1 ·
When I am doing a new lawn, complete install, etc, I am looking for a quicker and easier to control way to grade it out. I currently use the bucket on one of my tractors, or my skid steer, and a 3pt hitch landscape rake with the wheel attachments to grade out the lawn areas.

The two options that seem to make the most sense to me are either a standard box blade w/ scarifier teeth for the 3 pt hitch on my tractor, or a bradco land plane for the skid steer. I really see advantages to both, but with the need for only one, I cannot decide.

The box blade would be cheaper, could carry more material, would most likely be better at ripping up hard packed dirt for grading. Also, I could use that adapter and put the box blade on the skid steer if I found it nessicary at some point.

The land plane would be skid steer mounted, so the maneuverability of using a skid instead of tractor would be gained. Also, the plane is longer which makes me think that it would be less prone to following dips and contours of the ground. Down force could be used, where the 3pt hitch just floats the box over the ground.

I guess I'm just looking for input from guys that have used either one, or both.
 
#2 ·
You could also get a landplane for the tractor, just not one where the blades are angled. Those are to build a crown on gravel roads. If you have some time on your hands they aren't hard to build. Just put the 2 cutting edges 32" apart and have at least 12" sides. Since your doing lawn prep i would put a floating roller or clod buster on the back. Some people like to have a floating tailgate similar to what some box blades have. Here is a pic i pulled of the internet. The one that a friend built had scarifiers in the main cross beam and a reel off an old finisher or disk.

Image
 
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#3 ·
hvy 1ton said:
You could also get a landplane for the tractor, just not one where the blades are angled. Those are to build a crown on gravel roads. If you have some time on your hands they aren't hard to build. Just put the 2 cutting edges 32" apart and have at least 12" sides. Since your doing lawn prep i would put a floating roller or clod buster on the back. Some people like to have a floating tailgate similar to what some box blades have. Here is a pic i pulled of the internet. The one that a friend built had scarifiers in the main cross beam and a reel off an old finisher or disk.
Click to expand...
I have seen those, but I haven't found a brand that produces a smaller one that has 2 straight blades on it.

Another option I found was the John Deere Roller Level. Has anyone used one of these?

http://www.deere.com/en_US/cfd/cons...uction/deere_const/skidsteers/skidsteer_attachments/skidsteer_rollerlevels.html
 
#4 ·
I don't have any experience with the roller levels. I forgot to mention earlier that JPG has bradco land plane for his ASV's and likes them a lot. After looking around for a straight land plane i know why most people build theirs.:hammerhead:
 
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#5 ·
Get a land plane. We finally got the owner to buy one two years ago after we got shafted by another sod company and it never left our work truck. It digs with ease. Strips sod/grass if like nothing and has a whole slew of other uses(I actually got off my dozer to use it to neatly flake out shale). Just warning you its not like leveling with the bucket. You'll need abit of pratice with using front and rear portain as the cutting and leveling edge.
 
S
#7 ·
Hello guys I have a 743B and looking at a box blade as well. I am looking at a MBX Bush Hog BB with a hinge back. Even thought about adding a pulverizer wheel off of a gill rake. I look at landplanes too and like them as well. If I were to get one it would be 60in. What do you guys think? What would be a good landplane for me to look at? I have not made any purchases yet just doing my homework;)

Thank You

Sam
 
#9 ·
J. Peterson Grading said:
Yeah, landplane all the way. I have a Deere and an easy grader (Now Bobcat) and we all like the easy grader alot more. You will be amazed at how much faster you can graded with one.

That Deere roller think is a joke.

J.
Click to expand...
Ya, I have really been leaning towards a land plane as it just makes more sense to me in how it would work for what I am doing. Now my next couple questions about the land planes. First, what kind of front cutting edge have you found to be most beneficial? I was looking at the Bradco with either the flat tooth edge, or the Quick Attach that only comes with a flat edge but it has the hydraulic controlled scarifier teeth which seems like it would be useful. They are both right around the same price, but I see advantages to both.

I like the idea of a flat tooth edge like pictured here, http://www.everythingattachments.co...m/Bradco-78-Land-Sculptor-Skid-Steer-Quick-Attach-p/br-land-sculptor-106400.htm
because I feel it would do a better job at stripping off sod, and grooming the area before seeding.

But I also like the idea of having a hydraulic controlled scarifier bar like quick attach sells here http://www.quick-attach.com/attachments/land_leveler/index.cfm

But it appears I cannot have both in one unit...
 
J
#10 ·
Bobcat has a few different options with theirs.

The one I like is the one with the "Fingers" that fold up or down. Not quite a ripper or anything, just something that will ruff thinks up a bit and help with material break up. My easygrader is like this and it works real well.

My deere has the ripper attatchment. I like it for obvious reasons, but the material flow through the tool is severly restricted because of it being there.

I also like any unit that has a removal or a BOCE. It greatly helps with the tools life. however, that being said. My easygrader has been welded on a couple times now. The last time in, we extended the front cutting egde with flat iron. It was supposed to be able to have a BOCE on it, but we haven't gotten around to adding one yet. I think that with the flat edge instead of a sharp edge the tool works better. Its more forgiving in almost all situations. My deere unit has a sharp edge and likes to bite alot more.

You also need to look at how open the tool is. You want material loose material to flow throught the unit whether you are pushing or pulling. Some planes don't cut going backwards. so look for something that does.

J.
 
R
#12 ·
I have a boxblade/roller combo that I use on a 3 point. Used it now for about 10 years and it is quite handy and works far better for grading dirt and road base than a plain old box blade. I also use a land plane and it is awesome. If you have a wide open area a skid/land plane works well. If it is a small yard or confined area the best combo I have found and used is a mini skid with land plane.
 
M
#14 ·
I've done a few lawns with this one from Midsota Mfg.

http://www.midsotamfg.com/pages/Blades/

At first thought landplanes were a joke because I always had used a Harley rake, but after a little time on it, wouldn't do it any other way. Can leave a tabletop smooth yard and is much faster. Just had to learn how to get the most out of it.

I like this particular one for the price and simplicity. Only negative I have found with it is if you're using a CT, you can't reach a bucket off the rack if you put one on the hooks for transport. The front idler will hit the attachment before you have enough reach to grab the bucket off, but that could be modified.
 
#15 ·
I cant remeber what Bobcat model we bought but it had alot of reach which we liked. Couple of things to remeber is you can over-stress quick coupler(walked on site found a guy picking out sidewalk panels with the landplane) we cracked ours and no longer let underground near the Skid. The ones with a small platform(simple mesh grate) to carry bits on material is handy for spot placement while keeping your grade.
 
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