LAND PLANE VS BOX BLADE: WHICH IS THE BETTER GRADING TOOL?

[@GoodWorksTractors]

Hope this video helped out some of you in the market. If you want more information on the products discussed in the video, please visit the links below. Dirt Dog Land Plane: tinyurl.com/4zc4mape Dirt Dog Box Blade: tinyurl.com/3ssfx576 Speeco Quick Hitch: tinyurl.com/ycxnc85s Hydraulic Top Link: tinyurl.com/bdfknbcz Read more about a box blade vs land plane: www.goodworkstractors.com/blog/general/compare-a-box-blade-vs-land-plane/

[@wbduckman]

Just a quick word of compliment. As I occasionally go back and listen to some of your first videos years back, it is amazing to see how far you have come in with your presentation in front of a video camera. It now always seems to feel that we are your neighbors and friends, and you are doing your best to be there for all of us. At least, that's how I feel. Well done, my friend!

[@GoodWorksTractors]

I appreciate it, thanks for taking the time out of your day!

[@bill29456]

I use my box blade for moving a dirt pile, but the landplane is great for smoothing out the drive way. I use it he shanks on the land plane when there are pot holes. If you just smooth I’ve them, they will come back. You need to tare up the edges of the post hole to distroy it. Then resmooth it out.

[@johnmedlin5894]

I have both and they definitely have their purposes. I use my land plane for maintaining my 1,000 foot long gravel driveway. The hydraulic top link makes using either one a breeze.

[@GoodWorksTractors]

Hydraulic top link is a game changer

[@chrisking6740]

I got a 7' box blade for my 75" wide L3560. I was worried it might be a bit too big for the HP but the tractor pulls a full box uphill with ease. Super versatile tool, best bang for the buck out there I'd say. Takes some practice but once you get the hang of it, it's a very accurate tool.

[@GoodWorksTractors]

Thanks Chris!

[@phild9813]

That’s only a few inches wider than your tractor on each side. I think you want to be able to cover your tires with the implement, so it sounds perfect to me.

[@chrisking6740]

@@phild9813 Yeah, it seems to be a good match. Hopefully that's still the case with some spacers!

[@BryanPorritt]

Great video, bought a 2025R and a 5' land plane in March. My 24 year old 1/4 mile driveway has never been better. Took a little trial and error, but wish I had known about it decades ago

[@bradmeacham6982]

I have a suggestion on a box blade use model with a hydraulic top link (really a requirement in my mind), and either a fixed rear blade, or a hinged/floating rear blade that can be locked into position. You can get much finer control of the box blade’s digging versus spreading action by controlling the front to back tilt of the box blade using the top link vs raising and lowering the 3-point hitch. When you want to dig, tilt the box blade forward slightly so the front blade is lower than the rear blade. When you want to spread, tilt the box blade back so it is riding on the rear blade and the front blade is now slightly higher than the rear blade. This will let you slowly distribute the contents of the box blade’s load of material in a very controlled manner while the rear blade, now being dragged along in a "reversed curve" orientation basically back drags the material being distributed.

[@guystuff7942]

I use my yt359 heavily for making new atv trails. Push trees over and push them out if the way. Then follow through with the box blade and rippers. The rippers work really well to clear roots and debris to get to bare dirt. Then the box blade with hydraulic top link finishes the job.

[@GoodWorksTractors]

awesome, thanks for sharing!!

[@kylerayk]

Great video, Courtney! I've always wondered if a land plane could be used, under the right conditions, to help smooth and flatten a pasture. Maybe first thing in the spring when the soil is moist and soft.

[@GoodWorksTractors]

I really think either of these tools struggle with sod clumps. It would likely work better if tilled several times to kill off and chop up those clumps prior to grading. Just a tough application.

[@TheJonesFarm]

Cool video! Always appreciate the insight. I ran a box blade for a long time before I could afford to get a land plane for my business. Now I have both and I like them equally for different reasons. If I show up to a clients house for a driveway repair I always bring both implements no questions asked! Time for a hydraulic top link!!

[@scalph999]

It took me a while to get used to my box blade but I love the results it makes. I always make sure my box blade is level from front to back. The rear is only up when Im ripping. Would be cool to try out a land plane. Got a demo I can try out? Great video keep them coming. The rippers are great for old gravel driveways. It rips up the sunken gravel. I worked my neighbor's driveway that looked like it needed gravel but when I was done it didn't need more.

[@GoodWorksTractors]

Thanks for chiming in Ralph! No demo plans though :)

[@janskoropinski10]

Nice video,you can purchase additional blades for the land plane for pushing backwards. That way you don’t wear out the blade attachment angle iron. The one advantage with a box blade is that if you pulling up any larger rocks that you want to remove from the road the box blade will deposit them in one spot. While the land plane deposits them over a long distance. The one thing I use a scarifier for is to lower one or two and use them to dig out an pothole that is holding water.

[@ryanb8317]

I have both a 48" box blade, and 48" land plane, both have have their purpose and both of mine do have ripper shanks

[@Adarondak_Transplant]

I get my box plane on Tuesday!!! Thanks for educating me.

[@bladewiper]

Once you have hyd top and tilt links, you will wonder how you ever worked without them. Compared to every other attachment you buy, they are the greatest bang for your buck.

[@GoodWorksTractors]

100% agree

[@bladewiper]

@@GoodWorksTractors A quick hitch is a close second.

[@josephbailey6399]

I finish by drive with the box blade tilted with the front high, so the scrapers are just barely touching the ground (after I have roughed up the gravel). Gives a great finish. Would love to have a land plane, but this will do for now.

[@johngskewes]

I have a land plane and it is my opinion that it REALLY needs gauge wheels. Rear mounted grading tools nosedive into troths - creating issues. And coming off a high spot, the rig lifts off the ground. I see on your video, the same thing happens to you - you move large amounts of material that just need to be 'refreshed' and not hauled down range. A friend loaned me his 8' york rake with gauge wheels last year - it is a fussy piece of kit, but I think it is superior to my land plane. Especially when establishing a crown. I just laid 18 yds of fresh gravel with my landplane - I think I'll have gauge wheels added for next year - a grading blade needs to be center mounted, or it is not controllable....in my humble opinion. I am so thankful for having a bucket! At a certain point, the plane is a menace.

[@RandomNEGuy]

awesome video - am thinking about adding a land plane to my set of "toys" --- I run a 72" LandPride BoxBlade on a Kubota B3200HSD - amazing of course -- I also have tilt-level hydraulics on my 3PT hitch - I can tilt the top link and change the height of one of the side links -- huge plus; I found that on this smaller Kubota - pushing with the boxblade has to be done slowly and carefully as one can bend a 3pt side arm if one hits something that is not going to "give". Spare arms aren't that expensive and I always keep a couple of spares around. Would love to add tilt and level to my bigger M series and the land plane. anycase. thanks for a great video.

[@rogue9ine]

I have a land plane and a rear angle blade, I've found if the driveway material is very hard the land plane works well, but if the material is soft and fluffy I prefer to use the angle blade with it turned around backwards.

[@markcole6475]

I have a land plane to maintain about a 400 drive to the back of my property….works great but also thinking of getting a box blade at some point also…..many times I’ve needed to move lots of dirt but not wanting to use the bucket for say…

[@brianbranson2920]

Nice video, Courtney as usial. What implement(s) would be best for (1) prepping untouched loamy soil with some rocks & weeds in it to plant grass seed (2) yearly garden row prep I will be using a new Sumnit TX25 thanks to your excellent summary videos.

[@dansundquist334]

Good call on the geotextile. Definitely cheap insurance for keeping all that new rock in place.

[@luvbgrass]

I was going to ask what that was under the gravel. Looks like that would get torn up when you maintain the drive way. Kinda interested in how it works.

[@rcclassiccrawlers4368]

I've used both, but I never used a landplane for a driveway. I've always used it for spreading out top soil. And it's always been on the front of a skid loader. Never tried one on the back of a tractor.

[@johnhise4225]

Any thoughts on using a landscape rake instead of the box or plane on a gravel drive? My budget only allows one at the moment and I can't decide between the 3 options. I do have some areas with debris and branches that needs to be cleaned up, so the landscape rake seemed like it might be a good choice.

[@on4acres]

the rake will be the least impactful out of the three. Meaning it will do the least to turn up the rocks and soil. It is great for raking the rocks smooth, or for cleaning up an area. But on a gravel driveway, if you only had one I would recommend the land plane.

[@JCWren]

Agristore has hydraulic top and side links.

[@GoodWorksTractors]

Nice, thanks JC

[@TAMBestBuild]

I started with a box blade but ultimately decided I needed both.

[@MrAlaskaJoe]

Wise to put fabric down under the gravel!

[@richardhughes6492]

Absolutely. I wouldn’t start the job without putting down commercial grade landscaping cloth! Always use the staples!

[@dave.lawrence.3894]

GREAT Video, how many loads of gravel did you put down on your driveway???? 😮😅

[@GoodWorksTractors]

Not done yet and I've lost track, but north of 200 yards for this section...they are brining 60 more yards today...I think that'll do it for the lane. Then on to the next phase.

[@ajosephbaumhauer4071]

What size would you use behind the 25 HP tractor 4’or 5’ ?

[@badgerlandturf]

It depends on your size tractor more than the HP. If you had a 1 series JD you would be fine with a 4’ BUT could pull a 5’. I have a 3 series with 25HP and went 5’. That said, the dealer tries to talk me into a 5’ tiller and really didn’t want me to get the 4’ tiller which I end up getting…had specific needs he didn’t want to listen to. Didn’t use that dealership!

[@GoodWorksTractors]

100% agree. I can't answer the question based on HP alone. 1025r 25hp runs a 48". 3025e 25HP runs a 60". I've stopped my 1025r in its tracks with a 60" plane and box blade too many times. The inefficiency isn't worth it.

[@ajosephbaumhauer4071]

My tractor is a JD2025 R I was thinking 🤔 that a 4’ would not always cover the tire track

[@GoodWorksTractors]

@@ajosephbaumhauer4071 That tractor is 48" wide unless you did something to widen it? You could use either size on that tractor though, it's heavier than the 1025r. More weight is more traction. That's the problem with running a 60" on a 1025r. The blade will load up with material and the tractor doesn't have enough weight to get traction to keep moving. It'll sit there with the tires spinning.

[@kellywilson8440]

I have a 6 foot box blade behind my RK25 no issues on my gravel parking lot !

[@bonsukan]

Hey Courtney, I know you speak highly of having a hydraulic top link. What are your thoughts on having a hydraulic tilt?

[@RandomNEGuy]

I have both top link and side arm hydraulics on my Kubota B3200HSD 3PT -- worth every penny.

[@ericcrockett6396]

I have both for my kubota bx 48in land pride pand plane, and 60in tractor supply box blade. For gravel work I prefer the land plane hands down. I use mine in reverse and it spreads material very well that way. Now for dirt work box blade is the way to go or if you can only afford one, go with the box blade as it's more universal

[@on4acres]

Thanks for your input. I'm curious if you have used the land plane to smooth out dirt, or using it on an area that is strictly grass, to help level it out. Reason I ask is I have to mow several acres and they are extremely bumpy from years of voles and moles creating little dirt mounds. Consequently I can't as fast when I mow, and I'm thinking the land plane will be helpful in skimming off those high spots. Thanks

[@Greekgriz]

@@on4acresI’m looking at one for this same reason. Have you found out anything?

[@on4acres]

@@GreekgrizI ended up buying the land plane as I thought it would be the best all around tool. I’m going to try it out for this purpose in the next month or so and will report back to let you know how well it works.

[@koblescar]

What is your thought on land plane size for a 1025R? would a 60" be to big? i was thinking 48" but like you said I can't fine one with Rippers.

[@eyesonlywrx1080]

What size top link did you use for the m4? Mine is still at the dealer but would like to be able to order it so it's here when I finally get my tractor.

[@richardbrowne1679]

Hi Courtney: How is the combination box blade/ land plane coming.

[@GoodWorksTractors]

Hey Richard, that is a Summit product. They sell direct, 60" available now.

[@Earthmover511]

Which side does the land plane deposit more material, say when building a crown?

[@GoodWorksTractors]

The side that is furthest away from the tractor

[@Earthmover511]

makes sense thanks!@@GoodWorksTractors

[@justanotherviewer52]

Land plane looks like a winner to me. I'd just like to know why if they can build a mini excavator, why doesn't someone build a mini grader?

[@GoodWorksTractors]

You mean like this? kzbin.info/www/bejne/rYS0cmCoobaSjsU

[@haraldmoeller-cp6nj]

So the box plane from summit ,was it any good ?

[@mikewatson4644]

I understood you to say that the land plane would move material left to right. Doesn't it actual move the material right to left?

[@GoodWorksTractors]

How about we go with “from one side to the other” 😂

[@GreyMassey]

I built a 5 ft. land plane and it works great.

[@dustinmadigan6813]

This is why the box plane is great! 2 for 1 and well worth the money! Summit tractors hit it out of the park

[@chrisao1987]

Land planes do have ripper shanks.

[@firemanj35]

Great stuff today

[@PEETY666]

My third view of this well done video.

[@5075E]

Yes

[@musicteacher9128]

I see you have black fabric type base. Don’t the teeth rip down into that ?

[@GoodWorksTractors]

No, put at least 4" or more of material on top

[@mxguy2438]

Hyd tilt is even more useful with the box blade than the hyd top link.

[@RandyBeretta-db5bg]

Land plane is best for the rock road.!

[@cocarr1]