which implement is the most correct?

[frysl]

Hello all,
I have a 30'x30' area that I want to remove 4" of topsoil and replace with crushed concrete to park my trailers on.
What's the correct implement to use - a box blade or the FEL? I've no experience with a box blade and the only experience I have with the FEL is moving material, no digging. Is one the better choice than the other for this?
Steve

 

[85Hokie]

Hello all,
I have a 30'x30' area that I want to remove 4" of topsoil and replace with crushed concrete to park my trailers on.
What's the correct implement to use - a box blade or the FEL? I've no experience with a box blade and the only experience I have with the FEL is moving material, no digging. Is one the better choice than the other for this?
Steve

A box blade is cheaper to "buy" - easier to use, if set up correctly, you can bite away at a small pace and end up with a fairly level area - now what to do with the piles of dirt you have removed?

A FEL will dig it quicker and more per bite.....however the more part can be a disadvantage, too much bite and you end up with a mess, and once it get unlevel - you have to work harder to get it back to level - smooth.

What is the soils characteristic ? Hard packed? Sandy loam? Lots of rocks? All of this will come into play too.

ARE you placing the crushed concrete down too? IF so - the FEL will be better at placing in certain spots. Especially if you have to pick up a pile and move it from one point to another.

Both implements will work fine in the hands of an experienced handler. The FEL will make a quick mess of it if poorly used - but will do the work fast, the BB will do it nicely if set up correctly and used with a position control 3 point lift. 1/4" valve will drive you bananas if you cannot get it set correctly and return to that specific point.

To answer your question - both are correct, one is cheaper but has advantages and disadvantages, the other is very expensive but can do a lot more.

I take it you do NOT have either?

 

[windzer]

Loader hands down you can use your ripper teeth on your box blade to loosen the dirt if you need to but you'll get the most work done with the loader just start and one end of your pad dig down 4 inches and work forward from there keeping the same grade and it'll be perfect

 

[Grouse Feathers]

Your area 30' x 30' isn't very big, a front loader should do that job without a problem. I did the same job next to my garage with my BX. Took out the topsoil, did a little leveling and spread the gravel in about 1/2 day. I have the bxpanded piranha bar to make removing the turf easier. If you are going to remove the topsoil from the immediate area you will be moving it with the front loader or loading it into a trailer with the front loader anyway. The box blade will just be an extra step and a difficult step without box blade experience.

 

[Wbk]

I know i wouldn't buy a box blade to do a 30x30 patch, you can do a pretty decent job digging with the loader, lay down your geo mat and use your crushed gravel to level it. That is if you have no other use for the box blade. Just my opinion Barry

 

[frysl]

Thanks all for the advice.
Fortunately its a nice level area of sod, should be easy to do with the FEL.
Steve

 

[Tooljunkie]

Will need teeth on the bucket,will give you more level control. Think i would do perimeter first, then 1/2 or 1/4 bucket passes to keep it same depth. Exixting trenc will work as your depth guage.

 

[skeets]

My self,,I would just go buy enough indoor out door carpet to cover the area, then form up the side with RR ties , and just back fill it,,, good drainage, it wont sink into the dirt and it looks nice,, you dont have crushed mill run being scattered all over the place when you mow around it,,, just MHO

 

[nickelplated5s]

Gotta get those trailers over the ties though.

 

[bxray]

Is there a rental place that has a box blade?
A place by me has a 5' for 85 a day.
Ray