Box Grader with cutting depth adjustment for crowning

[Kn1ghtWolf]

So I've been looking at a box grader with hydraulic adjustable cutting blades specifically the roadrunner brand but not limited to it. Every video I can find online the operator is using the cutting blade adjusted to crown but the finished job doesn't look crowned at all. It also doesn't look like the raised side is high enough to let larger stones like 1.5"+ get laid on the crown so unless you are spreading sand you aren't doing much that a normal box blade or land plane can do for 1/5 the cost.
I am looking at acquiring one not only for business but for a few miles of forestry road I need to maintain that has a mix of gravel, exposed pit run, and just dirt/loam/sand depending on how far down the road you go. I assume the pitrun might bend the cutting edge.
Does anyone have experience with these that might have insight on whether these do as advertised or if they fit the application I'm hoping to give it?

 

[Welder Dave]

Some pics. of exactly what implements you're talking about would help. Are they 3pt. attached or pull type? A 3% crown isn't a lot for a narrower road as it won't be real noticeable but is still adequate.

 

[Kn1ghtWolf]

Some pics. of exactly what implements you're talking about would help. Are they 3pt. attached or pull type? A 3% crown isn't a lot for a narrower road as it won't be real noticeable but is still adequate.

skid steer stype. Here is the unit I'm talking about. Just a box blade looking thing with hydraulics and it comes with a set of wheel on front for floatation.

 

[Welder Dave]

That's more like a landplane than a box blade. Some landplanes also have scarifier teeth to loosen packed material. Landplanes are much easier to master than box blades but won't carry much material from one location to another. For driveway maintenance I think the implement in your pic. would be a good choice although I'd bet pretty pricey.

What Is a Box Blade & How Is It Used? | MachineFinder

Box blades for tractors are primarily used for leveling, grading, backfilling, or spreading materials like gravel or soil. Learn more about box blades.

blog.machinefinder.com

 

[AmericaCD]

So I've been looking at a box grader with hydraulic adjustable cutting blades specifically the roadrunner brand but not limited to it. Every video I can find online the operator is using the cutting blade adjusted to crown but the finished job doesn't look crowned at all. It also doesn't look like the raised side is high enough to let larger stones like 1.5"+ get laid on the crown so unless you are spreading sand you aren't doing much that a normal box blade or land plane can do for 1/5 the cost.
I am looking at acquiring one not only for business but for a few miles of forestry road I need to maintain that has a mix of gravel, exposed pit run, and just dirt/loam/sand depending on how far down the road you go. I assume the pitrun might bend the cutting edge.
Does anyone have experience with these that might have insight on whether these do as advertised or if they fit the application I'm hoping to give it?

Hey bud, so many options out there depending on your budget. LGX by Burchland is a great option that will handle anything you could throw at it. Many options and 3D or 2D, wireless in cab remote. Wing that will rotate 260 degrees with an option to run flat to the back of blade. Step areas for operator safety and easy in and out of cab / as well at safe step to set receivers.

 

[Tones]

Another one to consider, some big rapps on them, compatible with stars and beams.

Sharpgrade Products - Sharp Grade

SharpGrade designs and manufactures industry-leading skid steer grader attachments for contractors who demand precision, speed, and repeatable results.

www.sharpgrade.com

 

[AmericaCD]

Another one to consider, some big rapps on them, compatible with stars and beams.

Sharpgrade Products - Sharp Grade

SharpGrade designs and manufactures industry-leading skid steer grader attachments for contractors who demand precision, speed, and repeatable results.

www.sharpgrade.com

Could but for the same price you can go American made with in person support! Also has many options not offered on sharp grade. Not saying it’s a bad have used it before. buts it’s definitely has its pros / cons like anything. I try to by American made when I can.

 

[AmericaCD]

Another one to consider, some big rapps on them, compatible with stars and beams.

Sharpgrade Products - Sharp Grade

SharpGrade designs and manufactures industry-leading skid steer grader attachments for contractors who demand precision, speed, and repeatable results.

www.sharpgrade.com

One more thing I forgot. Consider parts / support as you grow with these sort of attachments you will need support 3D/2D and parts available. Burchland has a lot of things you can get at big box store to limit down time & get you running in a pinch. As well they can over night / next day air. Two weeks to ship over an ocean is a tough pill to swallow if you’re trying to finish a project. Also consider machine your using, is it a dedicated machine or will you have multiple skid using the attachment? This can/will require more wire ups and base gear but something to think about.

 

[Tones]

Could but for the same price you can go American made with in person support! Also has many options not offered on sharp grade. Not saying it’s a bad have used it before. buts it’s definitely has its pros / cons like anything. I try to by American made when I can.

There's a member on HEF that swears by his Sharp Grade and the service he got including the company sending staff over to set it up. IIRC he was using the Lieca 3D system but can be fitted with US made systems, Topcon, Sperry, etc.
Can't remember who the heck it was though.

 

[AmericaCD]

There's a member on HEF that swears by his Sharp Grade and the service he got including the company sending staff over to set it up. IIRC he was using the Lieca 3D system but can be fitted with US made systems, Topcon, Sperry, etc.
Can't remember who the heck it was though.

Yea we use to sell a **** load of those sharp grades and they do have a few great dealers in the us but in my experience with them is service brakes down parts were hard to get at times and unresponsive customer service. Also a product worth checking out is the AGT trimmer! Sweet fine and finish tool for dirt work.

 

[Welder Dave]

AmericaCD, you don't happen to work for Burchland do you? There is a huge price difference between a simple 3pt. implement like a box blade or landplane and a grader type attachment. Just for smoothing out and maintaining a driveway I don't think you need a really expensive implement.

 

[MilExc]

Sorry just ran across this post and felt compelled to reply.
I own one of these road runners and here are my thoughts. I absolutely love it for what I do. However, do not buy it with out the wheel kit. I bought the blade first and later the wheel kit. The stability with the wheel kit makes it a must.
I have put so many hrs on this thing building driveways and doing flatwork. This is not for roughing a road in. That's for the dozer. I use this for final grading and installing gravel. It will actually carry quite a bit of material as it will build up between the two blades. Like any grading you still have to have an eye for it and need to put hrs on it to get the real feel of it.
It does very good for crowning roads. Obviously if you want a steeper crown you will have to do multiple passes and your crown will get steeper with each pass as your machine slopes more.
Obviously you are not going to get quite the results you would with a laser controlled grader or similar. But for manual final grade, it is a very good option. I'll attach a few pics of jobs I've done with it.

 

[Welder Dave]

Show some pics. of your Road Runner.

 

[MilExc]

Here's a few. My blade has the hydraulic adjustment on one side only and the other side is adjusted manually. Dual would be nicer but this setup works pretty good when you learn to run it. If you want the manual side a little higher you just ease the whole attachment up and ease the blade down on the other side. Or vice versa.
I will say the wheel kit is a little on the light duty side. It's not really made for heavy every day commercial work. You just don't want to put to much down pressure on it or run your wheels into a dirt wall. I actually beefed my front yoke up with a piece of like 4" flat bar along the bottom. It does good for what I use it for.
Recently I talked to the owner of the company and they were considering building a heavier version of it that would be laser compatible. Whether they are pursuing that I do not know.

 

[Simon C]

Great pictures, by the way. I have a Virnig Land Leveller that works good in different applications, but your is better for crowning a road. Use mine mainly for taking out potholes and ruts.
Thanks for sharing.
Simon C