Model 28

1″ – 3″ Trees

Application: Skid Steers

Inside Frame | Outside Frame

The Model 28" BIG JOHN nursery digger is light weight and hosts cold formed straight blades. It’s made to move trees 1” to 3” in diameter and comes complete with electric valve bank and wireless remote control.

Joining the BIG JOHN family means getting exceptional customer service for the life of your spade as well as customized options suited to your nursery needs. We offer wireless remote or cable controls to make operating your spade easier and faster for different conditions.

Available in pointed, semi-truncated, or truncated blades:

Spade Shapes

Specifications

28 SPECS Inside Frame Outside Frame
Tree Trunk Diameter 1″ – 3″ 1″ – 3″
Root Ball Width (Adjustable) 28″ 28″
Root Ball Depth (Adjustable) 22″ 20″
Root Ball Weight 300 lbs 350 lbs
Total Machine Weight 1,500 lbs 1,500 lbs
Blade Tower Height (down position) 46″ 47″
Gate Opening 15″ 28″
Operating Width (Closed) 64″ 79″
Number of Spades 3 3
Hydraulic Gate Lock Yes Yes
Adjustable Mechanical Pads Yes Yes
Spade Material AR400 AR400
Drive System (Minimum GPM) 10 – 16 GPM 10 – 16 GPM

Meet the Model 28

Wireless or Cabled Remote Controls

Control your tree spade with ease using cabled controls or from anywhere with a wireless remote that allows for easy operation.

Gate hinges designed for stressful conditions, our spades feature heavy-duty gate hinges that beat the competition for longevity.

Add on stabilizers or other optional features to make your skid steer tree spade more robust with an extra valve section for add-on hydraulic components.

Anyone can learn how to operate a BIG JOHN spade with minimal instruction and successfully dig a tree in a matter of minutes. Maintenance requirements are simple, quick, and affordable with a minimal time commitment to keep your spade at peak performance.

Made with top grade plastics for heavy duty use, our slide blocks dig for thousands of tree moves with ease and simplicity. Fewer moving parts, no bolts to rust, and no small plastic parts to keep track of make the simple design of BIG JOHN spades last decades longer.

Our blades are cold-formed from AR400 steel, making them durable and strong for all kinds of digging conditions and maintaining their integrity for decades. The blades are also fluted to distribute the stress of digging better in tough conditions.

Get the level of digging speed you need with adjustable valve bodies on all our skid steer tree spades. Slow spades down for safety with new operators or speed up for seasoned spade users for efficiency.

Spade Shapes
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