Strobel Scrapers Feedback Summary

[MikePhua]

Strobel Manufacturing History
Strobel is a U.S. manufacturer known since 1946 for producing earth-moving equipment, particularly scrapers and box scrapers. Their product line spans from light-duty to extreme-duty machines. Typical Strobel scrapers include styles such as Forced Ejection and box scrapers in various widths. They are popular among farmers, ranchers, and contractors who need robust equipment for site work, grading, and feedlot or yard maintenance.

Design, Builds, and Models
Strobel offers several scraper/box scraper models categorized by duty and width:

• Light Duty (LD): smaller widths (6-10 ft), lighter frames
  
• General Purpose (GP): moderate duty, wider blades, more rugged construction
  
• Medium Duty (MD): heavier frame, replaceable cutting edges, stronger tongues and hitch options
  
• Heavy Duty (HD): built for more aggressive ground, larger size and components
  
• Extreme Duty (XD): top of line, thick steel, heavy build
  
• Forced Ejection (FE) models (e.g. 8, 12, 16 yard): designed to eject fill via hydraulic or mechanical push rather than just by lifting and dropping
  

Important design features often praised include welded tongue frames, solid side reinforcement, greaseable pivot points, replaceable leading cutting blades (on MD, HD, XD), various hitch/tongue styles, options like dual wheels, etc.

User Feedback and Performance
From multiple users’ experiences:

• Strobel’s scrapers are built robustly; steel thicknesses like 3/8" (back and sides) are commonly referenced. Welds, frame design, side plates and cutting edges are generally well-executed.
  
• In farm-type applications (roadways, yards, feedlots) the scrapers perform well under moderate loads. They handle drag, pushing, and pulling tasks comfortably if the pulling machine (tractor or dozer) is appropriately sized.
  
• Under heavier earth-moving or very abrasive soil conditions, blade wear, corner wear, hitch stress, and speed limitations become more significant. Some users note that a too-large scraper relative to tractor power leads to slow travel speeds and overheating or over-strain of both tractor engine and scraper components.
  

Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths:

• Construction quality is high: thick steel, solid welds, reinforced sides
  
• Versatility: many width options, hitch styles (direct mount, dolly, etc.), choices of drawbar pull vs dolly pull
  
• Good resale potential for farm-use scrapers, as quality and durability are visible in used units
  

Weaknesses:

• Weight: some models are heavy, both unloaded and loaded, which makes transport, hooking and travel harder, especially for smaller tractors
  
• Size vs power mismatch: if the pulling unit is underpowered, scraper operation suffers (slow cycle times, increased fuel consumption)
  
• Hitch/pin compatibility needs careful measuring; the tongue and hitch must align with pulling equipment to avoid undue stress
  

Practical User Considerations
When selecting a Strobel scraper, it’s useful to consider the following:

• Measure drawbar or hitch dimensions of your pulling machine to ensure compatibility
  
• Pick a size slightly under what the tractor can max pull, so there is buffer in performance and longevity
  
• Decide between direct mount vs dolly type: direct mount gives better efficiency but can stress tractor; dolly gives more maneuverability and less strain on the towing unit, especially on uneven ground
  
• Check cutting edge material and availability for replacement; hardened or bolt-on edges are preferable for abrasive soil
  

User Story
One user reported using a 12 yard Strobel scraper on a parcel that required road maintenance across long driveway sections. The scraper was older and well used, but for that task it worked reliably. The user noted that the scraper’s cutting edge held up longer than similar scrapers in their fleet, though speed was slower when loaded. Another time, on a different project, a slightly larger scraper cracked a side beam on an Ashland scraper under load when pulling too large a bowl relative to the pulling machine; this helped that user decide to lean toward Strobel because of better beam size and welded reinforcements.

Recommendations for Buyers

• Choose width and yardage that match both the terrain and pulling capacity of your tractor or dozer
  
• Check condition of used Strobel scrapers: inspect welds, cutting edges, hinge points, tongue/hitch condition
  
• Evaluate whether you need forced ejection (for lifted dump) or simpler box scraper depending on material and how far you need to haul earth
  
• Budget for maintenance: cutting edges, paint, lubrication, hitch pins will need replacement over time
  

Conclusion
Strobel scrapers are well regarded among operators who need durable, farm or field-level earth moving equipment. Their build quality, variety of models, and thoughtful design features make them good choices when matched appropriately to the pulling unit and the job. Key to satisfaction is choosing the right size, ensuring hitch compatibility, and accepting some trade-offs of speed or weight for durability. For smaller operations or mixed use, Strobel often delivers good return and long lifespan.