To Ballast Box or Not

   / To Ballast Box or Not #1  

robertm

Veteran Member
Joined
Jun 3, 2002
Messages
1,115
Location
Northern Illinois
Tractor
Kubota BX2660
I've read the posts on making you own ballast weight, but wonder if it's really worth the few $ savings. Does anyone have input on whether or not it is worth having a ballast box of steel filled with stone or some other ballast instead of making a solid weight? I do not have access right now to a welder or torches to make up the necessary pieces for the 3pt, so I have considered just buying a ballast box and filling it with stone. Certainly a $130 box costs more than what I could make one for, but time, materials, etc. all add up. The steel Kubota ballast box certainly would look better. /w3tcompact/icons/cool.gif Is there any advantage in adjusting the ballast weight? I assume (and you all know what that means) most hang the ballast and never change it, unless it is removed for another implement. So, whatchallthink? /w3tcompact/icons/hmm.gif
 
   / To Ballast Box or Not #2  
I want to built or purchase a ballast box.

One nice thing is that they don't stick out as far as an implement would (so the weight would be closer to the driver wheels). If you don't add the weight as a permanent thing, you could use the box as a carryall.

I'm not particularly concerned about the looks of one..if I buy, it'll probably be well used.

Just hasn't been a real need for one yet...
 
   / To Ballast Box or Not #3  
I bought a JD ballast box. Yes, it was a little pricey, but what is $200 when the tractor costs almost $16000?
 
   / To Ballast Box or Not #4  
Or you could use a carryall as a weight carrier. Cheap substitute, that can also be used for other things.
 
   / To Ballast Box or Not #5  
I use a boxblade for ballast but you can build a counter weight cheap with a plastic garbage can, a draw bar and some ready mix concrete. Just run the draw bar through some holes in the garbage can, fill with ready mix and stick a couple “L” shaped pieces of flat metal stock in for your top link. I have also seen people add a couple of bolts with washers to the wet concrete so they could bolt a toolbox on top.

MarkV
 
   / To Ballast Box or Not #6  
KodiaK,
I did that before I bought the ballast box. Load a couple of chimney blocks on your carryall and you've got one heck of a weight box!
 
 
 
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