Quick Hitches YABB (Yet Another Ballast Box)

   / YABB (Yet Another Ballast Box) #31  
I bought the CNH weight box for 1000 lbs off of ebay. (chest implant-extended welding not recommended) I put 4 Farmall model A rear wheel weights in it. 150 lbs each. box weighs about 155. that gives me the 700 lbs that is recommended. Going to fill spaces with gravel to just above wheel weights. put in board and line with plastic, fill with concrete to top. putting in 2 lift rings so can be removed if not needed. I figure to be able to adjust box weight to what I am doing..
Already noticed the 700 lbs is helping keep the bouncing down like a stabilizer.

Just thought I would keep the thread going, (bored sunday afternoon. rain-)
 
   / YABB (Yet Another Ballast Box) #33  
Yes, It's well underway. In fact, I dropped it off two days ago to get my free batch of concrete poured into it, and I'll be picking it up today.

I didn't take any photos during construction because I only had a very short time each night to work on it, but I'll take a couple photos of the finished product and post them soon. Maybe today!

Thanks again for all your advice! You'll find it looks similar to yours, but not in JD green. ;-)


HH
Hi HH,

If you have it finished... Why not post a picture of it finished! :)

You're welcome for any advice that I may have gave you!

Bill
 
   / YABB (Yet Another Ballast Box) #34  
Before I picked up my Kubota ballast box for cheap, I was looking at fabricating my own.

Since I am without access to sheet metal machines it seemed like a better route would be to start with a gang box and then customize it.

Add 3PH mounts, and a receiver tube for a hitch. Myself, I would probably add several receiver tubes around the outside and make my tool caddies modular, interchangeable for the job at hand. Also, your caddies could be usable on other mounts such as your tractor itself, or on your carryall, etc.

Once you have completed all of your customization fill most of the way with concrete and you have enclosed storage at the top.

The design of the Jobox shown in the photo has bottom bolsters that could be your mount point for casters.

These gang boxes are available everywhere used, usually at substantial savings if the paint looks deplorable. Since you are probably going to paint to match your tractor it should not matter much.
 

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   / YABB (Yet Another Ballast Box) #35  
I bought my ballast box used...it already had 600 or so lbs of sand in it. I just never had any reason to change it.

Sand is good to have in there as well, because you can use it in the winter if you become stuck for traction, and you could use it to extinguish a fire, if you didn't have anything else. And, if you have barn cats, wait, the cat part is not a good idea..:)
 
   / YABB (Yet Another Ballast Box) #36  
I like your idea of using the job box Stagelines.

I wasn't really sure where else to post these ballasts that I found on the internet. This first one I found on another website. I forget where I found them, therefore I can't give credit to anyone who designed them.

3pt_ballast.pngIMG_20110514_152016.jpg
 
   / YABB (Yet Another Ballast Box) #37  
This one I found on the internet as well. It is far from being home-made. Apparently it is available in the UK.
It has a very slick look. I guess we have to give them on the other side of the pond credit for "thinking outside the box".

1101-LYNX_JD_Drive-in_Weight_350_thumb.jpg
 
   / YABB (Yet Another Ballast Box) #38  
JD4300, that BB you built is great and your pics and info were also. I am going to start rounding up some steel myself! Thx for the ideas.Andy
 
   / YABB (Yet Another Ballast Box) #39  
Following some of the many good tips from this forum, I decided to go with a concrete filled ballast box for the 3PH, to help when the FEL is picking up big loads.

My three requirements are:
1) I want to keep it as tight to the back of the tractor as possible for maneuvering around.
2) It needs to weigh about 1200 lbs to provide adequate counterweight.
3) I want to make it work with my HF quickhitch so I can pick it and drop it easily. I really only need it when working with the grapple. The rest of the time it'll sit on a couple dollies.

I know there's 100 different ways to add ballast (i.e. counterweight), but I talked with a local fabricator and he is willing to build a metal box for $150, and the concrete place across the street from him is willing to fill it up for free with leftover mix, so this turned out to be the easiest way for me to do it.

I drew up a (overly complicated) sketch of the box for the welder, and I'm posting it here for any comments or suggestions before I have it made. Any further thoughts on this much covered topic?


HH
I can't get your drawing to open. Computer tells me this type of file is risky, but even with the risk it will not open. Suggestions???
 
   / YABB (Yet Another Ballast Box) #40  
I can't get your drawing to open. Computer tells me this type of file is risky, but even with the risk it will not open. Suggestions???

You'll need Adobe Acrobat Reader.
If you have it (Adobe Reader) and it still doesn't open, you may need to update Reader.
 
 
 
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