Buying Advice Ballast Box vs Wheel Weights vs Filled Tires

[rjkobbeman]

I had to do some creative "cramming" in order to fit everything in my garage. Until I am able to build my out-building, things will have to remain this way.

Everything fits except my ballast box. I simply leave it outside. I didn't want to leave any of my new tractor stuff outside, but it really is just a steel box with concrete in it. I have it sitting on six landscaping blocks to keep it off of the grass. I figured keeping a few inches above the ground will slow down any rusting/rotting from sitting in damp grass/dirt.

 

[easygo]

Get the filled tires and something for weight on the 3pt hitch. You can just fill a 35 gallon garbage can with concrete with a properly placed draw bar in it and that will only stick out about 8-10". If doing loader work without ballast in the back you will put too much pressure on the front axle and the rear tires will have absolutely NO traction. In a bad case they can just come right up into the air. If you are a thrill seeker that could be a good source of costly surprises.

 

[Grandad4]

Welcome to TBN. As you can see, there is plenty of good advice to be found here. The ballast/weight advice is very sound, I think. Regarding your storage building, I've got just a couple of other thoughts, based on some experience at our place. First, if your tractor is blocked in by your car, it increases the hassle factor of getting it out and putting it away each time you use it. If you also have to attach and detach your 3pt implement each time due to space limitations, that will add even more complexity to its regular use. You'll have to decide how much of a bother that will be based on how often you'll use it, but that would get old very fast, as they say, at my place. Don't know if it's feasible at your building site or within your budget, but is there any chance to add a second door at the tractor end of the building?

The other idea was just something to be aware of since it sounds like some dirt work is planned for the B3030. Keeping your tractor indoors is one of those "pay me now or pay me later" situations. You either clean up the tractor - particularly the tires - of dirt and mud before you put it away, every time, or you'll sweep it up later from the floor, because it all dries up and drops off the next time you move the tractor. If your car is sharing the same garage, you'll want to keep after the dirt even more.

But congrats on the new B3030. That's a really nice unit.

 

[Snapper Head]

Re: Ballast Box vs Wheel Weights vs Filled Tired

I have had liquid filled tires and a ballest box. I like the ballest box because you can remove the extra weight when you don't need it. I also got one flat with filled tires, what a mess. Philip.

Philip,

I just got my shiny new orange ballast box and was thinking about filling it with concrete like you did. Any regrets about doing that?


Big Al

 

[RoyJackson]

Filled tires are great to aid stability to a tractor...not much for traction though (although I'm sure filled tires to add to traction).
Until you use a ballast box or similar, you won't realize how much that weight helps in productivity. Balancing out the weight on the front axle is very important...but not something one can "feel" or experience (at least I can't)...but I can sure see the loader diving into a pile of material that previously stopped me in my tracks (even with filled tires)!

 

[whistlepig]

I have a B7800 that is about the same size as a B3030. I just added a Kubota B8160 ballast box. It adds 16" length to the back of the tractor, weighs 100# and holds 500# of sand. My tires are filled and I bought the ballast box primarily for added weight moving snow. But as RoyJackson says it makes one heck of a difference in traction moving dirt and gravel with my FEL.

 

[PHILIP8N]

Re: Ballast Box vs Wheel Weights vs Filled Tired

Philip,

I just got my shiny new orange ballast box and was thinking about filling it with concrete like you did. Any regrets about doing that?


Big Al

No regets, but I have only had it filled for a few months now. Are you ever going to dump your ballest once you put it in there? I did not plan on it. Concrete is very dense, about the most weight for the buck. Stable, will not soak up water and freeze. I have the top painted Kubota orange now, looks pretty good. If you plan to do yours, caulk all seams with silicone and duct tape the drain holes. Philip.

 

[PHILIP8N]

Filled tires are great to aid stability to a tractor...not much for traction though (although I'm sure filled tires to add to traction).

Filled tires on my 8N are night and day. Makes a BIG difference in traction. On plow day, impressed many folks with larger JD's, AC's, and Cases. Philip.

 

[whistlepig]

Re: Ballast Box vs Wheel Weights vs Filled Tired

No regets, but I have only had it filled for a few months now. Are you ever going to dump your ballest once you put it in there? I did not plan on it. Concrete is very dense, about the most weight for the buck. Stable, will not soak up water and freeze. I have the top painted Kubota orange now, looks pretty good. If you plan to do yours, caulk all seams with silicone and duct tape the drain holes. Philip.

I think I will fill mine with concrete. I can see the sand getting nasty in a couple of years. And, as PHILIP8N says, it's about the most weight for buck if you research it.

 

[The Haymaker]

Re: Ballast Box vs Wheel Weights vs Filled Tired

I agree 100% with Kenny on this. The ability to unload your front axle will help you prevent damage to that vital component.



-Jim

If anything, running weights will INCREASE load on the front axle. It is still the load bearing point, probably fulcrum is a better word. Adding rear weight allows more weight to be place on the front axle without the "safety valve" of a load lifting the rear end.

Now for my two cents. I have loaded tires which are heavy enough to keep me on the ground with most uses except for digging loam. If I was buying again, would I load again? Probably not. I have some soft areas where lighter tires would be a plus. It's easy to remove a weight box, not so easy to remove ballast or wheel weights. But, at the same time, the work to stabilize the CG on some of the slopes I mow. It's a tough call.