made a 3 point weight box w/ storage area

[MF RED in MT]

Hey to all, I just finished my 3 point attached weight box. This winter I wanted to remove the backhoe while snowblowing, but I soon found out that I needed some weight in the rear of the tractor, . I got the idea from of this type of weight box from our TBN forum and went from there to add a few more things to it, :thumbsup:.

First: I used 3/4" plywood for a form for the concrete, the box is 20"x18"x20" tall (I poured the concrete 3.5" low from the top to allow for a storage area for chains, straps, etc...)

Second: I added some rebar and plates inside, along with 2 lifting eyes in the top, and 4 couplings in the rear of the box for a future ball hitch.

Third: I coated with oil the wood inside and out, then poured the redi-mix concrete.

Fourth: I cut a 1/4" piece of rubber to lay on the top surface of the concrete, and then made a lid for the top of the weight box.

I hope some of you can use this info, , below are some pics, KC .

 

[jlsmith]

Verry nice looking box. How much weight did that end up giving you and how did you secure your liftarm pins.

 

[MF RED in MT]

Verry nice looking box. How much weight did that end up giving you and how did you secure your liftarm pins.

Thanks, . The completed weight box is just about 500 pounds. I secured all of the interior reinforement steel by welding, :thumbsup:. I used 2 extra 3/4" set collars that are flush with the outside of the plywood so the weight and wear does not abuse the plywood. I even used an old satlelite dish bracket as part of the reinforement, whatever I had laying around, :thumbsup:. Here are a few more pics that show more. KC

 

[Big Wave D]

Clever use of 3pt draw bar. Was looking at your pics and wondered how it was going to attach, then saw photo of bar mounted.

How much would you say you have in materials cost for your project?

I see some welding took place inside the box. How much did you fabricate outside and what all had to be finished inside?

Looks good. It will definitely make the going easier.

 

[Big Wave D]

Do you have a picture of the back? I'm interested in seeing how your 4 bolts going through back are going to be used for mounting a hitch.

 

[beenthere]

The pics are so blurry, I don't see the detail. Any chance of pics in focus?

Sounds like the project was a success for you.

 

[MF RED in MT]

Do you have a picture of the back? I'm interested in seeing how your 4 bolts going through back are going to be used for mounting a hitch.

Hey Big Wave, total cost for parts is not that much because I had these items on hand: 3/4" plywood, 1/2" threaded rod coulpers, rebar, misc metal, redi-mix concrete bags, drawbar, 3/4" set collars, welder and filler rod, etc... I did buy the four 1/2" eye bolts that were about 8 bucks, :thumbsup:. If I were to guess $$ if I had to go and buy, , maybe $100, .

The only thing I welded outside of the box was the rear plate to the four 1/2" threaded rod couplers (for the future rear ball hitch).

I plan on bolting a 3/8" plate to the rear four couplers and weld the 2" square tube that already has a 2" ball welded to it (from Harbor Freight), have these parts on hand also, :thumbsup:. Heres a pic of the rear of the box. KC

 

[MF RED in MT]

The pics are so blurry, I don't see the detail. Any chance of pics in focus?

Sounds like the project was a success for you.

Ya, I was not very good holding the camera along with my cane. Let me know what kind of detail you are talking about and maybe I can get the wife to take a few good pics, :ashamed:. If you are talking about the reinforement detail inside, well those pics are all I have, and I was just winging it putting steel here and there, :thumbsup:. KC

 

[Big Wave D]

I found your rebar work inside the box to be of a slightly 'artistic' nature.

I'd say your box will last you for many years to come, and with the time you stopped to consider what you wanted your box to do, you'll get lots of usefulness out of your additional add ons.

Good job :thumbsup:

 

[Thomas]

Sharp looking setup. ..good idea on storage.

 

[Zick]

Nice Setup!
I may just steal your design when I rebuild my ballast since my last one broke.
What kind of oil did you coat the plywood with? I assume this helps make it weather resistant or are you going to paint it?

 

[MF RED in MT]

Hey Big Wave D, thanks, but all I was trying to do is weld all the rebar together for to make it strong, , also I kept the rebar about 1" from the inside of the plywood form just in case later on I remove it , . It took 7 bags of 60 pounds redi-mix concrete with about 2 five gallon buckets of hot water to fill the box.
Hey Zick, I used what was handy, WD40 to coat the plywood, and yes I think next summer I will paint it MF Red or just black, :thumbsup:.
KC

 

[WranglerX]

This is what I did, box is two 2ft square frames held together at each corners, made from old angle iron bed frames, sheet metal is about 10 or 12 gauge sheet cut to fit in frames.... Threaded rods are passes through some 1 inch id tubes through box... 4 pieces of 2 inch ABS plastic inserted vertically for tool holders.... Not shown is 2 inch angle put on back side and attached with the threaded rods for using as a point to add trailer ball or tow chain for home harrow or for what ever reason to attach something....

It is 2ft X 2ft X 1ft and weighs in around 500 pounds..

Dale

 

[MF RED in MT]

This is what I did, box is two 2ft square frames held together at each corners, made from old angle iron bed frames, sheet metal is about 10 or 12 gauge sheet cut to fit in frames.... Threaded rods are passes through some 1 inch id tubes through box... 4 pieces of 2 inch ABS plastic inserted vertically for tool holders.... Not shown is 2 inch angle put on back side and attached with the threaded rods for using as a point to add trailer ball or tow chain for home harrow or for what ever reason to attach something....

It is 2ft X 2ft X 1ft and weighs in around 500 pounds..

Dale

View attachment 595589

Hi DL Meisen,

Your weight box looks better, and I like your vertical tool holders. Just re-figured the weight for mine @ 150# per cu. ft. of concrete = 625lbs, I knew it was heavy.

I have been thinking for years to add some vertical tool holders to the outside, but that project has not made it to the top of the list.

I really like the storage under my top cover and I leave the chain hooked up to the eye bolts for installing and removing the box so its as simple as connecting the chain fall.

I also use the rear receiver hitch quite a bit, and connect a Moultrie ATV Spreader with electronic feed gate that I use with sand to spread over all of our ice covered driveway in the winter.

KC