What to use in Ballast box

[devildog1]

Ok , Ok, I'll bite, but why the need for more weight on the rear tires when you have your tires filled with Rim Guard or some other suitable mixture? Also isn't that the reason for filling the rears is to counterbalance the maximum load you can safety lift with the FEL? So why more weight on three point hitch?
DevilDog

 

[k0ua]

Ok , Ok, I'll bite, but why the need for more weight on the rear tires when you have your tires filled with Rim Guard or some other suitable mixture? Also isn't that the reason for filling the rears is to counterbalance the maximum load you can safety lift with the FEL? So why more weight on three point hitch?
DevilDog

Because it is simply not enough, it helps a lot, and also puts weight down low which helps when on a slope, but when you tie into a load with your front end loader near its maximum it will still lift the rear without a good ballast on the 3PT. Now with loaded tires and a good heavy box blade, that may be plenty.
Another issue is that the 3pt weight helps to unload the front axle, and the loaded tires do not. But the clearance issues still come up with a boxblade when working in the woods, or near buildings.. Not saying you have to have a ballast box, just saying it is the right thing for some of us. If you live in open meadows, and don't need to works in tight places, then by all means put a "usefull" implement on the back. We all have different circumstances.

James K0UA

 

[devildog1]

KOua,
Thanks for the explanation, now it does make more sense to me. I really do not have any tight spots on my land and it is quite flat so Box or Back Blade makes more sense to me. But I can understand if you were in a small spot where in would help.
DevilDog

 

[jinman]

Why Ballast Box for weight?
For the life of me why would anyone want to put a usless box on three point hitch that you can not use? Why not a Box Blade or a back blade? At least it could be used for doing something besides rear weight that has no other use except to hang there.
DevilDog

+1:thumbsup: If the weight of the box isn't enough, you can add more weight to it and make it work even better.

 

[rjkobbeman]

Ok , Ok, I'll bite, but why the need for more weight on the rear tires when you have your tires filled with Rim Guard or some other suitable mixture? Also isn't that the reason for filling the rears is to counterbalance the maximum load you can safety lift with the FEL? So why more weight on three point hitch?
DevilDog

Because it is simply not enough, it helps a lot, and also puts weight down low which helps when on a slope, but when you tie into a load with your front end loader near its maximum it will still lift the rear without a good ballast on the 3PT. Now with loaded tires and a good heavy box blade, that may be plenty.
Another issue is that the 3pt weight helps to unload the front axle, and the loaded tires do not. But the clearance issues still come up with a boxblade when working in the woods, or near buildings.. Not saying you have to have a ballast box, just saying it is the right thing for some of us. If you live in open meadows, and don't need to works in tight places, then by all means put a "usefull" implement on the back. We all have different circumstances.

James K0UA

Not only that, but some of us do not like the idea of filling our tires with liquid and use the ballast box instead of filling tires.

 

[tk1469]

Runner - did you make the 8 suitcase weights or buy them? It does look like a very professional job!

 

[KubotainNH]

Why Ballast Box for weight?
For the life of me why would anyone want to put a usless box on three point hitch that you can not use? Why not a Box Blade or a back blade? At least it could be used for doing something besides rear weight that has no other use except to hang there.
DevilDog

I don't have any 3 point implements but did need ballast. Also didn't want to deal with filling my tires. Mine cost me the price of a few bags of concrete, it's not as nice as Runner's (great job BTW) but does the job: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...276799135-some-home-made-add-ons-dscf0813.jpg Amazing how much more stable it is now.

 

[Runner]

"Runner - did you make the 8 suitcase weights or buy them? It does look like a very professional job!"

Those are just JD 44lb suitcase weights, available at your friendly local John Deere dealer($$$$$$$$).

 

[Deere Dude]

It would be nice to just pick either a ballast box or wheel weights or loaded tires. If just one is fine, why did the owners manual for a JD 3720 say to put on a 1100# weight box AND loaded tires AND wheel weights. All tractors are different but the same concept is there.

I have heard it will make it more stable so the rear stays on the ground and also like someone mentioned, so the rear hefty duty rear end and tires gets most of the work. I have heard of front ends breaking from not enough weight on the rear and really working the front end loader.

 

[Carl Bert]

Not only that, but some of us do not like the idea of filling our tires with liquid and use the ballast box instead of filling tires.

I agree. I am one that doesn't fill my tires for the simple fact that I sometimes need to use my machine on my lawn, and I want as little weight as possible so not to create ruts.
The simplest and cheapest solution to adding rear weight is one I found on this forum. The guy simply made a block of concrete with the 3ph pins embedded into it. This way you can make it any size you want and you can leave it outside and not worry about rust. He even added a receiver to the back of it.
Just do a search like "rear weight" or "adding ballast". You will find some interesting ideas