Am I being a noob about ballast boxes...

[Perplexed]

Recently, I emailed Everything Attachments to see if they sold ballast boxes on their web site, since a search failed to turn up that implement. The response I got ran in part thus:

We don't carry ballast boxes, get a box blade for rear weight and have a useful attachment...

That struck me as an odd response, and faintly condescending. I wanted to check with you experienced folks about whether or not a ballast box really is "useless." I had the impression that BB's would work nicely in tight confines such as in wooded areas and near buildings and fences, but maybe I just don't know anything?

 

[gwdixon]

Try searching for "ballast box" on TBN and you'll get plenty of advice.

 

[jake98]

I think that's refreshingly good advice. (a box-blade)

 

[Zebrafive]

My large AG tractor calls for almost 2000lbs of rear ballast. So a large ballast box is the way I plan to go. None of my attachments are that heavy.

 

[Perplexed]

OK, maybe I should have expanded further on my query. Yes, I've researched BB's on TBN, and found plenty of advice. I came away with the impression that, by and large, BB's do have their place in a lineup of tractor implements. That is, they can be useful in certain situations.

Which is why I found Everything Attachment's response to be surprising, hence my OP.

 

[Glen Watkins]

They want to sell you something they have! Ballast box is useful for grapple work in and around trees and tight spots.

 

[RoyJackson]

That struck me as an odd response, and faintly condescending. I wanted to check with you experienced folks about whether or not a ballast box really is "useless." I had the impression that BB's would work nicely in tight confines such as in wooded areas and near buildings and fences, but maybe I just don't know anything?

Not really too odd or condescending...they were just seizing a potential opportunity to sell you an implement. A lot of folks (me included) are "spur of the moment" and impulse buyers...not necessarilly a good thing though (me included).

I like the compactness of a ballast box. They are easily rigged to the 3PH and the weight is concentrated just where you need it. That compactness also means easy to store away (use a Harbor Freight dolly (about 15 bucks) and it's even easier).

 

[jdonovan]

That struck me as an odd response, and faintly condescending. I wanted to check with you experienced folks about whether or not a ballast box really is "useless." I had the impression that BB's would work nicely in tight confines such as in wooded areas and near buildings and fences, but maybe I just don't know anything?

Yes ballast boxes have their place. However, for the amount of weight the CUT's need; the get a heavy box blade is good solid advice.

The BB sits more rearward than a ballast box would, and you can get more counterweight effect for less total lbs on the tractor.

I suppose it depends on what your goals are for putting the weight on the machine.

If you need traction then raw mass is mostly what you care about. If you want to balance a loader but don't want to tear up turf, then reduced LBS placed further out on the 3-point could be an advantage.

I've seen more than a few home made weight boxes that are 55, or 30 gal drums with 3-point links welded on, and drum filled with concrete.

As with everything, you need to match the tools to the need.

 

[jake98]

They want to sell you something they have! Ballast box is useful for grapple work in and around trees and tight spots.

I'm keeping my chipper on for ballast, now that I got one. That's handy with the grapple and tree work. Used to use the box-blade. Some say a brush-hog is good for chopping up the debris too.

 

[jake98]

If you need weight in a hurry the carry-all is probably the thing to get, at least you can use it for other things. (mine recently morphed into a garden bedder)(after morphing into a trailer mover) And they're cheap.