Ballast How many bags of cement to fill ballast box?

   / How many bags of cement to fill ballast box? #1  

93Mustang

Silver Member
Joined
Mar 28, 2010
Messages
147
Location
Chester County, PA
Tractor
JD ##@)
I have been searching all over the place on the forum for an answer to this. I have a jd ballast box with extension and wonder how many bags of portland cement people have got it to hold? I got in five 94 pound bags in the box portion and wonder if I am doing something wrong? I was expecting a couple more would fit in the box section. I may be able to get two more bags in the extension part. This would lead me in theory a bit short on weight to what i expected. Does the cement weigh considerably more when mixed with water? Thank you for any experience with this.

Dana
 
   / How many bags of cement to fill ballast box? #2  
Sounds like you've already done the deed.

How big is the ballast box, dimensions?

For my B3030, the ballast box is 15x15x30 inches. I wanted to at least compensate for the snowblower once spring came along, with the option to add weight as needed.

I went around to 3 tire shops and scammed the used wheel weights removed from wheels. The lead is more dense then concrete, so I figured adding the wheels weights to the 'mix' would provide more weight in less volume.

I planned to fill the ballast box with weights and concrete, then reminded myself to check the maximum load for the lower links on the 3pth. Turns out the maximum is 800 lbs. I'd actually planned to put in weights/concrete that would have exceeded that. As a result, I re-thought my plan. As the saying goes, if you haven't got a plan - you can't screw it up.

Anyway, I welded a received hitch to the bottom of the box, added one 60lb bag of redi-mix, distributed the wheel weights, and then topped up the whole affair with more concrete. The box and receiver hitch alone weighed in at 80lbs. Add the concrete and wheel weights - it topped out at 550 lbs which I think is appropriate for my needs, PLUS there's room to add steel (weights) as needed, rather then topping up with concrete. (I actually weighed the wheel weights in 3 - 5 gallon buckets on the scales that I avoid in the bathroom).

As usual I've elaborated at length, but then again, that's my thing...:D
 
   / How many bags of cement to fill ballast box? #3  
I got about 4 1/2 bags of cement in my JD box. Left about an inch at top to carry two chains. I once heard someone say cured cement also retains the weight of the water added. I have no idea if that is true but the tractor feels stable and well balanced even with heavy front end loads.
 
   / How many bags of cement to fill ballast box? #4  
I am hoping you guys added concrete and not portland cement...
 
   / How many bags of cement to fill ballast box?
  • Thread Starter
#5  
I used Portland cement. Does that pact the number of bags/weight i can get in the box? Why is that an issue? I have no experience with concrete/cement so i have no idea why this might be a problem?
 
   / How many bags of cement to fill ballast box? #6  
If you are leaving it in the bag, it doesn't make much difference, but if you are mixing it and pouring it in, concrete is both stronger and less expensive.
 
   / How many bags of cement to fill ballast box? #7  
80 pound bag of Quikcrete is about .6 cubic feet..... Better to get an extra bag or two than be 1/2 bag short.... [ been there, done that ] This is not to be confused with being one fry short of a happy meal.......... :)
 
   / How many bags of cement to fill ballast box?
  • Thread Starter
#9  
I dont know the size of the box with extension.I was estimating I would need 9 or ten bags based on the expected weight but don't think I will be near that amount.
 
   / How many bags of cement to fill ballast box? #10  
I just filled my new JD ballast box (no extension) this weekend....6 80lb bags quikcrete, 1 40 lb bag quikcrete.....

Oh......and don't buy the 1200 lb dolly from Northern tool to store it on......:laughing:
DSC_0211.jpg
 
   / How many bags of cement to fill ballast box? #11  
I'm just using sifted sand in mine. I originally poured in three 70# bags and four 50# bags, which surprisingly filled it to where another full bag wouldn't fit without adding extensions. I thought it would hold more too. But a few rains and a bit of driving around settled the sand to where I can now top it up with maybe two more bags. Unfortunately you can't do that with concrete mix.

I decided I have no need for the John Deere extensions now, so they're for sale if anybody's interested. As new, never installed.

//greg//
 
   / How many bags of cement to fill ballast box? #12  
Well,looks like the 1200 lb HF dolly is having a melt-down...We had one do that too while carrying an electric motor?
 
   / How many bags of cement to fill ballast box? #13  
I have the JD ballast box w/ no extension and mine took 7 bags of 80lb quikrete. I added 2 - 2" schedule 40 pieces of PVC pipe one on each side. I used my hand tamper to tamp down each mixed bag I added to the box filling it to the bottom of the lip.
 
   / How many bags of cement to fill ballast box? #14  
I'd roll the puppy into Harbor Frieght with the ballast box on it and be like what gives.


I just filled my new JD ballast box (no extension) this weekend....6 80lb bags quikcrete, 1 40 lb bag quikcrete.....

Oh......and don't buy the 1200 lb dolly from Northern tool to store it on......:laughing:
DSC_0211.jpg
 
   / How many bags of cement to fill ballast box? #15  
I am not sure what I want to put in my BB for my 2520?? I thought about just getting 50# bags of play sand that I would leave in the bags that way I could use it in the kids sand box when needed also... I just hate to fill it with concrete which would make it hard to carry tools and chains if I wanted to... I guess I probably wouldn't have it on anyway if I had the chains for pulling trees.. Is that the standard using concrete?? Is that what you are supposed to use in them??
 
   / How many bags of cement to fill ballast box? #16  
I am not sure what I want to put in my BB for my 2520?? I thought about just getting 50# bags of play sand that I would leave in the bags that way I could use it in the kids sand box when needed also... I just hate to fill it with concrete which would make it hard to carry tools and chains if I wanted to... I guess I probably wouldn't have it on anyway if I had the chains for pulling trees.. Is that the standard using concrete?? Is that what you are supposed to use in them??

I had mixed emotions about filling it with concrete too.......but the sole reason I bought it in the 1st place was.....ballast.
 
   / How many bags of cement to fill ballast box? #17  
I had mixed emotions about filling it with concrete too.......but the sole reason I bought it in the 1st place was.....ballast.

Point taken!! I have my rear tires filled and have been using for rear blade for extra ballast but that has proven not to be enough weight for me!! The rear blade is a little over 300# and I have the iMatch on there also not sure about the weight of that though, has to be close to 400# with iMatch... The rear tires were filled with around 260# each I believe... I will have to keep following the post to see what to add to the BB....
 
   / How many bags of cement to fill ballast box? #18  
How did you plug the holes on the bottom of the ballast box prior to adding the cement or sand?
 
   / How many bags of cement to fill ballast box? #19  
....... Is that the standard using concrete?? Is that what you are supposed to use in them??

Owners manual specifies filling the box with either sand or concrete.
 
   / How many bags of cement to fill ballast box? #20  
How did you plug the holes on the bottom of the ballast box prior to adding the cement or sand?

I lined mine with duct tape but it still leaked some. I also drilled weep holes under the PVC.
 

Tractor & Equipment Auctions

2021 CATERPILLAR D3 LGP CRAWLER DOZER (A60429)
2021 CATERPILLAR...
(INOP) 2016 CATERPILLAR 259D SKID STEER (A52707)
(INOP) 2016...
PALLET OF(3) CABINETS & (5)BOXES OF CARPET SQUARES (A60432)
PALLET OF(3)...
2019 Ford F-150 4x4 Crew Cab Pickup Truck (A59230)
2019 Ford F-150...
WHIRLPOOL REFRIGERATOR/FREEZER W/ICEMAKER (A60432)
WHIRLPOOL...
2017 VOLVO VNL64T TANDEM AXLE SLEEPER TRUCK (A59905)
2017 VOLVO VNL64T...
 
Top