SPYDERLK
Super Star Member
- Joined
- Feb 28, 2006
- Messages
- 10,330
- Location
- VA
- Tractor
- JD2010, Kubota3450,2550, Mahindra 7520 w FEL w Skid Steer QC w/Tilt Tatch, & BH, BX1500
Link "explanation" looks more like a study on the negative without qualification of how negative various factors are. Some statements are simplistic and should not be taken at face value. Also prevalent is assuming worst case of fluid fill vs possible advantages to some types of users.
larry
All the extension info says to not fill the tires? Hmmmm, they have been so great in the past with ideas. Plant fescue they say. Then ten years later they say fescue is bad. New flavor of the month is native warm season grasses. My extension agent says don't do hay. Just stockpile pasture areas for over wintering. Okay, so if I'm only a few weeks late getting the hay crop, I'm losing soooo much forage quality, how good can it be sitting dead for months? Frankly, I would temper whatever you read from them as the story changes too frequently.
That said, for most agricultural row crop operations, proper ballasting is to increase traction to reduce wheel slippage to minimum. This is the most fuel efficient way. Depending on your soils, compaction can be an issue which increases costs for breaking up compaction which causes yield reductions. All noble considerations when you are cropping thousands of acres and these differences can make a change in yield of 10 bushels per acre of corn, or reduce fuel usage by 2 gallons per acre worked per field operation.
For the rest of the world of tractor use, we use ballast to lower the center of gravity, offset large front loads, for uses on land that you wouldn't be row cropping. For THAT purpose, filling tires with fluid is a time proven method. Does it make your ride suffer? At high speeds maybe. Does it add to compaction of the ground? Sometimes but depends on soil, time of year, etc.
The flip side - The ballast in my tires allows me to negotiate rough terrain to utilize my tractor in a safe manner. Compaction in my usage doesn't matter. Wheel slippage is only a concern if it is 100%. Ride quality impact in the woods pulling out logs at 3 mph means nothing. About the only operation I might notice it on is running the wheel rake.
Sorry guys, but I have met few extension folks or ag tire mfrs that put as many hours in the tractor seat as I do and I'm only a part time hobbyist farmer. I would rather take the advise of people like here on TBN who are out there regularly using their equipment than most of these off farm experts. Getting off my stump now..
Mm-hmm.Misty,
Very eloquently stated summary and reflects my thoughts exactly. IMHO, you get the prize. Bottom line is there are many factors to consider and everyone has to decide what is best for their use.
BTW, I'd never think of using my 3720 cab tractor w/o tire ballast and wheel extensions on the steep terrain where it is used.
larry