How much ballast

[TomIre]

It's become apparent that I need some ballast on the back of my tractor as I now have a grapple I'm using. The question is, how much ballast? My tractor is a Branson 3725. 37hp and just over 4000 #'s dry weight. What would you suggest?
I plan to use a carryall and put the weight in a 55 drum.

 

[i7win7]

TractorData.com Branson 3725R tractor information

Rear lift (at 24"/610mm): 2420 lbs [1097 kg]

Make sure drum won't fall off carry-all, 1200-1500 lbs depends on how much weight are you lifting?

I like to use loaded tires - weight always on tractor.

 

[jeff9366]

It's become apparent that I need some ballast on the back of my tractor as I have a grapple. The question is, how much ballast? .

What tires are on your Branson now?

Are tires inflated with air or filled with liquid? What liquid? What fill level?

 

[TomIre]

R1 and air filled.

 

[Jstpssng]

According to the Rim Guard chart https://25hocqqai9f40uz013vrrbx1-wp...ds/2020/04/RimGuardBeetJuiceTireFillChart.pdf you would add 750 lbs if you loaded both tires.
I went with wheel weights because I'm going to need new rears within a couple of years. (I use a lot less weight for my little tractor.) Rear ballast is OK but it's sprung weight... I've been out discing and had the rear on the uphill side come off the ground.

 

[TomIre]

I may fill my tires at some point but for now I'm going with 3pt ballast. Quicker, cheaper and can drop it off when not needed - Bush hogging, etc.

 

[jeff9366]

With air in your tires I concur that 1,200 to 1,500 pounds will be enough counterbalance.

Your Branson is about the same weight as my Kubota L3560. FEL lift is a bit more. I have air inflated tires too.

Make sure drum won't fall off carry-all, 1200-1500 lbs.

Branson 3725R - ATTACHMENTS

2017 -
Compact Utility tractor
Series next: Branson 4225R

Loader:
Loader type: Branson BL25R
Height (to pin): 103.8 inches [263 cm]
Clearance, dumped bucket: 79 inches [200 cm]
Dump reach: 26 inches [66 cm]
Dump angle: 44
Clearance, level bucket: 97.3 inches [247 cm]
Reach at ground: 67.3 inches [170 cm]
Rollback angle: 24.5
Breakout force (lift): 3531 lbs [1601 kg]
Lift to full height (at pin): 2100 lbs [952 kg]
Bucket width: 67 inches [170 cm]

 

[TomIre]

Now the challenge is getting that much weight in the barrel! According to my Googling 55 gallon drum full of wet sand will weigh about 900#'s. I'll have to see what else I have around that will fit in the carryall.

 

[oosik]

Just about everything beyond wet sand will represent - $$$. Reject lead wheel weights - but here you will be up against ammo reloaders who dearly prize this product for casting bullets.

Will the carry all hold something larger than a 55 gallon drum - or two drums..........

 

[WranglerX]

Concrete weighs in about 150 lbs per cubic foot, I made a 4 cubic foot box for my SCUT and its at about 600 lbs (-/+) and make front a bit light with FEL empty... But when doing FEL work it seems ok.... I know lot smaller tractor, but....



Here is what my tractor manual has to say about ballast...



A 55 gallon drum is about 7.35 cu-ft, so a drum full of concrete should weigh in some where in range of 1100 lbs...
About 18, 60 lb bags of sacreete...

Dale