3 pt custom ballast block thingy

[teach]

I admit it. I have cusomization envy. BUT, today I started to do something about it. After looking at several pictures of ballast/weight boxes that some of you posted I decided to try my hand at one too. I never needed one until I recently bought my B7100 with a loader. I started by building a wooden box, filling it with about 2 1/2 bags (80 lbs each) of redi-mix cement with some steel plates added to the mix. Then I made 3 brackets out of rebar to connect the cement block to the 3 pt receiver hitch. I heated them in a portable forge and shaping them on an anvil. Finally, I added some 2 1/2" pipe for tool holders, a piece of 4" pipe to hold a 12' chain, and 2 eye bolts in the corners. Final weight is somewhere around 225-250 lbs. I'll post the final pics in a few days when it cures and I can remove the wood box.
Teach

 

[Cliff_Johns]

Looks very useful. You may not want to remove the wood box though. It's useful for screwing things to.

Cliff

 

[3RRL]

That'll be as good as any ballast box I've seen.
I like the tool holders and eye bolts molded in like that.
Be sure they have drain holes in the bottom though.

 

[BTDT]

A little late now, but you could have molded a place in the back to set a toolbox into, but yours looks good. I'm sure now we'll be seeing a variety of styles on this by different posters, and that's a good thing. Now that I think about it, some pipe in the bottom for casters for when you leave it in garage, you can roll it out of the way.

 

[teach]

Btdt,
My box was actually a variation of several other boxes I saw posted, I just worked with what I had and within my skill level. The whole deal only cost me about $30.00 because I already had the 3 pt. receiver hitch. I thought about jazzing it up some more with a chain saw holder on the back and/or a tool box, but it started getting complicated and I didn't want to over-do-it and have it not work out right. I heated and pinched the two pieces of 2 1/2" PVC and ran those all the way down through the bottom so they can drain and the 4" inch piece for the chain I plan on capping. As far as the casters on the bottom, great idea, but it will be stored outside. No garage for at least two more years, the Mrs. gets her kitchen this year instead!
Teach

 

[Deerlope]

Nice looking idea. I made up a draw bar for the 3ph and ran a flat piece of steel out thru the back of the form box. So everything is poured in the concrete. So now with it on I still have a stationary drawbar in the rear.

 

[Timber]

a Vice

 

[teach]

Well, it works! I took my ballast-hitch out of the shop today and hooked it up. Thanks to all of the other guys who posted previous pictures that I used for my design.
Teach

 

[Cliff_Johns]

Looks like it worked out very well. It's nice and low to the ground too, for better stability.

Interesting little sculpture on the stair on the last photo.

Cliff

 

[teach]

Cliff,
That "sculpture" is actually flat steel and was a wedding gift from one of my wife's friends in New Mexico. Usually my wife dresses the two of them up according to the holiday or season at hand. It usually draws quite a few comments from new guests!
Teach

 

[Timber]

Where in RI are you Tim. RI is a beautiful state especially over by the CT. line

 

[teach]

Timber,
SW RI. 1.5 miles to CT, 8 miles to the beach.
Teach

 

[CurlyDave]

Maybe it is just me, but the ball hitch on the back of that draw bar is well above the rear axle.

When I look at picture 019 for instance, it is less than obvious what would act to prevent a rear rollover if something being towed, or pulled, hung up solidly. The front wheels would be mighty high before the ballast box ever hit the ground.

 

[California]

a Vice

What's your vice, Timber?


That might be a good place for a travelling vise.

Better yet, a massive concrete block might make a good movable base for a big anvil. But you might need to separate the anvil with a plank layer, to avoid shattering the concrete.

Getting back to simple designs, I've considered using a 50-quart plastic bin as the enclosure and leaving it on. This would protect the garage floor from scuffing, and give a soft bumper around the upper edges in case I ever walked into it.

 

[sugarmaple]

You still have the option of attaching whatever other device or gismo you wish to the concrete. Concrete is an adaptable medium like wood and steel, just requiring a slightly different bag of tricks. A piece of pt ply screwed to the concrete gives you a whole new platform from which to extend your creativity, a chainsaw sheath for instance, or whatever you please. A lot can be accomplished with tapcon screws, but if you need real strength, rent a big rotary hammer and throughbolt some angle.

 

[scott_vt]

Afternoon Teach,
I really like the way you did that flat stone wall under your porch !!! Your welcome to come up and do the same under mine !

 

[philbuilt]

Teach,
I like the thingy you built you allready built the tool adapter receiver hitches get used for alot of things. Vice, platforms,avils just to name a few. Great job
Phil