Anyone built there own weight box for a three point?

[cook96cbra]

I just noticed I used the wrong "there' in the thread subject line. Should have been "thier". Sorry.

~M

 

[MoreCowbell]

Here is the weight I just built. I was looking to get the center of gravity as far out back as I could so that when I use the FEL I'm getting weight off the front wheels rather than only adding weight to the back wheels which is the case with filling the rear tires.

I can just back the tractor up to it and the drawbar slides right onto the two pins in the front. I did it this way because I always have a rough time hooking the 3PT up to things (probably because I am a new tractor user) .

I designed it using Google Sketchup and I was shooting for 500 lbs (Quikrete is about 133 lbs per cu.ft.). One deviation from the plan is that for the top link piece I used some misc lift link I found at AgriSupply. I embedded it in the concrete and it works fine.

My biggest regret is that I lined the MDF form with plastic so the MDF wouldn't breakdown from the moisture in the wet concrete. I didn't realize that it was going to look so much like a wrinkled prune . Maybe I'll name it Yoda.

 

[cook96cbra]

That's pretty cool! I like how it looks easy to hook up.

Thanks!

 

[UnclePaul]

I posted this before but sense then have made an other weight block with modifications.

"A cheap way to make a ballast box is get a 30 or 55 gallon drum and a drawl bar hitch cut two holes in the drum to let the drawl bar hitch go through. depending on how much weight you want and what size drum you use. You can cut the drum down. Last you get a piece of c channel steel and drill a hole in it to fit your top link into. fasten the c channel to the drawl bar by welding or you can turn the drawl bar hitch and just bolt the c channel to it. Then just pour the concrete."

On my last weight block I add a 2" receiver insert before I poured the concrete Now I can move my trailer without taking the weight block off. Also it works great for my salt spreader in the winter time.

 

[grnspot110]

I made mine from "stuff" I had laying around: two pieces of RR rail, 100#; remains of a 3-pt boom, fillled with lead, 75# (the rest of the boom went to my loader boom); two suitcase wts., 200#; & two old concrete wts., 220#. grnspot110

 

[Cyclone Jake]

This has always been one of my favorites:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/113471-concrete-balast-box-cure.html

 

[cook96cbra]

HOLY CRAP! That's BIG!

 

[Cyclone Jake]

HOLY CRAP! That's BIG!

In the post, he said it weighed 1300 lbs. If I built one like that, I would try to design a way to carry a few tools too. But, can't beat it for sheer mass!

 

[galaxie428]

I built am small box frame out of 2x2x1/4 angle (free) then took a 55 gallon drum (free) and placed it in the frame. I then filled the drum with sand (free). I have not weighed it but I think it is around 800lbs. I could have filled it with concrete but that wasn't free. I am all about FREE! The concrete would make it much heavier but I don't have any issues with it like it is.

 

[cook96cbra]

I built am small box frame out of 2x2x1/4 angle (free) then took a 55 gallon drum (free) and placed it in the frame. I then filled the drum with sand (free). I have not weighed it but I think it is around 800lbs. I could have filled it with concrete but that wasn't free. I am all about FREE! The concrete would make it much heavier but I don't have any issues with it like it is.

That's what I'm talking about, FREEEEEE!!! I was thinking a 55 gallon drum with a bar welded to it, through it and a spot to hook the top link and then filling it with water or dirt.

BTW, I'm a Ford lover and I noticed your screen name. Gotta Galaxie with a 428 in it? COOOOLLL! By looking at my screen name, see if you can figure out what '96 Ford I had at one time...