Ballast (again) on a 3038e

Jd5203 · May 31, 2012

cjdavis618 said:
Sounds like you have it pretty well figured out, but one thing I would add is to have the tires loaded with fluid to add more weight. You can get quite a bit more weight on that tractor by adding fluid to the tires all around.

I would do this also and instead of getting a rear ballets box just attach an attachment to the three point hitch. This will give you added weight without spending extra money.

k0ua · May 31, 2012

Well you already know how scary your tractor is without any kind of ballast while doing loader work. Let me tell you why I run both ballast on the 3pt and loaded tires. I mostly do loader work, and lift heavy rocks and buckets full of gravel etc. But when I am mowing the ballast box is not on the tractor.. and I still want to manuever on hilly ground, and I need something to give me more stability. The loaded tires put the majority of their weight below the axle, and increase stability. With the loaded tires, and the ballast box on the 3pt, it just helps all the more when doing loader work. Your work and goals may be different than mine, but I would not even try to use the FEL without at least a nice heavy rear ballast on the back. I just don't have the "guts" to do it without.

James K0UA

sideskraft · Dec 22, 2017

k0ua said:
Well you already know how scary your tractor is without any kind of ballast while doing loader work. Let me tell you why I run both ballast on the 3pt and loaded tires. I mostly do loader work, and lift heavy rocks and buckets full of gravel etc. But when I am mowing the ballast box is not on the tractor.. and I still want to manuever on hilly ground, and I need something to give me more stability. The loaded tires put the majority of their weight below the axle, and increase stability. With the loaded tires, and the ballast box on the 3pt, it just helps all the more when doing loader work. Your work and goals may be different than mine, but I would not even try to use the FEL without at least a nice heavy rear ballast on the back. I just don't have the "guts" to do it without.

James K0UA

Good points all. I'm not a tractor owner yet but have done intensive research into 25-40hp compacts, focusing on Branson, LS, Bota and a very low hour pristine 3038E that was just traded to a dealer (hasn't been advertised yet). One thing all 30E Series owners must acknowledge is that these machines are the lightest in their class, and I'm guessing they have the least percentage of weight on the rear tires. This is primarily due to extensive use of lightweight materials, specifically plastic and aluminum, with the biggest contributors being cast aluminum transmission and rear end/differential housing. But the Deere also appears to have the lightest loader/bucket setup, so that helps to balance things. I'm still considering a 35hp Branson that's a tank (4100lbs) that has front and rear lifting capacities about double of the Deere, but it's also larger in every dimension and right now that machine would be extreme overkill for my 2.5 acre property. I think the Deere would be a better fit. The Deere manual states how much ballast is required for FEL work, and if I buy that one, I plan to fill the tires and fill a Deere or Titan box to get at least 500lb.

Garandman · Dec 23, 2017

We have a similar-size Kubota and do not understand why you would not fill the tires and get a ballast box, for all the reasons listed above, safety being paramount.

While it is easy enough to make ballast, we purchased a CUT ballast box from DR Power in VT. It is loaded with Granite, which weighs about 160 lbs cu/ft and weighs 125 lb so we are at around 700-800.

It is made by Earth and Turf in PA if they or another dealer are closer. There are cheaper boxes as well.
Ballast Box for Compact Tractors | Earth and Turf Attachments

Ballast Box 3 Point Category 1 Tractor Attachment

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200487884_200487884

sideskraft · Dec 23, 2017

Very nice box. I've had my eye on the Titan box -- I like the hitch receiver on the bottom. Why did you choose granite, and where did you find it? I wonder if there is somewhere to access lead, since it's one of the most dense materials available?

kcflhrc · Dec 23, 2017

I have a 2013 3032E with the 305 Loader and have never felt I needed anything for ballast besides the loaded tires. The fluid in the tires adds a lot of weight.

Millalien · Dec 24, 2017

kcflhrc said:
I have a 2013 3032E with the 305 Loader and have never felt I needed anything for ballast besides the loaded tires. The fluid in the tires adds a lot of weight.

I use a ballast box I made by embedding a draw bar in a plastic storage container and filling it with about 240# of concrete. With about 1,600# of rim guard already on board, the ballast box probably wasn't changing the tipping point a whole lot. I took it off to use a 3pt implement and didn't put it back on. Theoretically, there's a payload which is 239# too heavy, but I haven't come across it yet.

I can't imagine running my 3320 unloaded - it rides high and light as it is, and filling the tires was well worth the $$. I haven't rolled it, but I'm sure I would have had the tires not been filled.

sideskraft · Dec 24, 2017

Millalien said:
I use a ballast box I made by embedding a draw bar in a plastic storage container and filling it with about 240# of concrete. With about 1,600# of rim guard already on board, the ballast box probably wasn't changing the tipping point a whole lot. I took it off to use a 3pt implement and didn't put it back on. Theoretically, there's a payload which is 239# too heavy, but I haven't come across it yet.

I can't imagine running my 3320 unloaded - it rides high and light as it is, and filling the tires was well worth the $$. I haven't rolled it, but I'm sure I would have had the tires not been filled.

How did you get 1600lb of rim guard in your tires? I think 3320 has 43x16-20 tires, each holds 38gal max, about 410lb per tire, total of 820lb.