Ballast box--how big?

[dusty3030]

Did you look at the examples I referenced in the "Ballast Photos" thread? I personally built a ballast that hangs below my 72" landscape box that weighs in at 1750lbs. You can find pictures of it there as well.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...575d1394392334-ballast-photos-ballast-010.jpg

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/294304-ballast-photos.html

Yours has been one of the best ideas I have ever seen on making one. To the poster that asked this is a great idea, so much that I has me looking for a cheap, beat up 4 or 5 footer to encapsulate the whole thing in concrete to make a weight - with drawbar out the back for trailer moving and some storage holes out the top, chain box etc.

 

[MorningViewStables]

Yours has been one of the best ideas I have ever seen on making one. To the poster that asked this is a great idea, so much that I has me looking for a cheap, beat up 4 or 5 footer to encapsulate the whole thing in concrete to make a weight - with drawbar out the back for trailer moving and some storage holes out the top, chain box etc.

Thanks! Be aware that I built mine for my specific requirements, mostly field dirt work and sloping hill sides, picking up debris with the 4-in-1 and fork operations. It may be to wide for some, to low for others, etc... pick your criticism. The point is, look what others have done and you can surely figure out what works for you and make one too!

 

[Gary Fowler]

One thing to consider is that it is not only the weight but the distance behind the rear axle that contributes to removing weight from the front axle. Just like a teeter totter board, the further back from the rear axle a weight is placed the better it performs, however getting it too far back removes some maneuverability as in a heavy duty bush hog for example which is a great counterweigh. The blue drum filled completely with concrete that the contributor posted as weighing 975# and affixed to a quick hitch that looks to be a good 18" behind the 3 PH balls so it would produce much better counterweight than the same barrel that was mounted with a drawbar stuck thru the barrel as another TBN poster has done.

 

[Gary Fowler]

For those of you still thinking a barrel of concrete weighs 1400#, lets talk concrete weights of normal concrete (as opposed to lightweight concrete) which is what one would be mixing up or buying from a redi-mix plant. A cubic foot of concrete weighs 145 pounds and a standard 55 gallon drum would hold 7.3 cubic feet of something water, air or even concrete. A std drum is 35" tall x 24" in diameter(remember the old brazing rod trick -a standard brazing rod is 36" long). After doing the calculations, a standard drum will hold 1058# of normal weight concrete + the weight of the drum which varies a bit on whether it is steel or plastic. So allowing for 42# for the drum (very high weight drum) one might realistically have 1100 pounds of weight to contend with when building this counterweight.
The only real difference in usability will be in how far back from the axle centerline that it is placed whether it is centerlined with the 3 PH balls or a fabricated frame is made to carry it further back while still having good maneuverability.

 

[RG1]

Well, I know this- my JD ballast box does not hold as much volume as 55 gallon drum. In the ops manual for my loader it says that the box weighs 88 lbs itself,and when filled with portland cement (which anyone can buy at HD etc and is cheaper than buying ready mix unless you can drive right in to your local cement company and get it filled" it holds 926 lbs of that cement. That's 1014 lbs right there, and in less volume than the 55 gallon drum. Granted, the drum probably won't weigh quite as much as the ballast box, but still......

 

[MorningViewStables]

Along the lines of consideration that Gary pointed out, I considered the "barrel" method. I have a lot of sloping hillside property therefore rollover is a serious consideration on my part. I needed my weight slung wide and low as not to displace my center of gravity upward which would occur if you have a vertical column ballast configuration (barrel style). If you don't need to consider rollover, your CG may not be issue like mine. Again, issues I thought about before I committed to something for my use.

 

[k0ua]

I have a nice metal 55 gallon drum. I was thinking about welding on 3 pt hookups to that with a "frame" extending into the drum and then filling the whole thing with concrete. Would that make a good ballast weight for my tractor?

This is what mine looks like... abut 750 lbs.. I keep several chains and a digging bar in it. so over 800 lbs total. I use the 2 inch rear receiver to carry my sprayer. You could put a bunch of steel pieces or lead wheelweights or something heavy in the mix to increase your weight. I put 3 pipes in for handle tools, I wish I had put in 4. and I wish I had put in some old nuts and bolts or something to make it even heavier.

 

[juddspaintballs]

I could cut one section of a metal drum off, weld it to the top of the other drum for a taller height, and fill that all with concrete. That should put me at about 1500# of concrete and barrel weight. If I lay the drum sideways, that leaves me almost one foot of space on either side of the tractor for maneuverability and keeps the weight low.

 

[RG1]

This is what mine looks like... abut 750 lbs.. I keep several chains and a digging bar in it. so over 800 lbs total. I use the 2 inch rear receiver to carry my sprayer. You could put a bunch of steel pieces or lead wheelweights or something heavy in the mix to increase your weight. I put 3 pipes in for handle tools, I wish I had put in 4. and I wish I had put in some old nuts and bolts or something to make it even heavier.

View attachment 367031View attachment 367035View attachment 367036View attachment 367037View attachment 367038

I really like your setup. That is just so handy. Is there a slot/scabbard for a chainsaw bar in there too?

 

[MorningViewStables]

I could cut one section of a metal drum off, weld it to the top of the other drum for a taller height, and fill that all with concrete. That should put me at about 1500# of concrete and barrel weight. If I lay the drum sideways, that leaves me almost one foot of space on either side of the tractor for maneuverability and keeps the weight low.

Post Pics! I sure others would benefit from your efforts in building it!

 

[k0ua]

I really like your setup. That is just so handy. Is there a slot/scabbard for a chainsaw bar in there too?

I just put my saw head in the space between the 6 inch chain holders blade up. But it would not be any trouble to mount a scabbard on the side or back even now. I just don't need the saw all that much so I never did it.

If you put one of those fold up SUV 2 inch receiver carriers on the back on the 2 inch. you could strap all kinds of stuff on the back of it if you were making a day of it in the woods or something. Cooler, water jug, chainsaw, fuel etc. I use the 2 hooks on the side to hang my short chain draped around the barrel, and also for 5 gallon buckets hung on them for tools etc. The idea of the short chain is to leave it hooked up as you move around when you are pulling trees then hook your long chains to the short chain to keep from having to go under the barrel each time to hook to the clevis. just hook to the short 6 foot chain.

 

[Underdog57]

I am in the middle of building one with a 3pt bale spear ( Titan - $169. ). The spears will slide into PVC pipe so the spears can be pulled out if need be. I will be cutting the center spear off and putting a hitch pin thru it to keep block from sliding off. The concrete level will be down 5" from the top so I'll have a storage area. I will be leaving the wood attached. The inside dimensions of the concrete block are 20.5" W x 44" L x 22.5" H (approx 1600#)

. .

.

 

[MorningViewStables]

I am in the middle of building one with a 3pt bale spear ( Titan - $169. ). The spears will slide into PVC pipe so the spears can be pulled out if need be. I will be cutting the center spear off and putting a hitch pin thru it to keep block from sliding off. The concrete level will be down 5" from the top so I'll have a storage area. I will be leaving the wood attached. The inside dimensions of the concrete block are 20.5" W x 44" L x 22.5" H (approx 1600#)

View attachment 367041. View attachment 367042. View attachment 367043

View attachment 367044. View attachment 367045

NICE!!! Very NICE!!! Your weight is carried a little farther back off the 3 point, so you will get a little more leverage out if it. Should perform well!

 

[7879fordman]

I am in the middle of building one with a 3pt bale spear ( Titan - $169. ). The spears will slide into PVC pipe so the spears can be pulled out if need be. I will be cutting the center spear off and putting a hitch pin thru it to keep block from sliding off. The concrete level will be down 5" from the top so I'll have a storage area. I will be leaving the wood attached. The inside dimensions of the concrete block are 20.5" W x 44" L x 22.5" H (approx 1600#)

<img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=367041"/>. <img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=367042"/>. <img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=367043"/>

<img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=367044"/>. <img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=367045"/>

Just remember them little spikes don't hold weight very well . The break and bend easy .

Sent from my iPhone 5 using TractorByNet

 

[MorningViewStables]

Usually rated for a 2klb round bale, but good point to check.

 

[Underdog57]

Usually rated for a 2klb round bale, but good point to check.

The specs say 3000# capacity.

 

[MorningViewStables]

The specs say 3000# capacity.

Good thing you made a "point" to check. :laughing: I'm sorry!

 

[GManBart]

For those of you still thinking a barrel of concrete weighs 1400#, lets talk concrete weights of normal concrete (as opposed to lightweight concrete) which is what one would be mixing up or buying from a redi-mix plant. A cubic foot of concrete weighs 145 pounds and a standard 55 gallon drum would hold 7.3 cubic feet of something water, air or even concrete. A std drum is 35" tall x 24" in diameter(remember the old brazing rod trick -a standard brazing rod is 36" long). After doing the calculations, a standard drum will hold 1058# of normal weight concrete + the weight of the drum which varies a bit on whether it is steel or plastic. So allowing for 42# for the drum (very high weight drum) one might realistically have 1100 pounds of weight to contend with when building this counterweight.
The only real difference in usability will be in how far back from the axle centerline that it is placed whether it is centerlined with the 3 PH balls or a fabricated frame is made to carry it further back while still having good maneuverability.

If you use a drawbar, that adds some, and whatever you use for a top link as well....nit too much, but it all counts.

 

[Dan Hunter]

My barrel makes an effective bumper. This is quite useful while tree shearing when maneuvering for a good angle is tough. The plastic is tough enough that I don't mind it touching down on my Sandy soil.

It I had it to do again I'd have built it horizontally with a detachable base stand so I could carry it lower still.

 

[Underdog57]

I am in the middle of building one with a 3pt bale spear ( Titan - $169. ). The spears will slide into PVC pipe so the spears can be pulled out if need be. I will be cutting the center spear off and putting a hitch pin thru it to keep block from sliding off. The concrete level will be down 5" from the top so I'll have a storage area. I will be leaving the wood attached. The inside dimensions of the concrete block are 20.5" W x 44" L x 22.5" H (approx 1600#)

View attachment 367041. View attachment 367042. View attachment 367043

View attachment 367044. View attachment 367045

Finished my ballast box today: concrete weight is 1600# the wood box is approx. 200#. The total should be real close to 1800#.