Ballast box measurements

[AllanD]

Hello,

I'm new to posting but have been reading these forums for a while. I've learned a lot in that period of time and I thank all of the posters.
The question I have is about ballast boxes. My father bought a Kubota BX24 a week ago for working on his property at his cottage. It was pretty cool that they delivered it on his 67th birthday. Never too late to buy your toys.

Anyways, a winter project that we have in mind is building a ballast box. I've read a lot of posts about these but what I really want is to build a replica of either the Kubota or John Deere box. So, if anybody could help me out with measurements it would be greatly appreciated. Maybe even a couple of pictures. I will post pictures during this project if anybody is interested in building their own.

Thanks,
Allan

 

[Dusty]

I can get you pictures and measurements tomorrow. I have a Kubota box. Send me a PM to remind me. Old age you know.

 

[ovrszd]

I'd never deter someone from building an attachment. I build every attachment I can.

But in the case of a Ballast Box, you may want to inquire at the dealer where the tractor was purchased. They might cut you a sweet deal. I've even heard of dealers throwing in a ballast box as part of the deal. I don't recall reading of anyone paying more than $100 for one. If you properly build one patterned off a factory box, you will have over $50 in materials invested, plus your shop expense cutting and welding and your time.

Secondly, if I were building, I'd build a tote box and then it could be used for something more than just adding weight. We use ours for ballast, wood hauling, spring yard clean up, dirt hauling, trash hauling, etc., etc.

 

[AllanD]

That's what I was thinking Ovrszd. I know the list price is somewhere around $190 on these things. I had to convince my father to call other dealers after he had made his deal and he ended up saving another $500.
It has been a very expensive year for him and my mother is about ready to kill him. Any time he mentions buying something else she almost has a heart attack. First it was a new boat, then the cottage on a bay, and then the tractor to cut the grass and move some dirt. More things for me to play with.
I would actually enjoy building one though, a little practice before I try anything more complicated.
Thanks for the reply.

 

[ovrszd]

That's what I was thinking Ovrszd. I know the list price is somewhere around $190 on these things. I had to convince my father to call other dealers after he had made his deal and he ended up saving another $500.
It has been a very expensive year for him and my mother is about ready to kill him. Any time he mentions buying something else she almost has a heart attack. First it was a new boat, then the cottage on a bay, and then the tractor to cut the grass and move some dirt. More things for me to play with.
I would actually enjoy building one though, a little practice before I try anything more complicated.
Thanks for the reply.

Yep, I totally understand, aren't parents great!!! If he isn't concerned about appearance, you can build a ballast box out of about anything that will hold however much weight you think you need. I've saw people on here make them out of a lot of different things dependant on the weight needed. A barrel seems to be the most common, filled with concrete and install a few pieces of plastic pipe vertically to put shovel handles, rakes, etc., into for carrying. If you are interested in trying something like that, maybe start another post with a subject that would let people know you are building a homemade ballast box and you should get all kinds of replies with pictures. Whatever you do, have fun with it!!! And take good care of the parents!!!

 

[Dusty]

The Kubota box is 32" wide X 18 front to rear, and 19 high. I have no idea why they tapered the sides or what the indentation in the rear of the box is for. They used two pieces of steel on the bottom to hold it off the ground about 2" that cannot be seen in the pictures. I will take additional pictures once I put it on the tractor. This should be within the next week, since it is getting close to the time that the snowblower will need to be mounted. Let me know what other information you need and I will post it. Dusty

 

[AllanD]

Thanks a lot for the info and pictures Dusty. They will definitely help me out. It looks pretty easy to build. Any idea on what gauge steel the sides are? I was thinking 12 gauge would be fine.