BALLAST BOX

[REDPRIDE]

Could someone point me to (I'm sure theres one on here) a picture of a 55 gallon drum made into a ballast box for the rear. Also anyone know how much weight I should be shooting for on the back of a Mahindra 5530 2wd. Thanks for the info.

 

[ENG18LT]

I have a 5530 4wd, if you load the tires you should have plenty of ballast.

 

[REDPRIDE]

Thanks ENG18LT, I kinda thought that, but I got down in the flats one day after 3 or 4 days of rain and just didnt get the response I thought I would but I think I might have been expecting a little to much on REALLY, REALLY bad/muddy terrain and 2 wheel drive of course. I'll give it another shot on a little drier day..thanks for the input.

 

[ENG18LT]

These are good heavy machines, however with 2wd models the ballasted rears is a big improvement. And as you are already thinking a bunch of rainy days doesn't help. I want to say the Rimguard added something like 1000 lbs to the rears. You should be able to calculate the added weight based on tire size.

Good luck.

 

[DavesTractor]

1134 lbs. for RimGuard in the rear of a 5530-2wd at 75% fill. 14.9-28 ag tire. About 825 lbs. if you use water. A 55 gallon barrel of concrete is about 1100 lbs. including the barrel and a little hardware. 3-point ballast acts as a better counter balance to the loader as it sticks out the rear some and effectively tries to lift the front of the tractor. The tire ballast has a positive in that the tractor does not have to carry it, it just sits on the ground basically and of course the 3-point is then available to do work. You could do both for the times you really need the extra traction.

 

[Dan Hunter]

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/attachments/313018d1365895784-were-barrel-ballast-started-dsc03150.jpg

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...ee-sheer-my-john-deere-img-20130512-00016.jpg

 

[George2615]

I made my ballast out of a 55 gallon plastic barrel. With the steel frame and cement filled about 3/4 full I figure it weighs about 900 lb.
Many of my pictures were on the site but I can't seem to find them now. I wouldn't think you'd need much more than that on your 5530.