Ballast box

grsthegreat · Mar 18, 2015

I keep having top move larger liquid cooled generators and the tractor was having issues lifting a 1,600 # unit with the forks. i kept lifting my tractor rear end.

had to break down and get a ballast box. Couldnt find a kioti or kubota brand anywheres, so i bought a Frontier (JD) box and extension ring.

Of course, i HAD to get it powder coated first. i mean really.

Added 880 # of concrete to the mix, and now i have 1,000# rear ballast box.

just in time. Have to order another 45KW generator next week.

s219 · Mar 18, 2015

I wish metal ballast boxes weren't so hard to come by. I would love to be able to order one online, but there are no good options that I can find (only ones are small). Local Deere dealers don't stock them and I can't see special ordering a green one for my Kubota, so I am probably going to just drive the 50 miles to my Kubota dealer and order one there when I have a chance. I priced up materials to weld one up, and it doesn't seem worth the trouble to make one myself.

grsthegreat · Mar 18, 2015

i was going to weld one up also, but there not that expensive to buy.

i have a buddy that has powder coat shop, so that was reasonable also.

i didnt want an old oil drum look to my box.

Wagtail · Mar 19, 2015

I constantly have my (brick filled) ballast box on my 3PH. It's a heck of a lot better than throwing an implement on the back to counterbalance.

A somewhat related story: The majority of my implements were delivered, personally by the JD salesman, a few weeks later than my tractor. After he left I noticed that a ballast box had been accidentally left behind... I tried it out and found that it was very handy. I called & emailed the salesman to let him know that he'd left the BB here in case the dealership's inventory stock take came up short BUT that I really liked it and would be happy to be charged for it.

The JD dealership owner came back and said not to worry, thanks for letting them know and that the BB was therefore complimentary.

cartod · Mar 19, 2015

Why not just get a box blade and add some weight to it. It works as ballast and blade, and takes up very little room.

PILOON · Mar 19, 2015

I got lucky, somewhere along the line I inherited an elevator weight marked 300 lbs with holes in just the right place to attach 3PT pins. I added a vertical leg for the upper 3 PT arm to which I added a trailer sleeve,
Next I attached about 100 lbs of SCUBA belt weights that I had from that previous hobby.

The beauty is the compactness as it only adds 8" to my length and the width is inside of my tire track.
My tires are also loaded so when I load the FEL with crushed stone I have no problems.

Garandman · Mar 20, 2015

s219 said:
I wish metal ballast boxes weren't so hard to come by. I would love to be able to order one online, but there are no good options that I can find (only ones are small).

I ordered one from DR Power. It weighs 125 lbs and has 4.75 cu ft capacity so you can add 6-800 lbs. I loaded it with sand and left room in the top for tools. Made in USA.

I use the hitch to tow a splitter and the tool rings for shovels etc. It's helped a lot for plowing snow and handling large logs.

Texas Dawg · Mar 20, 2015

Northern Tool also carries a ballast box for $329.00
K & M Category 1 Ballast Box — For 30–50 HP Tractors, Model# 1812 | Tractor Ballast Boxes| Northern Tool + Equipment

s219 · Mar 20, 2015

cartod said:
Why not just get a box blade and add some weight to it. It works as ballast and blade, and takes up very little room.

That's what I do now, but it's not the most convenient in terms of maneuverability. There are times when I need to do loader work in a tight space and would rather not have a wide box blade hanging back there.

s219 · Mar 20, 2015

I have seen the DR and Northern boxes, but they run a little on the small side. I think the Northern one is only rated for 450#, the DR for 500#. I forget the exact number on the Kubota box, but it's north of 1000# full.

cartod · Mar 20, 2015

s219 said:
That's what I do now, but it's not the most convenient in terms of maneuverability. There are times when I need to do loader work in a tight space and would rather not have a wide box blade hanging back there.

I could see if you are working close to a home why you would want something as small as possible.

Msamt · Mar 20, 2015

There's always the barrel route.

grsthegreat · Mar 21, 2015

I dont want a wide blade back there when delivering and setting generators. Plus no way a blade comes close to the weight.

I am getting another 1,600# generator delivered next week.

pmaintman · Mar 22, 2015

I couldn`t find the right size ballast box anywhere around me,besides I`m too cheap to buy stuff! So I made my own out of a good solid 55 gal drum (free)and I cut holes through the sides so I could slide a draw bar through it and then cut a square hole in the rear bottom and put an old receiver hitch I had laying around,that way I don`t have to remove the weight when I need to move a trailer.I then took a hitch bar cut it in two and sank them in the crete at the right height and then filled it about 3/4 of the way up with concrete and painted it Kioti gray. I think I have about 75 bucks in it. I figure it weighs about a 1000lbs.

CJONE · Mar 23, 2015

grsthegreat said:
I dont want a wide blade back there when delivering and setting generators. Plus no way a blade comes close to the weight.

I am getting another 1,600# generator delivered next week.

The Gannon I have is just under 1000lbs, but I hear ya on the width. Are your tires loaded? CJ

grsthegreat · Mar 23, 2015

CJONE said:
The Gannon I have is just under 1000lbs, but I hear ya on the width. Are your tires loaded? CJ

Yes, loaded rears.

GPintheMitten · Mar 23, 2015

grsthegreat said:
I keep having top move larger liquid cooled generators and the tractor was having issues lifting a 1,600 # unit with the forks. i kept lifting my tractor rear end.

had to break down and get a ballast box. Couldnt find a kioti or kubota brand anywheres, so i bought a Frontier (JD) box and extension ring.

Of course, i HAD to get it powder coated first. i mean really.

Added 880 # of concrete to the mix, and now i have 1,000# rear ballast box.

just in time. Have to order another 45KW generator next week.View attachment 417184 View attachment 417185

Nice!

grsthegreat · Apr 6, 2015

success....

powerscol · Apr 7, 2015

I use my box blade or my tiller if needed. However when looking for a 3pt receiver hitch to move my GN around, there were several on the web that you could also hang suitcase weights on. In other words a multitasker. Here are some links I saved, but there were a lot of others.

https://heavyhitch.com/store/category-1-hitch/category-1-hitch-and-bracket-for-suitcase-weights/
OMNI Counter Weight Bracket for suitcase weights! - OMNI Mfg LLC

LD1 · Apr 7, 2015

grsthegreat said:
I dont want a wide blade back there when delivering and setting generators. Plus no way a blade comes close to the weight.

I am getting another 1,600# generator delivered next week.

With a blade, it isnt just about the weight, but the distance behind the rear. A 700# blade hanging 3-4' back would do as much good as 1000# in close.

Nice move tho. Do you think 1000# is enough? Is it enough to max out the loader lift. 1600# shouldnt be close to the max you can lift? 1000# was sufficient for that, but what if you lift 2500# +/-? I would think 1000# wouldnt be enough.

I know your tractor weighs alot more than mine and has larger tires for fluid. But my 1000# ballast barrel is none too heavy when lifting to the max on my machine.