Ballasting Box

blackjack · Oct 16, 2003

I've seen a lot of post on here lately about filled tires and tire weights. I'm wondering if many people use a 3 point mounted ballasting box. I was planning on ordering one with my tractor, but thought I bettering get some opinions from TBNers. Seems to me the ballasting box would be simple to put on and off and isn't very big and awkward. I thought of filling it with lead for additional weight. Thoughts?

jinman · Oct 16, 2003

In my opinion, a ballast box is fine if you don't have anything to put on the 3PH. For me, I'd prefer wheel weights or loaded tires because that doesn't take up my implement space on the 3PH.

beenthere · Oct 16, 2003

I have a ballast box that fits my I-match quick hitch, and it is the best way to go. Quick to drop off, and quick to pick up.

On another thread, someone filled a 55 gal drum and will have problems getting it hooked up (but it can be done).

markie61 · Oct 17, 2003

( someone filled a 55 gal drum and will have problems getting it hooked up )

If you have the "D" package or get the optional deluxe 3ph, the extendable link ends make it no problems. If I didn't have them, it would be: It's hard to "bully" a drum of concrete around!

Mark

bebster · Oct 17, 2003

I use my ballast box when I want to work just with the FEL in tight spaces. It has the JD quick attach system and takes about a minute to backup to and hook on. I have loaded it with about 400 lbs of cement blocks and suitcase weights from my tractor front bumper. That's not enough and I'm planning to fill it with sand when I have a minute. I've attached a picture of moving it the other day when I had the backhoe on. Those chain hooks on the bucket come in handy!

jinman · Oct 17, 2003

That's a serious looking 4-n-1 bucket, Bebster. It's not John Deere is it?

bebster · Oct 19, 2003

Yes, my dealer said it was JD, but it may be just resold by JB and manufactured by someone else. It's 60" wide and works great for me, since I have lot of scrub-brush to pickup. I added a toothbar to it which you can see in the picture. That is super -- I can dig up small trees and bushes with it, and then grab them with the bucket jaws and away they go to the pile for burning.

have_blue · Oct 19, 2003

Bebster,

Man, that's a scary looking bucket...looks very intimidating. I could have used that big time when I cleared my 10 acres. Hindsight is always late. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Trev · Oct 19, 2003

Hi Blackjack,

My personal, and not necessarily correct, feeling is that you might want to think about a rear dirt scoop instead. You can load them with sandbags, etc., and you also have an implement which can serve multiple purposes.. such as moving dirt, etc.

What I ultimately did was get surprised when a neighbor built me a great rear weight from a 55-gallon drum. I'm wrestling a bit with the easiest way to connect it. I have it set up now with a solid top link, but a pal at work in cutting me down a normal top link and welding it up for me.

I don't have a FEL.. instead a front blade.. used mostly for plowing snow, pushing out rocks, etc. For snow plowing, I used to put 600-1000 lbs of sand bags in the rear dirt scoop, and we guesstimate the drum weights about 1200 lb.

Don't know if any of this helps, but probably it can't hurt. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Trev · Oct 19, 2003

( ( someone filled a 55 gal drum and will have problems getting it hooked up )

If you have the "D" package or get the optional deluxe 3ph, the extendable link ends make it no problems. If I didn't have them, it would be: It's hard to "bully" a drum of concrete around!)

Hi Mark,

I'm the guy with the 55-gallon drum filled with rebar and cement. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif Yes, it takes a lot of back and forth with the tractor to get it connected.. but I'm figuring I'll just put it on in the fall, use it for plowing snow, and remove it in the spring. I don't have a FEL (working on that with the wife /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif) but if I get one then an easier way to connect the rear weight would be nice!

How much for this "D" package or the deluxe 3pt hitch stuff? I never heard of it before. I have a 2000 JD4300.. would this stuff work with my tractor?

Tks,
Bob