Box Blade as Rear Ballast

[lilranch2001]

I've read a lot of posts about people using a box blade as their rear ballast.

I got a quote from the local dealer for a ballast box for my BX2660 for $225. I see they have a 48" box blade at Fleet Farm for $479 48 Inch XB Box Blade By King Kutter - Mills Fleet Farm. The ballast box would total ~500lbs with weight put in it. The box blad says it's ~300lbs.

I only have minor uses for the box blade right now, but I'm wondering if it's still a smarter purchase than buying a dumb weight with no other uses. Advice is welcome.

Other questions:
* Can you lock the teeth of a box blade "up"?
* Can the teeth be used to break of soil for digging? (I realize it's not going to be as effective as a tiller)
* Is the box blade enough weight, or can I put a little weight on top of it?

I have an 20 yr old 72" box blade and it is perfect for ballast, I rarely take it off
I also have my rears loaded with rim guard

 

[gwdixon]

Fill the tires and be done with it.

Very often that is not nearly enough.

 

[newbury]

I bought my Kubota ride with a BB attached and used it as the rear weight briefly but needed more weight so I put a Woods BH70-X backhoe on (over 800 lbs)

 

[Ron JD670]

Fill the tires and be done with it.

I filled the tires on my JD670 and did not feel that was enough when fully loading the FEL. I now keep the box blade on all the time. Would not do FEL work without it. I filled the FEL with wet clay from a dirt pile today almost maxed lift ability. The rear stayed down and I had enough traction to back up I mild grade on damp soil.

I'm planning to add to my BB some ammo boxes and a box to carry chains and tools in, not so much for weight but as much for convenience.

The length does take attention, so study your situation. I have backed into my fence and a couple trees. I dropped the BB today and put my rear blade on and the first thing I did was clip a tree because I was used moving in that area with the BB.

Good luck
RoN

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

The BB does add some length to the rear of the tractor. I knew that when I put it on my tractor as does my tiller and Overseeder and every other implement added to the 3ph. I bumped my BH against a big rock 2 or 3 times yesterday while using my tractor but I'm not taking it off. To say to get a weight box because they add less length to the rear :laughing:. That's not working for me.
I'm sure most of us have misjudged the length of our tractors and maybe even more often when it's behind us and we're not looking at it. I do know the front edge of my FEL bucket grows another 6 to 8 inches sometimes. But I'm still going to have it on my tractor and use it even though it makes my tractor longer and it has skinned some of my trees, punched holes in my vinyl siding and even made the door a bit more open on my storage building.
Tree limbs keep whacking me in the head out of nowhere but I'm still not going to take my ROPS off.
Lots of dangers on a tractor but to not get an implement because it requires a bit of paying attention?

 

[TripleR]

Nothing against ballast boxes, but I hate hooking and unhooking equipment, so I just use the box blade. It also seems I can always find a use for the box blade when I am using the FEL anyway.

They both work, so just use what works best for you. Heck I may even get one for the 8540 some day as we don't have a box blade for it; use a 10' drag scraper on it.

 

[PHILIP8N]

I will not fill my tires due to 75% of my work is finish mowing. This ballast box weighs 1250 pounds filled with cement. It stays all winter when I have my snow blade on. Nice and compact and heavy. Sometimes I use it for FEL work when I am close to maxing out bucket and there is no need for a rear implement. My other ballast is a 1150 pound 6' heavy duty box blade with hydraulic rippers, or a 925 pound pulverizer, depending on what the job requires. But, those wider and longer implements can get in the way if you are working in tight quarters, which has been my case at times. Philip.

 

[snpower]

I have a box blade on my BX2360 which weights about 375 lbs. I have used it extensively for ballast when moving up to 20 tons of material in a work session. I find it to be a perfect counterweight, although for a larger tractor with a larger bucket that may not hold true. Maneuverability in tight areas is indeed a concern. You'll probably find uses for the bb after you use it some. I got mine on Craig's list for $200.00. As others have said using a carry-all with home made weight is the cheapest way to go though.

 

[lilranch2001]

Nothing against ballast boxes, but I hate hooking and unhooking equipment, so I just use the box blade. It also seems I can always find a use for the box blade when I am using the FEL anyway./QUOTE]

exactly
:thumbsup:

 

[JRobyn]

I did a quick scan of this thread and don't THINK it was mentioned, but one advantage of a BB for me is that it extends out 6in or so outside the back tires and is several feet behind the tire contact patch. So not only is it ballast, but if carried very low, can be a significant tip-deterrent. I recently mentioned in another thread how I very nearly tipped my L4330 because I did not have the BB on (couldn't get to it due a big spoils pile).