DIY 500 lb Ballast Box for $70.00 - out of concrete. (Video)

[topbuilder]

Very nice! Are you going to wish you would have tied the top link into the concrete? Then you could set your pipe lower, giving you a tad more ground clearance. Just a thought, you know we would never re-engineer a completed project here.

 

[PhysAssist]

Very nice! Are you going to wish you would have tied the top link into the concrete? Then you could set your pipe lower, giving you a tad more ground clearance. Just a thought, you know we would never re-engineer a completed project here.

Thanks- the new link worked great.

I have to agree with top builder, not only would a top link connection let you get a little more ground clearance, but it would also keep it from swinging and causing oscillation over your center of gravity.

The other things that your ballast device is missing out on by not having some kind of enclosure around it is a boxed area on top for carriage of accessories, tools and other sundries, [in our case- chains, fittings, hammer, a chainsaw, and on only a few occasions- me...], PVC pipes for carrying long-handled tools, and protection to keep your concrete from crumbling when it inevitably gets banged into things.

 

[charosenz]

Trust me, I know, I know! (finding time to get it built)

But honestly if you are lifting heavy loads with the front end bucket, it is important to have ballast back there for safety and to prevent stress on the front axles....

 

[charosenz]

It would be easy to put some small plastic tubes (vertically) in it when pouring it to put things like shovels, etc. Good point for people to consider.

I would not want to lift this higher, as it would eliminate the benefit of reducing the center of gravity - which for me is very important for safety reasons.

I have not noticed any swaying with this so far but if I do, it will be easy to sink some bolts in to it to attach a bar for the top link. Of course this would not really offer much help in lifting it higher, but would allow for it to be tilted some.

All good suggestions for everyone to consider.

Thanks for posting.

 

[PhysAssist]

It would be easy to put some small plastic tubes (vertically) in it when pouring it to put things like shovels, etc. Good point for people to consider.

I would not want to lift this higher, as it would eliminate the benefit of reducing the center of gravity - which for me is very important for safety reasons.

I have not noticed any swaying with this so far but if I do, it will be easy to sink some bolts in to it to attach a bar for the top link. Of course this would not really offer much help in lifting it higher, but would allow for it to be tilted some.

All good suggestions for everyone to consider.

Thanks for posting.

Thanks for sharing your build, and for accepting comments with an open mind.

I do get what you say about not wanting to lift the ballast higher- but sometimes it is nice to have the option for better ground clearance, and even with it lifted, it is still unloading your front axle.

Thomas