Ballast Filled tires, tubes or not?

[Shaneard]

I will always need the weight for my use, so I think this boils down to usage. For you it does seem to make more sense to go about it the way you did.

I agree with you 100%. There are so many options because there are so many different uses. The way I use my tractor I need weight and traction. If it's to wet for all the weight it's to wet for me to do what I need to do.

 

[bridge4]

It cost me about $700 to install the duals not counting labor to make the spacers and the clamps.

What did the rubbers cost to start? My back wheels are 600 a pop and not even what I would get if I had my pick. So $1200 for two extra tires, I don't know how to make the spacers and clamps myself so another couple hundred there...

Filled tires were $300 with labor and travel, the guy did it in my yard. Tire plug kit off amazon was $30. So I can pop my tires a lot, and still be ahead of the game.

Again, YOUR set up works for YOU and MINE works for ME. I am totally okay with that, and I've softened my stance a little, everyone has different uses and needs and what works for them is the best solution. I just think you are drastically understating the costs and PIA of that set up.

 

[pmsmechanic]

What did the rubbers cost to start? My back wheels are 600 a pop and not even what I would get if I had my pick. So $1200 for two extra tires, I don't know how to make the spacers and clamps myself so another couple hundred there...

Filled tires were $300 with labor and travel, the guy did it in my yard. Tire plug kit off amazon was $30. So I can pop my tires a lot, and still be ahead of the game.

Again, YOUR set up works for YOU and MINE works for ME. I am totally okay with that, and I've softened my stance a little, everyone has different uses and needs and what works for them is the best solution. I just think you are drastically understating the costs and PIA of that set up.

Well you might be partially right. I live in Canada and at the time the tires were purchased the dollar was pretty close. I paid $600 for the tires and rims on eBay. I can't say for sure but it seems to me the freight to the border was in that price. The spacers I already had from a different project. I don't remember the cost of those. I paid $15 to have them re-rolled from 24" to 20". I used 1" ready rod for the bolts. At first I used two pieces of right hand thread but the one tire would loosen itself off over the course of the day so I bought a piece of left hand ready rod and a nut and used it instead. The rest of what I used I scrounged up from metal that I had laying around. I'll go for $750 because I don't remember what I paid for the ready rods.

I was picking up freight regularly from the border in those days so I know I didn't make a special trip just for the tires.

I realize as time goes on and I read on this forum how fortunate I am that I can do my own fabricating. That has saved me a lot of money over the years.

 

[bridge4]

Well you might be partially right. I live in Canada and at the time the tires were purchased the dollar was pretty close. I paid $600 for the tires and rims on eBay. I can't say for sure but it seems to me the freight to the border was in that price. The spacers I already had from a different project. I don't remember the cost of those. I paid $15 to have them re-rolled from 24" to 20". I used 1" ready rod for the bolts. At first I used two pieces of right hand thread but the one tire would loosen itself off over the course of the day so I bought a piece of left hand ready rod and a nut and used it instead. The rest of what I used I scrounged up from metal that I had laying around. I'll go for $750 because I don't remember what I paid for the ready rods.

I was picking up freight regularly from the border in those days so I know I didn't make a special trip just for the tires.

I realize as time goes on and I read on this forum how fortunate I am that I can do my own fabricating. That has saved me a lot of money over the years.

:thumbsup:

Picking up welding is one of my short term goals over the next couple of years. Been busy the last few and haven't found the time and money to get some equipment and starting figuring it out yet!

 

[pmsmechanic]

:thumbsup:

Picking up welding is one of my short term goals over the next couple of years. Been busy the last few and haven't found the time and money to get some equipment and starting figuring it out yet!

My dad had a welder and I learned as a kid at home. The first thing I ever welded was all the rust holes in a barrel that we used as a water trough. My dad figured I was wasting my time but I learned how to weld thin metal without burning through.

 

[mad_planter]

When you are working with ground engaging equipment (like pulling a chisel plow) you need all the weight you can get. On my fathers dairy farm we ran two sets of weights and had loaded tires and sometimes it still wasn't enough. Sometimes wheel weights just don't cut it by themselves and I think you'd find the majority of farmers run loaded tires.

 

[herm0016]

to the comment about small tractors not needed loaded tires: my AC 5020 says you have to load them if you are using the front end loader in the manual. mine are loaded with bioballast. seems to be working fine. no tubes.

 

[LouNY]

When you are working with ground engaging equipment (like pulling a chisel plow) you need all the weight you can get. On my fathers dairy farm we ran two sets of weights and had loaded tires and sometimes it still wasn't enough. Sometimes wheel weights just don't cut it by themselves and I think you'd find the majority of farmers run loaded tires.

You'll find that most of the larger tractors today are not running liquid fill.
If they are short on traction they will put the duals or even triples on,
flotation not compaction with traction.

 

[Brown Dog]

... you need all the weight you can get ...we ran two sets of weights and had loaded tires and sometimes it still wasn't enough ...wheel weights just don't cut it by themselves and I think you'd find the majority of farmers run loaded tires.

Amen :thumbsup:

I fluid filled my frt & rear tires myself on all 3 of my 5k series JD & also have frt & rear weights.

If your using a loader, working on hills and / or pulling heavy attachments: you need all the weight you can get.

Any tractor needs weight to use it to its max potential imo.

Traction & Stability is Key.

I even Fluid Filled Turf Tires for mowing grass on my hilly farm property

I can’t think of a reason not to fluid fill tires lol

 

[Brown Dog]

My opinion is that if your tractor is under 50 hp and 4x4 you have no need for fluid of any kind ...

MAYBE True for HomeOwners doing yard work on flat ground : NOT for Farmers & People who really use their tractors