flingwing1969
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Jun 2, 2008
- Messages
- 694
- Tractor
- LS G3038, JD GT275, and Bolins H16
I have a backhoe that I usually leave on my tractor all the time and it provides almost perfect ballast when I have my (too big for my tractor) 4n1 installed and loaded to overflowing. It seems ideal for my forklift attachment that stays on much of the time. When I dropped the hoe with the 4n1 on, in order to drive over and get my snow blower I noticed that the rear tires barely made contact with the ground, to the point that I put it into 4wd to go forward through the light coating of snow.
I like having the hoe on, for the most part, and I use it occasionally for various little chores other than digging. I would like to have more storage on the tractor to carry various items around though and I'm thinking carryall/ballast box. I'm thinking of a standard style carryall with the floor made of several inches of reinforced concrete - lots cheaper than metal ballast and pretty heavy too.
I'm thinking that an empty 5.5' wide x 3.5' long x 3.5' deep all-metal (expanded steel and angle iron) carry all box with a fold-down gate might weigh in at around 200 lb. If I built a 3" deep "floor" out of treated wood (plywood and dimensional) and poured in 7-80lb bags of mixed concrete mix with re-bar and mesh in it to hold it together that should weigh in at around 600 lb. so the whole thing should be a little north of 800 lb. I "think" that is about what the part of the hoe hanging out the back weighs - anyone?
The carryall would give me a place to put my forestry junk - chainsaws, tools, gas cans, peavy, rakes, forks, chaps, etc. and it could be built to carry much of that on the outside of the unit, leaving the inside for firewood. I'm thinking of a 2" receive on the carryall as well, so I can tow my splitter into the woods with me, or maybe a small trailer. I will make the carryall a dump style - maybe hydraulically assisted as I have full remotes back there.
My main needs are, as I said, ballast and more room for stuff I need when away from the shop. I would love ideas for handling my stuff, but I would really like to have comments about if the 800 lb empty weigh is enough ballast since the box will not be out nearly as far as my hoe is.
This is about the size I plan on for the carryall, maybe a bit deeper. Of course my plan is for the sides to be made of expanded steel (since I have a bunch).
I like having the hoe on, for the most part, and I use it occasionally for various little chores other than digging. I would like to have more storage on the tractor to carry various items around though and I'm thinking carryall/ballast box. I'm thinking of a standard style carryall with the floor made of several inches of reinforced concrete - lots cheaper than metal ballast and pretty heavy too.
I'm thinking that an empty 5.5' wide x 3.5' long x 3.5' deep all-metal (expanded steel and angle iron) carry all box with a fold-down gate might weigh in at around 200 lb. If I built a 3" deep "floor" out of treated wood (plywood and dimensional) and poured in 7-80lb bags of mixed concrete mix with re-bar and mesh in it to hold it together that should weigh in at around 600 lb. so the whole thing should be a little north of 800 lb. I "think" that is about what the part of the hoe hanging out the back weighs - anyone?
The carryall would give me a place to put my forestry junk - chainsaws, tools, gas cans, peavy, rakes, forks, chaps, etc. and it could be built to carry much of that on the outside of the unit, leaving the inside for firewood. I'm thinking of a 2" receive on the carryall as well, so I can tow my splitter into the woods with me, or maybe a small trailer. I will make the carryall a dump style - maybe hydraulically assisted as I have full remotes back there.
My main needs are, as I said, ballast and more room for stuff I need when away from the shop. I would love ideas for handling my stuff, but I would really like to have comments about if the 800 lb empty weigh is enough ballast since the box will not be out nearly as far as my hoe is.
This is about the size I plan on for the carryall, maybe a bit deeper. Of course my plan is for the sides to be made of expanded steel (since I have a bunch).
