L2501 ballast and TSC County Line 5 foot box blade

[Ugarte]

I'm considering buying a 5' County Line box blade from TSC as rear ballast for my soon to arrive L2501. (BB is light duty, I know, about 400 lbs; L2501 has loaded rears with R4's, LA 525 loader, 66" bucket with ssqa.) Is 400lb the correct rear ballast weight for this rig? I'd rather use an implement with multiple uses than a simple ballast box.

 

[Fallon]

Ideally ballast should equal lift capacity. I think yours is about 1000lbs. I use my almost 600lbs box blade as my go to ballast.

Loaded tires help prevent tipping a bit but don't act like a lever taking load off the weak font axle like implement ballast does. Get a heavier box blade. My L3200 has the same frame, weight & R4s. It will pull a 72" 600lbs King Kutter box pretty well.

 

[rjkobbeman]

A 400 lbs implement behind the rear wheels may not take much weight off of the front wheels, however that 400 lbs implement that far behind the front wheels should MORE than offset the 1000 lbs in the bucket. Should work fine.

I have an 1,800 lbs ballast box with concrete. It works great... although it is a double-edged sword. It really restricts my digging ability because there is much less front weight. I use it when loading heavy stuff like wet dirt, however I take it off when I need to dig.

 

[s219]

You really should get a heavier box blade. The L models have a short wheelbase and are relatively light. When using the front loader, you'll want all the ballast you can get back there.

I have a Howse box blade on my L, and it is barely enough ballast for a load of dirt in the bucket, even with loaded tires (they really just offset the weight of the loader itself -- extra ballast is still needed for what you're carrying in the loader). That Howse is quite a bit heavier than a TSC box blade, so I would say there's no way a TSC box is going to cut it if my Howse is just barely adequate.

A box blade does make a great general purpose implement and rear ballast, just make sure you get one heavy enough.

 

[gwstang]

I have a new L2501 that I purchased this past April, I use a heavy duty Lowery 6' Box Blade and that sucker is heavy. Get the heaviest duty one you can find as it will hold up well to the abuse that the box blade usually gets. I've drug the old blade behind my Ford 8N for years and there is not even a dent on it.

 

[Ugarte]

Thanks so much for the advice. L2501 manual says 52", dealer says 60" max. My uses for a BB are decidedly light duty, so I'll probably get the TSC 5' and work up some kind of plywood weight box to add a couple hundred pounds of sand if need be (may not be bullet proof but it is cheap: $540.00+ tax with 10% off coupon). I'd rather break it than the tractor and in so doing give myself an excuse to learn how to weld.

 

[gwstang]

You can also set a couple of cement blocks on the top of the box blade and get some more weight that way. With loaded rear tires, I've never had the back end try to come up, with a heavy load in the FEL. Make sure they load the rears for you or get the tool from tractor supply for a few dollars and do it yourself.

 

[ovrszd]

Thanks so much for the advice. L2501 manual says 52", dealer says 60" max. My uses for a BB are decidedly light duty, so I'll probably get the TSC 5' and work up some kind of plywood weight box to add a couple hundred pounds of sand if need be (may not be bullet proof but it is cheap: $540.00+ tax with 10% off coupon). I'd rather break it than the tractor and in so doing give myself an excuse to learn how to weld.

I pull a 60" BB with my JD2210, 22HP, 1400lb tractor.

In the size you need, look for a used one on Craigslist.

I paid $1000 for a 84" with hydraulic scarifier.

I'm afraid you will be greatly disappointed with your $540.00+ tax with 10% off coupon BB in the end.

 

[Fallon]

I pull a 72" King Kutter box blade with my L3200. Same machine & weight as yours, just a few more HP. You will be fine.

 

[BCrouse]

A ballast box has been the best thing, imo, for ballast. Its smallish, tucks in nicely, dont care if it bumps things, simple. I have a ballast box that I loaded to roughly 1000lbs (granite rocks and 4 80lbs bags of concrete) and its my "go to" for lifting heavy with the loader. Especially when I know I will be lifting high....like removing things from the bed of my truck.

That said I have used the loader with other (or no attachments when I'm moving lighter material) but l'm more worried about backing into things or catching an edge of something with a wider attachment. I would hate to back into a tree with my rotary tiller on.

If you have to make a decision on a single attachment, a BoxBlade is a good choice. As others have said buy as heavy a one as you can use.


You could always fashion yourself a ballast box with a steel 55/30gal drum, concrete and some parts from TSC.