Rim guard or not? Why a ballast box instead of boxblade?

[Hoobie]

My tires are loaded. I also leave my logging winch on with chains etc. At around 500 pounds. That is on 90 percent of the time except for bushog work each year.
For serious loader work I made a 500 pound cement weight which I can quickly hook onto my winch cable, winch it up and snug, then raise the winch. That gives me 1000 pounds on the 3 ph with 500 hanging out the back further.
Flexible options for me.

 

[pmsmechanic]

I don't use rim guard etc. because I don't believe that a front wheel assist tractor under 60 hp needs it for any reason. Others will definitely disagree with me and that's fine. I've just found I don't need it at all.

I use cast iron on the 3 point because I had it. Otherwise I would have gone with a barrel or some other solid weight as an implement hanging out the back makes the tractor too long for tight spots.

Interesting note is that I used to have 1000 lbs hanging on the 3 point. When I added the quick attach I found it was too much weight so took off 400 lbs. When digging with 1000 lbs the front end loader could hardly dig into the soil. It was just too annoying.

 

[dodge man]

I agree that if you have enough 3 point ballast loaded tires might be redundant. The recommended ballast for my JD is enough on the 3 point AND loaded tires. The big advantage of loaded tires is it increases stability, the weight is low, and the tractor doesn’t have to carry the weight.

 

[Jstpssng]

I don't have loaded tires and even with my 500 lb winch on back, using my 3301 was like a carnival ride... in the house of horrors. Even when disking on a slight sidehill I dropped a tire into the downhill furrow and had the upside rear come way too far off the ground. My tires are weather cracked so I bought a set of wheel weights which made a big difference.

Growing up, I always heard my father talking about why he didn't load his tires and got my opinions from him. It wasn't until after he passed away that I found he'd loaded the tires of his last Kubota purchase with beet juice. I agree that it stinks after 14 years but it helps keep the tires on the ground.

 

[jyoutz]

I did.
After 2 flats I understood the stuff smells like skunk after it gets old.
When the fluid gets hot in the tire and it leaks, it will kill vegetation and stain asphalt.
I don’t suggest it if you do a lot of off-road work where flats can happen.
My alternative was cast wheels and cast wheel weights

Or check out the new product called bio ballast. The dealer installed that in my tires.

 

[Hay Dude]

It always gave me an uneasy feeling working around hedgerows, barbed wire fences, longer stickers, etc.
One sidewall puncture and you got a mess to deal with.
Wheel weights will never cause you problems.

As mentioned before, it’s different for everyone. I run in territory dangerous to tires. If you don’t, then rim guard is ok.

 

[RalphVa]

I see a lot of people buying 3 point ballast boxes or making ballast containers out of drums to attach to their 3 point hitch.

I have never really grasped why not just keep a box blade on the back so you could have not just a weight, but something that can be used should you wish to drag something? I have seen some weld a section of railroad rail onto the top of a box blade to make it heavier.

Also, rimguard is something I have considered, but I am also not sure about this because it seems I can do everything I need to do without rimguard and it will just increase the amount of weight when I trailer the tractor or perhaps increase ruts when on soft lawns.. I have thought rimguard would be good when using my ditch bank flail mower, but so far, I haven't found myself in any situation I would consider to have been tippy.

So, is there anyone here that added rimguard to their tires and regretted it?

I've always used either my bush hog or wood chipper. Both are about 500 #. Heavier box blades would work as well, but I'd also used the lighter MacKissic chipper. It with the windshield washer filled rear tires was fine, too.

Main advantage to a ballast box is that it doesn't stick out that far in the back.

 

[ctgoldwing]

I spend a fair amount of time in the woods clearing and cleaning up. It got old banging my box blade into trees and rocks. I have filled rears (diluted Cryotek, non toxic) and mount a ballast box when ever I venture in now..

 

[IndyJay]

Sure I can weld a receiver on a box blade plus a few options but that’s like putting a dress and makeup on a pig.

You act like there's something wrong with that...

 

[shooterdon]

Good points about maneuverability. I have used my snowblower for ballast when lifting 1/2 cord totes of wood ...it weighs over 900 lbs. Plus, I have loaded tires. But I have dented the blower once so far.

I am looking at a ballast box and the cheap ones are under $300. Say another $50 to fill it with 800 lbs of stuff...not very much money.

I have looked at adding a box blade. The HD one was 500 lbs and $1300. I might use the BB once every 2-3 years. It would be nice to have but hard to justify.

You need to think about your situation and see what makes sense.