Weighting tires

[ElBarranco]

I'm looking at getting the rear tires of an L48 I'm about to buy weighted. I was quoted $1600. Does that sound right? I had no idea it would be so expensive. Are there more expensive and less expensive ways to get some weight on the tires? This is for "foam filled". I've never heard of that, but it does sound fancy.

thanks,
-robert

 

[ToddW]

It's quite common to fill tires with various fluids Robert, including water, Calcium Chloride, Rim Guard (beet juice), windshield wiper fluid, and others. It doesn't freeze where I live so we just fill them with water. I'm sure others will chime in here but as far as I know, filling with foam is usually done more to eliminate flats than it is for weight, though it accomplishes both.

/Todd

 

[MarkV]

Foam filling is about as expensive as it gets. Normally you would foam fill for work on construction sites where the hazards are many and flats are frequent. Foam is also stiffer than liquid fill and can make for a rougher riding tractor.

If you are not working in a high hazard situation I’d consider one of the liquid fills mentioned above. If your dealer does not offer any other options check with larger tire dealers that do ag tires. They will normally offer types of liquid fill.

It is also pretty easy to do it your self with water and eco-friendly anti-freeze or windshield washer fluid. A cheap pump that hooks to a drill and a tire valve (Napa or farm store) that bleeds off air is all that is needed. A search will bring up some good threads on how it is done.

MarkV

 

[art]

Foam filling is very solid and you don't need to worry about flats! We've had paople trade in skid steers that are running on the foam as the tire is totally shot! I don't recommend going that far with a tire!

As mentioned there are other forms of ballast for the inside of tires. I can't say that we've ever loaded the tires on an L-48 but the units we've sold all have the backhoe on them and for the most part they don't get removed. The L-48 with the hydro has a good balance of power to weight on it's own and I'd wonder of any benefit to having the tires loaded.

 

[ElBarranco]

Thanks for the feedback. I searched for and read some threads here about filling, and that was quite informative. I certainly don't need foam for my application, so not going to pay for that. Sounds like if I need anything I'll go for wheel weights. I'll mostly run with the BH, and if not that then either a heavy box blade or some other implement. May not need weights at all. Also, I need to get some spacers so I can put on chains, so maybe I can get some heavy spacers that will give a little weight.

Thanks everyone for saving me $1600.

-robert

 

[art]

The wheel weights might be a problem as most industrial rims have no provisions to bolt them on. That is not going to be a problem as I believe for your uses you will find it works just fine without. This is where as much as I've found and witnessed tires being filled a negative to traction, the added weight is a plus in some situations. To compare weighted tires to solid weights it takes about twice the weight to be as effective.

 

[weiser]

Art - can you explain further on the weights? Which is twice of the other, the wheel weights or the filled tires, and why?

I would expect that hitch weight (implement) would be more effective than wheel weight, because it's further back. It'd be nice to be able to weight and unweight the tractor based on how wet the ground is too.

ElBarranco,
I was recently quoted $1.25 per pound on wheel weight - recommended to 150# each wheel would be 300#. Of course I guess you're limited how much of that you can put on.

I too was wondering how much weight to add, and the best way to do it. I am presently tageting the L4240

 

[Dirthog]

I have had a L48 for 5 years the first year I ran it with no weight on the rear end was brush hoging with it one day and it got bad real quick within two hours I had it at the tire shop loading the tires with calcium chloride and have never had it out since even with the backhoe on it makes a world of difference.

 

[art]

Art - can you explain further on the weights? Which is twice of the other, the wheel weights or the filled tires, and why?

Some rims do not accept wheel weights and some do. With loaders most all tractors need rear ballast to offset the load. I like to size up the jobs as some might not require any, otherwise with the max which is normally three sets per side has seemed to be all that has been needed other then with extreme loader work and then to have the three point hitch ballast. This base weight with proper inflation will normally give the same traction as liquid filled tires on normal uses and it doesn't hinder the drive train life.

When adding the weights you do have the option to remove them, with liquid you do to but it is normally not done. To have it as solid weight is a plus and having it in the right place makes a big difference.