Ballast Question on ballast box

[Henri88]

I've have seen some people filling there ballast box with cement. Is this the best way to go. I use brick in mine, but they tend to shift from side to side. I need my ballast box for my 2305 fel and my snowblower. Anybody out there regret using cement.

 

[Gizmo2]

I've have seen some people filling there ballast box with cement. Is this the best way to go. I use brick in mine, but they tend to shift from side to side. I need my ballast box for my 2305 fel and my snowblower. Anybody out there regret using cement.

I am not convinced that concrete is the way to go, 3/4 inch stone works for me. Filled during the summer months and I remove 2 five gallon pails of stone for winter snow plowing. Filled up seems to take to much weight off the front of the tractor for snow plowing which will cause the front-end to slide around.

 

[kennyd]

Mine is filled with concrete, no regrets here.

 

[RoyJackson]

I have between 450 and 550 lbs of sand in mine. That weight, plus the weight of the box itself, gives me over 600# of ballast. For my 790, that's plenty.
Nice thing about sand is you can shovel it out on slick spots, if necessary. And it's not permanent, if you decide to use the ballast box for something else.

 

[JB4310]

For the first year I used 3/4 inch stone, in case I needed the box for anything else, well the only thing I needed the box for was more ballast. So I filled it with concrete to about 2 inches from the top to hold a few loose items, put pvc pipe in to hold tools.

Definitely no regrets. Sand, stone, bricks etc are not nearly as heavy as concrete. you'd have to use steel or lead to to have a removable medium and still be heavy enough. That would get expensive if you had to buy, for 25 bucks you can fill it with concrete.

Well maybe 1 regret, I should of used steel pipe, if I break a plastic pipe I'm stuck.

JB.

 

[Henri88]

I would like to go concrete, but I'm worried how my 2305 would handle the extra weight.
JB4310, what did you do to help the water drainage out of your ballast box? Drill some holes on the sides?

 

[RoyJackson]

I would like to go concrete, but I'm worried how my 2305 would handle the extra weight.

You could always fill the box about ½ way with concrete and see how it works. If not enough weight, add more concrete or fill with another media.

 

[Labrat]

I filled mine with concrete on my 2210. It takes a lot of load off the front axle when you are moving sand or heavy loads. Just be sure to remove the box before the loader otherwise you won't have any steering.
I also have 10 gals washer fluid in each rear tire.

 

[orlo]

I have a small BB filled with concrete (about 700lbs total) for my 2305, and a large one filled with an extension (maybe 1100# complete) I use on my 4720 (used on my former 3720 and 3320 also).

It's nice, compact, doesn't shift. My only caveat is that if you need to move it (I mean long distance site to site off the tractor) it's a pain. It would be a lot easier to dump out my large Balast box, throw the 150lb box/extension in my truck and just transport it.

Once, maybe Twice I've moved my 700# BB from site to site (without the tractor) and strapping it on a trailer or in your truck can be a pain.

Other than that I like concrete.

I do regret not putting PVC pipes in it to store tools like many folks on this site have.

 

[JB4310]

JB4310, what did you do to help the water drainage out of your ballast box? Drill some holes on the sides?

I used a dimpled drain board material on the bottom and drilled drain a hole through the bottom. anything that would leave some air gap and path for water to drain at the bottom, even crushed stone like at the bottom of a flower pot.
For the top I drilled a hole in the side of one of the pipes.

Some guys put a receiver tube in, For myself I didn't think I would use it, figured if I'm pulling a trailer I wouldn't need or want the heavy box on. But I guess in some cases it would come in handy with all the different accessories that go in the receivers now.

JB.

 

[JDGreenGrass]

My box is full of cement, roughly 600lbs. on the back of my 770.

It does wonders for traction and the overall operation of using the loader is a great improvement over having no ballast weight. Definately saves the front axle under heavy loads in the bucket and it helps with "digging into" a gravel pile or a snow bank.

Love my jd balast box.

Put a hook in the center of the cement for picking it up without having to hook up to the 3pt. hitch.

When in storage keep it on wheels (on a cart).

 

[RoyJackson]

Just be sure to remove the box before the loader otherwise you won't have any steering.

And definitely install the loader before hooking up the ballast box!!
I screwed up when I first got the box. Rigged it to the 3ph, lifted it to turn the tractor around (to install the loader). When I lifted it...or tried to...the front of the 790 just came up off it's front tires...fast, too!

 

[Labrat]

I did the same thing in the barn one day. I knew I screwed up when I was looking at the ceiling.

 

[Runner]

I used concrete, mainly because I had a couple of old bags of sak crete sitting around that had partially hardened up and needed to be used. However, just in case I decide to remove it at some future date, I first lined the box with a couple of layers of plastic sheet, then, put in four bags of concrete in "lifts" with a layer of plastic sheet between every two bags. That way, I figure I can remove it if I ever decide I need to by smacking it with a hammer and chisel a couple of times.

The plastic liner has the added advantage of sealing up the box seams to keep the liquid from leaking out during the pour process.

I wanted to still be able to vary the amount of weight in the box, so I only used four bags of sak crete. The remainder of the box holds (8) 42# JD cast iron suitcase weights. Total weight is 809 lbs. with all the weights in place. This also gives me a good place to store the weight when not in use.

 

[Barely Smokin']

Just out of curiosity, guys, why do you all use ballast boxes instead of just a heavy attachment, like a box blade, that has an additional use?

On my little 'ole 790, anyway, I've found that my FEL can't lift more weight than my BB can offset. And that's with the extra shims in.

Simply don't need a BB? Worried about size? Cost? Bigger tractor than a 790?

Just curious....

 

[Aaron_D]

On the inital question, Mine is filled with portland cement. No regrets filling it. If i need lighter i can always keep my eye out for a cheap used box but as of right now, I either want the weight, or not. Never inbetween.

Just out of curiosity, guys, why do you all use ballast boxes instead of just a heavy attachment, like a box blade, that has an additional use?

Went ballast box because its the most compact method of having weight out back. I store my tractor in the garage and keep the ballast box on the rear all winter to add traction. A box blade would be a pain to walk around all the time. I also play in a wooded area on my land. A box blade is just one more thing to catch on a tree in tight areas.

 

[kennyd]

Just out of curiosity, guys, why do you all use ballast boxes instead of just a heavy attachment, like a box blade, that has an additional use?

On my little 'ole 790, anyway, I've found that my FEL can't lift more weight than my BB can offset. And that's with the extra shims in.

Simply don't need a BB? Worried about size? Cost? Bigger tractor than a 790?

Just curious....

Went ballast box because its the most compact method of having weight out back. I store my tractor in the garage and keep the ballast box on the rear all winter to add traction. A box blade would be a pain to walk around all the time. I also play in a wooded area on my land. A box blade is just one more thing to catch on a tree in tight areas.

Exactly my reason. It's small, compact and weights a lot!

 

[Gizmo2]

Just out of curiosity, guys, why do you all use ballast boxes instead of just a heavy attachment, like a box blade, that has an additional use?

On my little 'ole 790, anyway, I've found that my FEL can't lift more weight than my BB can offset. And that's with the extra shims in.

Simply don't need a BB? Worried about size? Cost? Bigger tractor than a 790?

Just curious....

Ever back into one of your vehicles? The ballast box does not hang out the sides or out the back near as far.

 

[RoyJackson]

Just out of curiosity, guys, why do you all use ballast boxes instead of just a heavy attachment, like a box blade, that has an additional use?

On my little 'ole 790, anyway, I've found that my FEL can't lift more weight than my BB can offset. And that's with the extra shims in.

Simply don't need a BB? Worried about size? Cost? Bigger tractor than a 790?

Just curious....

Heaviest implement I have is a LandPride 5' Cutter. Weighs in about 630 lbs...but extends out (from the lower links) 8 feet, give or take a foot. Gizmo wrote it right...ever hit something?
Ballast box is much more compact, keeping the weight closer to the rear axle thus more traction.

 

[beenthere]

Just out of curiosity, guys, why do you all use ballast boxes instead of just a heavy attachment, like a box blade, that has an additional use?

On my little 'ole 790, anyway, I've found that my FEL can't lift more weight than my BB can offset. And that's with the extra shims in.

Simply don't need a BB? Worried about size? Cost? Bigger tractor than a 790?

Just curious....

To curious
I'd rather have the smaller attachment for the rear, than have the width of the BB to worry about hitting something as it swings around.

Filled my ballast box with washed gravel stones, thinking that I didn't want permanancy of concrete. But in 9 years, haven't moved any stones out for any reason, so the next chance I have extra 'crete, it will go in the ballast box. And thanks for the ideas for putting in tubes in the corners, and pre-drilling some drain holes.