DIY tractor weights ideas

[jack707]

I need some ideas on home made tractor weights I have a welder but where to weld and how much does the tractor need?.

 

[George2615]

It would be helpful if you tell us why and what you need weights for.
Are you talking about front hanging, rear wheel or 3 pt. hitch weights.

 

[KennyG]

If you are looking for ballast, a great big 3 point chunk of concrete is the cheapest way to go. Some kind of container (barrels are popular) and a 3 point drawbar. If you are looking for additional weight when you're using a 3 point attachment, tire ballast might be the best choice.

 

[RedNeckRacin]

:confused3: Beats me!? give us some more info!

 

[jack707]

Well my tractor a 4x2 with front end loader and on soft ground I aways get stuck, got stuck today! that's when the loader comes in handy. When I try and push a stump into my woods the back tires spins when I shift it in high.

 

[George2615]

Search rear ballast threads. There are many styles of 3 pt ballast weights to give you ideas on how to make yours

 

[jack707]

Thanks a lot George

 

[RedNeckRacin]

Do you have fluid filled tires? If you have a loader I bet it would make a heck of a difference in how much your rear tires stay on the ground. You can add alot of weight very cheaply but you won't unload the front axle. Rear counterweight is the best for loader work. You might also look at tire chains if your tires aren't in great shape!

 

[Xfaxman]

Use the "Google Custom Search" at the top of the page, not the "SEARCH" icon below it. Use as few words as possible.

 

[FTG-05]

Here you go:

Home made concrete, steel and lead wheel weights, 260 lbs for the right, 240 lbs for the left, total of 500 lbs (in addition to loaded rear tires):

Box blade rear weight block plus Rachet Rake holder, 410 lbs for the block and 110 lbs for the RR, total of 520 lbs at the rear of my box blade:

FEL torque tube weights. 4" 1/4" steel tube 18" long with 4"x4" 1/4" plate on one end, then 2" steel rod welded to plate, then filled with concrete. Total weight, around 40 lbs, total of 80 lbs for two of them:

Front end weights, total weight around 180 lbs:

The standard concrete filled barrel as a rear ballast weight, around 750-900 lbs +/-, now replaced with my box blade with rear weight block +1200 lbs:

Good luck!

 

[katoomed00]

Used a ballast weight off an old small forklift from a junk yard, just welded a 3pt set up on it using pieces of 3" x 1/4" angle iron, 200 bucks and a hr. of work.
Makes a massive difference on traction, I can actually keep the tractor in 2 wheel drive and push dirt with the FEL.

 

[jack707]

I'll look into how much to fill the back tires ,tires are in good shape I will try the concrete barrel - Thanks alot

 

[Mike9]

I'll look into how much to fill the back tires ,tires are in good shape I will try the concrete barrel - Thanks alot

75% is the rule with the valve stem at 12 'O clock fill it to that point. Unless you mean how $$$ for someone else to fill them. I just bought metal valves and an adapter for mine so I can use a sump pump in a 5 gal. pail to inject antifreeze into mine before the snow flies.

 

[jack707]

75% is the rule with the valve stem at 12 'O clock fill it to that point. Unless you mean how $$$ for someone else to fill them. I just bought metal valves and an adapter for mine so I can use a sump pump in a 5 gal. pail to inject antifreeze into mine before the snow flies.

I have to try that so how does the anti freeze give your tires weight?.

 

[George2615]

I have to try that so how does the anti freeze give your tires weight?.

Adding any liquid to the inside of your tire adds weight. For example: if the liquid weighs 8 lbs per gallon and each rear tire takes 35 gallons to fill it 75% then you have added 280 lbs per tire or 560 lbs. for the pair. Be careful using antifreeze, if your tire gets a leak the antifreeze is toxic to animals and the environment.

 

[ovrszd]

Liquid ballast in the rear tires is the cheapest ballast that can be added to the tire/wheel assembly. Much cheaper than cast weights.

I used Windshield Washer fluid bought by the 65 gallon barrel at the local parts store. Added 1100lbs of weight for just over $200.

 

[Everhard]

And concrete barrel is probably the cheapest counter weight you can make. As a bonus for you given your tractor is 2 wheel drive you'll be amazed at the traction it gives you. I pretty much never engage 4 wheel drive with the barrel on. And as you'll see from examples on here you can build it with a receiver hitch and other useful options that won't add much at all to the cost.

E.

 

[KennyG]

Lots of ways to go. I have a trailer hitch receiver on a quick hitch drawbar I built, so I just poured a big block of concrete around a 2x2 tube. I also cast up some concrete "suitcase" weights to sit on the drawbar.

 

[rjkobbeman]

I did something similar for the front of my small tractor. This keeps my front end on the ground when using my carry-all.

Receiver draw-bar in a 5-gallon bucket. Piece of cake...

I plan to make some extra ones that will hang off of the side.

 

[fried1765]

overszd:

I could not find any deal on 55gal drums of windshield washer fluid.
Just bought 80 (single) gallons of -20F windshield washer fluid for $1.42 (with tax - $114).
Tire liquid fill fitting at TSC was $9.xx. W/W fluid is not completely environmental friendly, as it does contain methanol.
Animals will not lick W/W fluid though, as they will with sweet ethylene glycol (automotive anti-freeze). Automotive anti-freeze WILL KILL animals (dogs - cats - farm animals, etc.)!
"beet juice" may be the best choice for tire ballast, but in my area it would cost me more than 3X what I paid for W/W fluid.
Beet juice is environmentally friendly, and weighs about 10.8 lb./gal. W/W fluid weighs less, at about 8 lb./gal., but in my opinion the beet juice is not worth 3X the cost of W/W fluid.
R/V antifreeze is another envionmentally correct choice, but also does not weigh as much as beet juice, and is too costly as well!