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

[Lee Robinson]

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?

 

[4570Man]

A box blade really isn’t heavy enough for sufficient ballast on its own without liquid tires or iron weights.

 

[jyoutz]

A box blade really isn’t heavy enough for sufficient ballast on its own without liquid tires or iron weights.

I agree, but I also agree with the OP regarding a ballast box. I have never understood why attach a ballast box instead of a useful implement. I use an implement and filled tires for ballast.

 

[Torvy]

Even if you added weight to your box blade, it would be less maneuverable in small spaces than a ballast box. That may be why some do it.

If I remember physics correctly, and that is a big if, having weight further back is better than closer to the fulcrum. That would support using a box blade or cutter as counterweight versus a ballast box.

In my situation, I will load the tires and keep the RC on most of the time. No lawn to mow, just brush, so too much weight should not be an issue.

 

[4570Man]

I agree, but I also agree with the OP regarding a ballast box. I have never understood why attach a ballast box instead of a useful implement. I use an implement and filled tires for ballast.

I agree with that as well. I use a box blade and liquid tires.

 

[jyoutz]

Even if you added weight to your box blade, it would be less maneuverable in small spaces than a ballast box. That may be why some do it.

If I remember physics correctly, and that is a big if, having weight further back is better than closer to the fulcrum. That would support using a box blade or cutter as counterweight versus a ballast box.

In my situation, I will load the tires and keep the RC on most of the time. No lawn to mow, just brush, so too much weight should not be an issue.

A rotary cutter is great ballast, but it’s often in the way because it does overhang quite a bit.

 

[MossyDell]

I used a box blade here for a while and for many years elsewhere. Heavy Hitch began to appeal to me because it had weight and a receiver hitch, plus I could use a ripper in the receiver.

What I found was that the hitch felt much less in the way, felt very compact, and was heavier than my blade. I'd never used anything but an implement, but here all my spaces are so tight.

 

[jyoutz]

I used a box blade here for a while and for many years elsewhere. Heavy Hitch began to appeal to me because it had weight and a receiver hitch, plus I could use a ripper in the receiver.

What I found was that the hitch felt much less in the way, felt very compact, and was heavier than my blade. I'd never used anything but an implement, but here all my spaces are so tight.

I guess I can see that in tight maneuvering situations. I don’t have too many of those conditions.

 

[s219]

I used implements for rear ballast for many years, but the disadvantage is that most of them take up much more space on the back of the tractor than a ballast box. So eventually I got a ballast box. It's about twice as heavy as my box blade and probably 1/8 the size. Much easier to maneuver in tight spaces.

 

[i7win7]

I guess I can see that in tight maneuvering situations. I don’t have too many of those conditions.

Sometimes an implement striking objects behind you can distract you in dangerous operations/situations

 

[WranglerX]

Don't have box blade..... Had enough steel to build the ballast box and the 8 or so bags quickcteet was not that expensive....

 

[Hay Dude]

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 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

 

[3 Horse Ranch]

I agree, but I also agree with the OP regarding a ballast box. I have never understood why attach a ballast box instead of a useful implement. I use an implement and filled tires for ballast.

I usually use a box blade for ballast, but bought a ballast box for one job, leveling out a barn floor between 6x6 posts on 12 foot centers. My box blade is 60" the ballast box is about 28". Effectively rounding the corners of my tractor as I brought in the fill material for rough grade and finish grade.

 

[k0ua]

Ballast barrel here. Just some of the same reasons as given by others. Much easier to maneuver in my mostly wooded acreage. It also carries all of my hand implements in the 2 inch PVC tubes as well as several chains. Also has a 2 inch receiver on the back, and hooks on the sides for carrying things. But I can see the other side of using an implement on the back for weight. it is a useful thing on the tractor when you need it. But my rotary cutter sticks out far to much to use at my place. If I had open ground, that might be a different story.

Methanol mix in the tires, as I often need the extra weight for traction when using my rear blade to get up and down the hills and pull the blade. I would not be without the liquid in the tires. But each to their own and depending on what they do with their tractor. There is no best. There is only best for you and what you do. I have found MY best, but that might not be the greatest idea for your operation.

 

[Aquamoose]

Because a box blade can’t tow a log splitter, carry my chains, chain saw, pike, logging tongs, and small tools while providing the same amount of ballast in a small footprint.

 

[Torvy]

Because a box blade can’t tow a log splitter, carry my chains, chain saw, pike, logging tongs, and small tools while providing the same amount of ballast in a small footprint.

View attachment 726403

Lol. That sounds like a challenge. I don't have those skills, but I could see a number of guys or gals here that like to weld and may be creative enough to kick their box blade up a few notches.

 

[4570Man]

Because a box blade can’t tow a log splitter, carry my chains, chain saw, pike, logging tongs, and small tools while providing the same amount of ballast in a small footprint.

View attachment 726403

I’m pretty sure if you have the equipment to build that box that you’d be able to weld a receiver and a few other options on a box blade.

 

[Aquamoose]

I’m pretty sure if you have the equipment to build that box that you’d be able to weld a receiver and a few other options on a box blade.

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.

 

[rScotty]

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?

Ballast boxes & filled tires always seemed to me to be mostly a natural desire to add an inexpensive personal extra touch to a new tractor.

Weight boxes don't make sense unless the tractor needs rear weight plus fit into tight spaces. Otherwise it makes more sense to add weight to a useful implement.

Filling tires - or better yet, adding wheel weights - can make sense but it depends a lot on location. Look at the location in a poster's profiles. Soils in the South and Eastern US are compactible mud, clay, or loam where adding weight makes tires sink in and grab better. Where you drive more on sand, gravel, and rocks - like in the Western US - no amount of weight helps with traction so there is no reason to deal with the downsides of filled tires. We need wider tires with more surface area for our traction.

Adding rear wheel weights is good, but the cost makes that a rare option.
rScotty

 

[Diggin It]

And there are those of us who have paved driveways and turf/lawn so we have no need at all for a box blade. I use a tiller or the backhoe when I need weight, which isn't all the time. All four tires are filled.