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

[amhicks21]

Very correct. I think many people hear all the (correct) talk about needing proper 3pt ballast. They jump to assuming they need a ballast box. Some have legit needs for the maneuverability a compact ballast box gives. Most don't. I think most of us are just trying to prevent newbies from wasting time & money on a dedicated ballast box before they figure if they really need the specific limited benefits of a ballast box over an implement.

Yup, as soon as spring hits my weight box gets shoved in to the back of a shipping container until the following winter. If i wasnt plowing snow it would be useless.

 

[Diggin It]

You FlatEarthers don't understand what a bunch of weight hanging off the back can do to you when trying to climb a steep-ish hill. I have places I mow that I have to have the FEL out front and lowdown and nothing on the back.

 

[rScotty]

Very correct. I think many people hear all the (correct) talk about needing proper 3pt ballast. They jump to assuming they need a ballast box. Some have legit needs for the maneuverability a compact ballast box gives. Most don't. I think most of us are just trying to prevent newbies from wasting time & money on a dedicated ballast box before they figure if they really need the specific limited benefits of a ballast box over an implement.

Exactly. Wish I'd said it so well. There are uses for ballast boxes and filling the tires - but newbies have no way to know that both are a long ways from being requirements.
Use your new tractor & learn what it can do before wasting time and money on something that isn't a necessity and may be a detriment.
Then if after a year you do decide you need more weight you'll have a whole lot better idea of what and how.
rScotty

 

[oosik]

Been out here 40+ years and had a tractor all that time. I thought about a ballast box a few times. For me - a ballast box is of no use. I have VERY FEW really tight places and have no business with my tractor in those that are tight.

I have 1550# of RimGuard in the rear tires and a 1050# rear blade on the 3-point.

The M6040 Kubota is just not a tractor for tight places.

However - I do see the definite advantage of a b-box if you have a smaller tractor and need to do work in tight spots. I see some very "enlightened" designs for b-boxes - increases their usefulness.

I think of a ballast box as most other 3-point implements. If you need it - fine. Otherwise - wise money says use a 3-point implement and get more bang for your buck. JMHO

 

[jyoutz]

You FlatEarthers don't understand what a bunch of weight hanging off the back can do to you when trying to climb a steep-ish hill. I have places I mow that I have to have the FEL out front and lowdown and nothing on the back.

Ballast isn’t needed for mowing. I don’t understand your response. Ballast is needed for heavy lifts with the loader.

 

[WranglerX]

Exactly. Wish I'd said it so well. There are uses for ballast boxes and filling the tires - but newbies have no way to know that both are a long ways from being requirements.
Use your new tractor & learn what it can do before wasting time and money on something that isn't a necessity and may be a detriment.
Then if after a year you do decide you need more weight you'll have a whole lot better idea of what and how.
rScotty

Argument for ballast weight.... Dead Deere weighs in at 520 pounds ... 1715 weighs in at about 1400 pounds and has 580 pound FEL lift capacity....

 

[Fallon]

Argument for ballast weight.... Dead Deere weighs in at 520 pounds ... 1715 weighs in at about 1400 pounds and has 580 pound FEL lift capacity....

Nobody is arguing ballast on the rear is a requirement for lifting with the loader. Your pictures capture that perfectly. The argument is you can get the same results for free with a mower, box blade or any other heavy implement you already have. The only advantage of a dedicated ballast box over an implement is compact size. Most people don't need that tight of maneuverability though. So they should save a few bucks, at least early on until they know they really need it.

 

[tman1020]

I think everything has its purpose. Ballast boxes could be very handy in tight situation and for specialty uses like logging or plowing. Also nice to be able to remove the extra weight when I needed.
As far as filling tires it has definitely made operating many tractors much safer. But it does have its drawbacks. Filled tires do react to terrain slightly differently. And you can’t add & remove the weight as easily. Plus a puncture can be a major mess. For the uses I have adding ballast in the form of an implement or wheel weights is best for me. But can see where a ballast box could be very handy. Considered making A custom one many times.

 

[bigtiller]

I wouldn't mind having 2 ballast boxes.
My 2720 weighs 1950 lb bare weight. It is my loader tractor and my snowblower.
For snow blowing, I found 600lbs. in the ballast box to be a good balance front to back.
When I have the pallet forks on the loader, I throw an additional 300 lbs. of steel making a 900 lb. box.

So if I had a second box I could have a light one and a heavy one and I would not have to throw 300 lbs. of steel by hand.

But I'm tight with my money so I am sticking with 1 box......until I get "jay leno rich"

 

[MESSMAKER]

Ballast isn’t needed for mowing. I don’t understand your response. Ballast is needed for heavy lifts with the loader.

Ballast in the tires lowers the center of gravity. It can make a huge difference on overall stability.

 

[71bronco]

The only time my ballast barrel isn't on the tractor is when I'm brushogging. I poured concrete in a 55 gal barrel and left it down about 4'' so I have room for 2 or 3 chains with me all the time. There is also a place for shovel,rake,chainsaw and gas &oil. Also have a receiver hitch. It's tucked in tight so I never run into anything so why take it off.

Jeff

 

[Vigo327]

I have only used a box blade for loader ballast so far because my tractor is so small that a 60" BB provides enough counterweight to max out the stock loader hydraulics.. until i crank them up anyway.

It does present some maneuverability issues, and i intend to fill the rear tires and MIGHT build a dedicated ballast.. but if i do i am thinking it will be a ~30 gal plastic barrel full of sand, because the things i might run into are things i care about.

I do really like seeing all the other uses people build into their weight boxes!

 

[Pleease]

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 have a Heavy Hitch with about 250lbs of suitcase weights, so ~300lbs total, and since it functions as a hitch I guess it's a degree more functional than a ballast box. To remove it I can easily lift each suitcase weight off and then the hitch itself, so that's handy. The HH wasn't cheap, but it does seem to be made very well, and as you mentioned it's compact - good counterweight and I almost forget it's back there.

 

[llaass]

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.

Your PHYSICS thought is correct however the wording is questionable.

 

[westcoaster]

I use a box scraper with added steel plates on for weight and a shelf ontop for my chainsaw, chains for yarding logs etc. A ballast box unless empty to carry things in for me is useless. I also put tubes in and fill my rear tires with calcium.

 

[acethunder]

I use a ballast box because it came with the tractor when I bought it. I attached a hitch to it to move trailers and other things around. I don’t mow with mine and I use a 3pt blade to fix the driveway

 

[RoyJackson]

Biggest advantage of a ballast box is a lot of weight in a comparatively compact size.
I've got a Deere brand box I've had for years, along with 600-700 lbs. of sand that was in it when I bought it.
Although I haven't had need of it since moving to Vermont (2012), I'll keep it
Some guys use implements like rotary cutters, rear blades (which aren't really that heavy) and such. For loader work, one wants to concentrate on the loader, not what's on the 3PH, especially in close quarters.

 

[billypumper]

I'm a little cheap when it comes to a ballast box, because then it has to be filled with something and doesn't move around easily unless you put a furniture dolly underneath when you take it off, I was at a auction and bought those weights that are used for calibrating scales, they weigh 50lbs each bought 6 @8 dollars a piece, used 5, slid my draw bar through the center and attached it to my quick hitch which weighs 75lbs, now I have 325 lbs of counter weight for my 6ft. snow blade.

 

[RoyJackson]

.. doesn't move around easily unless you put a furniture dolly underneath when you take it off...

Yep, furniture dollies are useful tools, if you have a concrete floor. My box has been on a furniture dolly since I bought the box
I thought about adding a receiver hitch, but found something like this:

Amazon.com: Happybuy 3 Point BX Trailer Hitch Drawbar Trailer Hitch Receiver 3 Point Trailer Receiver 1 Tractor Tow Hitch Drawbar : Automotive

Buy Happybuy 3 Point BX Trailer Hitch Drawbar Trailer Hitch Receiver 3 Point Trailer Receiver 1 Tractor Tow Hitch Drawbar: Drawbar Hitch - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

Pretty handy and I used it a lot when I had a half-ton trailer back in PA.
The one I own is quite a bit stronger (robust) then the one shown in the link....made for larger tractors
Always regretted I left that trailer when we moved to VT...

 

[ovrszd]

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

My BB weighs 1100-1200 lbs. I have 1500 lbs of rear tire fluid. I'm guessing the BB hanging off the 3pt adds more weight than the fluid. But I'm not going to take the time to mathematically prove it.