50 gallon barrel for 3-point ballast (400 lbs)

Sodo · Apr 17, 2015

I few weeks ago I made a 3-point receiver / adapter.

Today I made a cradle to carry a barrel of water (up to 400 lbs). What I like about water is that I can empty the barrel and 400 lbs "goes away". Unlike using concrete which is always 400 lbs, and always needs a tractor to move it. A guy with a BX could fill it 2/3 full for 275 lbs.

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Pic carrying a 30-inch sheetmetal shear/brake. It's on the far left brushfork tine, and lifted one wheel of the tractor. It's a lot of cast iron, but really not so heavy! But the B2710 is not a heavy tractor so clearly I gotta get my ballast device worked out!

Frame is made of 1 x 2 x .065" steel tube. And one cross piece 2 x 2 x .065". The angle iron is 1.5 x 2 x 1/8. Angle braces are 1/2 x 1/2 x .065". The stinger is 2 x 2 x 3/16

Barrel is tied on with a ratchet strap. It's very secure!

dragoneggs · Apr 17, 2015

Sodo... I am thinking more and more you are a 'hang ten' kind of guy :laughing: I have a habit of inadvertantly getting my rear wheels off the ground but I think you are just trying.

vtsnowedin · Apr 17, 2015

I take it your rear tires are not filled and that's the way you want to keep them? If so 400lbs on the back wont be enough for heavy lifting and you should get another barrel and fill it with concrete for a 1000 lbs and have that parked somewhere where you can get to it easy when needed.
I need to make one up and have a steel drum handy. I think I'll look in the bone pile for a #. eight rebar long enough to stick through and fit in my cat 2 hitch and some other scrap to make the top link connector I can cast into the crete at the top of the barrel.
Nice looking welds on your project. My pop and splatter doesn't look anywhere near as good.

MossRoad · Apr 17, 2015

I like the design, but I'm thinking I'd back into something and bend that thin tubing pretty easily. Or, maybe I'd pop the water barrel before the tubing bent. Either way, it beat straining to connect a concrete barrel, that's for sure. :thumbsup:

Tractor Seabee · Apr 17, 2015

Sodo, don't forget the sloshing factor when partially full. As you lean left the water moves left also. The ole' center of gravity thing, also that barrell sets pretty high. I set my suitcase weight weights down as low as possible and they do not move.

Ron

dragoneggs · Apr 18, 2015

Tractor Seabee said:
Sodo, don't forget the sloshing factor when partially full. As you lean left the water moves left also. The ole' center of gravity thing, also that barrell sets pretty high. I set my suitcase weight weights down as low as possible and they do not move.

Ron

That's a good design point Ron.

Sodo · Apr 18, 2015

Yep I'd fill it all the way, always. Good point to bring up.

I was wondering if I should'a built it to carry the barrel on its side. Easy to fill, easy to empty & would have a lower CG. Its pretty easy to build a clamp to grab a (laid-down) barrel by the rim (left & right). Well that's next time.

dragoneggs · Apr 18, 2015

Sodo said:
Yep I'd fill it all the way, always. Good point to bring up.

I was wondering if I should'a built it to carry the barrel on its side. Easy to fill, easy to empty & would have a lower CG. Its pretty easy to build a clamp to grab a (laid-down) barrel by the rim (left & right). Well that's next time.

Yeah maybe... what is the height of the barrel compared to the tractor width? I think no issue, but I would want it inside my rear wheel spacing for maneuverability, I sometimes work in tight spaces. Definitely would lower the CG which is big deal for me too.

KiotiKowboy · Apr 18, 2015

Sodo said:
Today I made a cradle to carry a barrel of water (up to 400 lbs). What I like about water is that I can empty the barrel and 400 lbs "goes away". Unlike using concrete which is always 400 lbs, and always needs a tractor to move it.

Hmmmmmmm ... My 55 gallon drum full of concrete weighs in at almost 900lbs. Throwing in the weight of the TSC Carry-All, it is 1000lbs + or -

Tractor Seabee · Apr 18, 2015

Sodo said:
Yep I'd fill it all the way, always. Good point to bring up.

I was wondering if I should'a built it to carry the barrel on its side. Easy to fill, easy to empty & would have a lower CG. Its pretty easy to build a clamp to grab a (laid-down) barrel by the rim (left & right). Well that's next time.

Sodo, there you go; that will compound the slosh factor if partially full. If you fill to the brim, do it with 160 degree water so when the sun hits it it doesn't pop a seam. But then it may collapse in when it cools on our cold nights. That's why a 55 gallon barrel only holds 44 gallons of oil.