Ballast ballast box material

deereman63 · Mar 7, 2005

hi,

I purchased from Home depot ready mix concrete bags that will take the weight up to 350 lbs. I bought the 80 lb bags as they were slightly cheaper but i wish I had bought the 40 lb bags being as they are much easier to handle. As yet i have not done the mixing as it has been too cold to cure the concrete.
Before you do any of this make sure you have got the dolly. That box will be impossible to move once the concrete is in it. its almost impossible to move prior to adding the concrete.
make sure that the wheels on the dolly are up to the weight. I have the sacks of mix on top of the box and they are struggling under the extra weight.

Bob_Skurka · Mar 7, 2005

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Before you do any of this make sure you have got the dolly. That box will be impossible to move once the concrete is in it. its almost impossible to move prior to adding the concrete. </font>

I welded some heavy duty casters onto the bottom of my weight box.

glagen · Mar 9, 2005

Buckie,
I filled my ballast box with the smallest pea stone I could find because it compacts tightly thus providing the maximum weight along with adequate drainage. I could have used poured concrete but concrete doesn't drain at all leaving water on the top to rust out the upper sides of the ballast box. Sand is real heavy, but doesn't drain quite as well as pea stone and causes more inside rust. Note that all JD boxes have small holes in the bottom corners for drainage but you can certainly drill-out more in the bottom if you want. To address the weight issue, the easiest thing to do is buy a furniture dolly at Home Depot for $10 or $20. (I can't remember what they cost.) Simply lower the ballast box onto the dolly, disconnect it from the 3PH and roll it to wherever you want to store it -- assuming it is not on bare ground.
Steve Z

KennedyDiesel · Mar 10, 2005

I'd like to see a ballast box set up to accept suitcase weights as well as a couple of chains/tools. Then it could be emptied to lighten it up and would serve as a tool box as well...

Myself, I had my tires loaded with rim guard. They took a little mor than I expescted at 40 gallons ea /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif so I now have 828# of low riding ballast. Should be tough to tip me over...

ronjhall · Mar 10, 2005

Attached is a picture my weight box filled with five 80 lbs bags of cement. It a good place to put my chainsaw.

Dave4410 · Mar 10, 2005

I loaded my box, almost to the top, with 3/4" stone from my driveway. I keep 2-3 chains on top of the stone. They come in very handy. When I need to remove the box, I just drop it outside the barn. I don't know why I would want to make it lighter but could simply tip it over to spill some stone.

timb · Mar 10, 2005

I like the idea of using the same suitcase weights that fit your tractor up front. That way you get double duty out of them and it's easy to adjust the weight in place. (And double up on storage space when nothing's on the tractor!) Might have to weld up a bracket bar inside the weight box to make for a neat set up but that would be easy enough.

Actually, for that matter - if you don't already have a weight box - how about a 3-point bracket for the suitcase weights? If the factory doesn't already provide one - it would be a simple fabrication to simply make one. Deere used to make cat. 0 brackets for garden tractors (42 lb weights) to offset snow blowers and the like.

Anyone have the outside dimensions on the Deere 42 lb and 70 lb suitcase weights that fit the various CUTs?

KennedyDiesel · Mar 10, 2005

I have the Deere Cat 0 weight bracket and have added a receiver hitch to the underside of it. The other beauty of this bar is that I can put my weights facing fwd and keep my length short..

Having a ballast box that would accept suitcase weights down low inside and/or hanging off the front would be great. Then a tray (with drain holes or mesh) that sets down inside for chains etc.

For the chainsaw, I ordered a Moose quick attach atv bracket. I plan to mount this to my Sportsman, but if it's good I'll add it to my tractor too.

I think the 72# units are around 10"x13" and 3.5" thick, but don't hold me to that. I have 42's here and can measure them.

darinah4710 · Mar 10, 2005

I'm not sure how much weight your looking for... but if you want the most bang for your buck, try old wheel weights that tire stores take off when they balance tires. They will generally give them to ya just to get rid of them. A lot of people will warn you about the dangers of lead, but I don't figure on playing in it so I hope I will be alright...lol If you don't need a lot of weight just use some other type of loose material....