Ballast Ballast box question

[siebo]

I wish I was handy enough to make my own ballast box but I'm not so I am going to buy one from my Kubota dealer. I looked at one and it did not seem that big. I plan on filling it with sand. My question is, will this provide me enough weight on the back of my 3130 when using my loader? Loading my tires is not an option.

 

[RonR]

Do you have a heavy 3 pt implement?

I run either my rototiller or box blade on the back. Seems to provide plenty of ballast and gives me the option to use it if I need it.

Unless you just want the box, I'd forget it and use an implement I already had. Just my 2 cents worth.

Enjoy!

Ron

 

[JWE]

I am pretty happy with the ballast box that I bought for my BX2200. I made a dolly for it so it is easy to attach and remove. I have mine loaded with six fifty-pound sacks of sand that I purchased at Home Depot for $2.25 each. I estimate that the box alone weighs around 100 pounds. 400 pounds on the back of a BX seems to be the right amount of weight. (you could add 200 more pounds for larger tractors). The ballast box for a 3130 is probably a lot bigger than the one that I have for my BX.

For a while I used my tiller as ballast but I found that it took longer to attach and it is a lot wider than the ballast box. The width of the tiller is a disadvantage when operating in tight situations.

John

 

[F350Lawman]

I was NOT going to buy a ballast box but someone gave me their old one. Now that I have it I find it invaluable. It allows me to manuever easily because it is so narrow as opposed to an implement for weight. i was digging a ditch last week and it was very hard manuevering, a box blade or other implement would have made it impossible but I NEEDED the counterweight and the ballast box worked.

It also is handy for carrying things in such as rakes, shovels and chains. Before I would end up carrying them in the FEL and end up dumping them in the manure pile when I forgot they were there.

WHat i have doen with my ballast box is stand a 6" PVC pipe in it and fillt he rest of the box w/ cement. I can then stand items in the PVC pipe and they don't bounce out. I can fit 3 shovels and a chain.

 

[ronjhall]

siebo
I just posted in another thread about my B8160 weight box. Click Here
My B2910 FEL is capable of lifting about 900lbs. With the weight box on the tractor the rear becomes light but does not come off the ground
Filling the box with sand will not work unless the holes in the corner of the box are plugged. If you purchase one you might want to fill it with cement. It would be heavier than sand.
Which loader do you have on your 3130? The LA723 would require more ballast.
Your bio says you live in West Michigan. I have a <font color="green"> JD </font> weight box that was purchased before <font color="orange"> Kubota </font> came out with theirs that I will sell. Send me a PM if you are interested.

 

[JWE]

Here is a picture of my ballast box and dolly. The dolly is made from 2X4s and 4 casters (150 lb. Capacity each) that I bought at TSC. The total cost for the hardware was $27 and it took 1 hour to make. My box and the sand bags weigh about 400 pounds. It moves around easily on the dolly.

After reading F350Lawman’s post, I think I will add a couple of PVC tubes to carry rakes and shovels. I think I will be able to wedge them in along side the sandbags.

John

 

[ronjhall]

John
/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif Another 2 projects to add to my list for this winter. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
1. Install tubes on rear of weight box to put shovels etc. in.
2. Make a dolly for the weight box.
Thanks

 

[Junkman]

I just saw that box at my dealers showroom today. Seemed quite pricey for what it is...... $160 !!!!! Did you have to pay that much for yours???? Did have a label on it recommending 300# for the BX and 500# for the B series tractors.....

 

[cbh]

I have the Kubota ballast box, got it with my B7500, paid $150 for it. The wider shape makes it more handy to use as a storage box than the JD box that came with the 2210 I used to have. Also, it sticks out less in back, making it easy to maneuver, which is kind of the whole purpose of using a ballast box vs. an implement just for weight. Here is a picture of the inside, iron weights under, storage on top.

 

[cbh]

Now for the bad part. As you can see in this second picture, Kubota put angle iron legs on the bottom. Not bad in itself, but the front one acts as a "hook" of you are driving in rough terrain. It is now bent, making it stick down even more. This could have been avoided by welding the legs on with the open ends facing in toward each other.