Concrete barrel ballast box idea

[cat fever]

Thanks BMan,

Good luck and post some pictures of how it goes.

 

[Msamt]

Cat fever, I went over to that thread and looked at how you constructed your box. That's pretty dang creative man and gave me a good base line on how to build mine. I'm going to still use a plastic 55 gal drum because I have one on hand, it'll be a permanent exterior mold, and I can leave the top several inches open to throw stuff in it. I'll definitely mold a chainsaw scabbard in it, a must since usually if I have that ballast on I'll be clearing place on our land. But this gave me something to go buy to put my 3 pt to the front of the ballast putting the weight farther back. I think you saw some of the stuff I was lifting in my other thread about the tractor, plus when I unload and stack round bales of hay it'll really keep the rear planted.

For what it's worth, I wish I had put in a scabbard, left more room on top for chains, and left out the pvc tool holders (never use em), so I think your onto the ideal design.
MT

 

[cat fever]

I would caution you to put a piece of wood in the scabbard. The concrete will push in and make the scabbard unusable otherwise.

 

[BMan2005]

For what it's worth, I wish I had put in a scabbard, left more room on top for chains, and left out the pvc tool holders (never use em), so I think your onto the ideal design.
MT

If I am it's because of all the people on here sharing there's and just putting it together for my own. This forum is a wealth of knowledge!
I'll still keep some pvc inserts in mine, went to clean the quail house yesterday and had to hold my shovel.

I would caution you to put a piece of wood in the scabbard. The concrete will push in and make the scabbard unusable otherwise.

Glad you mentioned that because I was thinking just to tape the top. Appreciate that.

 

[showcattle]

I made one almost 20 years ago out of a 55 gallon drum. I just put an 1 1/8" round bar through the barrel, but it's above the center of the barrel, and filled it with concrete. This makes it bottom heavy. I never put a top link connection in it. Hook up the two lower arms, raise the barrel, and it rests against the drawbar. Never had any trouble with it like this.

 

[BMan2005]

All supplies are bought, I went with a larger piece of C channel mild steel for the 3 pt hitch hook up. Figured it would give more support for the concrete with a wider foot print. Waiting on my scabbard to be delivered then I'll start the build and share pictures. Looks like I'll save about $150 from the cheapest ballast box I've found after buying the materials.

 

[kwbretired]

When installing a scabbard in your ballast, how do you drain the water out after a rain? Is the scabbard removable?

 

[BMan2005]

When installing a scabbard in your ballast, how do you drain the water out after a rain? Is the scabbard removable?

I've been thinking on this and thought of coating it in wax paper but that won't work because the concrete will form to the mold of the scabbard and still lock it in. So I'm up for ideas on this.

I'm not going to install drains in my concrete as I would see that as a week spot for cracking, maybe I'm wrong thinking this? My pvc pipes will be mounted to the back outside of the barrel with clamps screwed into the barrel so no need to drain them. Other option is just use my loader to tip the drum if it rains on it and lift back up using a strap.

 

[coherent]

I was planning on building a ballast box myself and saw a bunch of great ideas on the forum when I checked out the titan implements ballast box. For a couple hundred and free shipping it's actually made very well and includes a hitch receiver tube. Mounted to my HF quick connect without issues. For those who don't have the desire or as in my case the time to build one, it's a cheap option for a nice ballast.

 

[BMan2005]

Yeah I looked at those, they look nice especially for the price as good as a higher priced one.

Back to the drawing board on mine. Barrel is to narrow for my 3pt to run the hook up out the front of the barrel, so probably building a wood mold for it.