Fluid ballast in tires

[MissouriSprayer]

My new 4720 is my third tractor with a FEL and i never added ballast in my 955 or in the 3730 I traded in.

I am butt sensitive to tippy-ness and with the substantially bigger bucket and cab I wonder how much more stable will it be if i add fluid.
Inputs are appreciated

 

[dconine]

We put RimGard in the rear tires along with 2 rear weights in the rims. It made a world of difference.

In my opinion it makes it ride nicer & provides excellent ballast with heavy loader loads. Rimgard was my favorite option as it is heavy & is noncorrosive to the rims. The cab makes it a little more tippy on the serious hillsides but it still very capable.

 

[sunnyside360]

Dealers around these parts won't sell a FEL w/o rear ballast, ie, fluid in rears, rear weights, and/or a rear 3ph ballast box. I've got rimguard in the rears and use a 3ph ballast box. IIRC, the 400X FEL owners manual specifies using a 3ph ballast box.

 

[rambler]

Actually the bogger the tractor the safer they feel to me, but yea don't know what anyone would get a compact class tractor with a loader & not have fluid in the tires, good for the dealers that don't sell them any other way.

--->Paul

 

[DKCDKC]

My dealer strongly recommends liquid in tires for all CUTs, and usually throws it into the deal. Got my 3038e that way, and usually have a box blade on the back when using the FEL. I keep it low to the grown to lend stability. I worry a lot about rollovers, tho I've never come close as far as I know.

 

[MissouriSprayer]

Im meeting with dealer wednesday and will add fluid

 

[kentuckydiesel]

On my 5200, I have fluid in the rear tires (which are larger than stock and set quite a bit wider) and I'm still using around 1400lbs worth of suitcase weights on the 3-point hitch. If I don't, it's pretty easy for the tractor to pick the rear right off the ground.

-Phillip

 

[Mistyridgefarm]

My 5300 has filled tires and I don't know how you could use a tractor without it! Fluid and weights make a huge difference in capability and safety. Well worth the cost.

 

[megaboz]

Extending the ballast out the rear (ballast box, box blade, etc) made a bigger difference for me. It actually helps to distribute the weight with a full bucket. Filled tires may keep the rear from lifting but the weight in the rear brings your fulcrum point back further into the rear of the tractor.

I would still fill the tires as it does what others have said. But without the rear ballast on the 3pt an empty bucket going down hill would still bounce my rears off the ground and if not for having the fel I would have went for a nice ride as I didn't have 4wd engaged.

 

[sunnyside360]

Extending the ballast out the rear (ballast box, box blade, etc) made a bigger difference for me. It actually helps to distribute the weight with a full bucket. Filled tires may keep the rear from lifting but the weight in the rear brings your fulcrum point back further into the rear of the tractor.

Besides being a safety concern, I've even had my fel loaded so heavy w/o any rear 3ph ballast that the front wheels would not turn left or right on asphalt because the power steering relief valve was tripping. Problem never occurs with the 3ph ballast box or box blade installed. The front axles, bearings and seals will be happier with ballast on the 3ph.