For My First Project...

[OkieDave]

I'm building a ballast box. Nothing fancy, just a plastic 55 gallon drum with a cross-drawbar through the middle for the lower links, a 2" receiver tube on the back for pulling a trailer, a couple of PVC pipes for carrying tools, and fill the thing with concrete. I have a couple of questions, though:

1) The bottom links are easy: the cross-drawbar already has pins at the correct width. The top link attachment is a little harder, though--does anybody make a fitting that will accept a top link? If so, I've not been able to find it. I don't really have access to a welder, so I'd rather not fabricate it myself if I can avoid it.

2) The concrete: what are the odds I can find a concrete company that would give me a bit of overrun? I don't need any particular strength, just sheer mass.

Any other suggestions? Yes, I know I need to put a drain hole in the bottom of the tool carrier tubes, and I'm going to leave enough space between the top of the concrete and the top of the barrel that I can put my chains on top.

 

[dusty3030]

Here you go. Bolt to your drawbar.
Shop around, this was the first one I found on Google.

[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Tractor-Stabilizer-Category-Tractors-7350-1/dp/B000VELNZQ]Amazon.com: EMP Tractor Draw Bar Stabilizer for Category 1 Tractors, Model# 7350-1: Home Improvement[/ame]

 

[OkieDave]

Oooh, hot dog! And it even looks like it will accept the 2" receiver tube I was going to add. (For bonus points, both are at Northern Tool, and it's on the way home!)

Any other thoughts?

 

[spc]

I also built my own ballast box not too long ago. I cut down a plastic barrel. The local ready mix co was very willing to give me free left over concrete but I had to pick it up. They gave me about an hours notice when they had a truck returning with extra concrete. I put the Ballast box on a pallet and lashed it down well in the back of my truck

At the ready mix plant I pulled up to the truck and they filled me up. If I had to do it again I wouldnt have cut the barrel down to the finish height until I got home and the concrete had set up. By cutting it down first, the concrete was filled to the top and slopped over a bit on the way home. Not a big deal, just needed to hose out the back of my truck.

The other issue is unloading the pallet and ballast box once at home. I used my forks with my snow blade and wife hanging on the back. It went well but I took it very slow and easy to be sure I could lift the weight.