Homemade Ballast

[thekkfan]

Thought I'd share my pickle barrel ballast I made yesterday. I know there's been many posts about these. I like this one in particular since its plastic, tall and narrow. Took 10-3/4 80lb bags to fill. I can store chains in the top and the lid still seals.

 

[Einthewoods]

Nice job. What did you use for the metal frame? Something pre-made or did you fabricate something?

 

[thekkfan]

Thanks. I used a quick hitch adapter and a cat1 26" drawbar links below. Both cheaper than TS and never left the house! Tied the two together with rebar, and have additional rebar coils inside.

Amazon.com : RanchEx 12863 Adapter for Cat 1 Quick Hitch (SKU 12851), Inside Width 2-13/16" : Garden & Outdoor

Amazon.com: Koch Industries 4123 Drawbar with 11-Holes and 26-Inch Spacing, Black: Home Improvement

 

[Einthewoods]

Thanks. Let us know how it works out for you. I have some barrels and have been wanting to make one, but am welder-less right now and hadn't found a way without it. As long as yours stays together, looks like a solution.

 

[3 Horse Ranch]

Thanks. I used a quick hitch adapter and a cat1 26" drawbar links below. Both cheaper than TS and never left the house! Tied the two together with rebar, and have additional rebar coils inside.

Amazon.com : RanchEx 12863 Adapter for Cat 1 Quick Hitch (SKU 12851), Inside Width 2-13/16" : Garden & Outdoor

Amazon.com: Koch Industries 43123 Drawbar with 11-Holes and 26-Inch Spacing, Black: Home Improvement

Nice design. I like the way it puts the weight centered on the lift arms and close behind the tractor. I was doing some work in a barn around some center posts and that would have been a real advantage. As it was, I got the job done with a Titan ballast box, which was a lot better than the box blade I had been using.

 

[WranglerX]

Thanks. Let us know how it works out for you. I have some barrels and have been wanting to make one, but am welder-less right now and hadn't found a way without it. As long as yours stays together, looks like a solution.

Actually bolts and nuts work... Welder is just tool of convenience...

Dale

 

[Einthewoods]

Actually bolts and nuts work... Welder is just tool of convenience...

Dale

Trying to couple two pieces of metal that are going to pick up >800 lbs just seems like a welder job to me. :laughing:

I'll give this a try though.

 

[nyone]

So the only thing holding the bottom links to the top link is concrete?

 

[Einthewoods]

So the only thing holding the bottom links to the top link is concrete?

The OP stated he used rebar to tie them together.