How much ballast for a 40hp machine (TC40DA)

[Fields_mj]

I know you could make something cheaper. But you'd probably have half of this in it by the time you buy concrete, hardware, etc. Wouldn't you? This is a pretty easy way to add ballast and they'll deliver it to your door -- free. I filled mine with gravel and then hung some brake rotors on rods inserted into the vertical holes. Haven't weighed it but it did the trick. (This is just an example -- there are dozens of options online from different vendors.)

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Yeah, but that's just the box. You still have to fill it with something. I have a frame that I built and mounted to my 3pt. Its a big rectangle with a vertical 2.5" sq tube (2" receiver) welded to it along with a couple of receivers on the bottom. I have forks that mount to it. My long term plan is to run a piece of 2" sq tube through the center of a barrel and have it stick out about 10" on the flat sized of the barrel. The plan is to leave the barrel flat on the ground so that (push come to shove) it can be rolled around. I'll pick it up with the forks when I want the weight. I'll weld some tabs to the sq tube to capture the forks, and then run a bolt through them to clamp it to the forks so it doesn't want to move around as much. In theory, that would let me put it further out on the forks as well, taking even more weight off the front axle. I'm not convinced the clamps will hold it out there, but I'm also not apposed to drilling a hole through each fork and pinning the weight in place.

If I can't get that built in the near future, I may pick up some more RR ties and just pick those up with the rear forks. I can get RR ties for under $20, and I need to get 8-10 of them for some other projects anyway.

 

[Fields_mj]

Sounds like a plan. You have a good understanding of 3 point ballast vs loaded tires, which occasionally gets argued here on TBN.
I personally like having the full (75%) loaded tires, as I need all the weight I can get for snow plowing. I am considering adding 600lbs of iron to the rims (total) if I can ever get over the cost!

I'd strongly recommend tire chains. I've already found that the 1710 with 2wd and chains can push a lot more snow than the TC40 with 4wd and no chains. Having said that, I too like the way loaded tires behave with regards to traction. For where I'm at, what I have, and what I'm doing, traction isn't a huge issue.

 

[RjCorazza]

I'd strongly recommend tire chains. I've already found that the 1710 with 2wd and chains can push a lot more snow than the TC40 with 4wd and no chains. Having said that, I too like the way loaded tires behave with regards to traction. For where I'm at, what I have, and what I'm doing, traction isn't a huge issue.

I have chains, but my customer base would not tolerate the chain marks on pavement. A big selling point for me is UHMW Polyethylene plow edges and no chains.
Worst case scenario (that I haven't encountered yet in 15 years) I can chain up and get the job done.

 

[Fields_mj]

Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately) those are the customers who are willing to pay a premium to get the work done exactly the way they want it.