Ballast JD Rear Ballast Box
- Thread starter AKKubota
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BlackRaptor
Gold Member
What i'm using for a Ballast box is a 3pt blade that I've built two boxes onto which i filled with sement.
I haven't weighted it yet but it made a huge different for me and it's multi useful because I still can have my blade on the back as well as the extra weight makes it dig in better.
I haven't weighted it yet but it made a huge different for me and it's multi useful because I still can have my blade on the back as well as the extra weight makes it dig in better.
WH401
Platinum Member
I have mine temporarily filled with leftover sand from the construction of the foundation of my addition. I'll fill it with Portland when it gets to be warmer in the spring.
Ramairfreak98ss
Silver Member
are all the ballast boxes with extensions the same size on the 2520/3520 and 4520 models?
I ordered the extension for my cab 4720 and all rear wheel weights and will fill the tires if needbe... i hope that sure helps since ill mainly use it loading.
What do you guys lift that starts to make it teeter? Im worried about the pallet forks, lifting say 2600lbs of salt bags for winter and such loading off a flat trailer and putting into a garage or into the back of a pickup truck.
My dealer said use portland cement too, is that what a 4000 series ballast box with extension will weigh in at then about 1300+ lbs? sounds like a fair amount of weight
I ordered the extension for my cab 4720 and all rear wheel weights and will fill the tires if needbe... i hope that sure helps since ill mainly use it loading.
What do you guys lift that starts to make it teeter? Im worried about the pallet forks, lifting say 2600lbs of salt bags for winter and such loading off a flat trailer and putting into a garage or into the back of a pickup truck.
My dealer said use portland cement too, is that what a 4000 series ballast box with extension will weigh in at then about 1300+ lbs? sounds like a fair amount of weight
kennyd
Advertiser
Yes, there is only one size.
That sounds about right, See post #9
jgrreed
Platinum Member
I've moved ~ 45 1000-1200lb round bales with my 4720 + 400x + spear, with JD ballast box + extensions filled with small sized gravel (?~800lbs), along with ballast in my rear tires and no rear wheel weights. I'm just very careful to make sure I'm on level ground, and that I use the loader gently and keep the load as low as possible. I was pulling the bales off my GN and stacked them 2 high.
This past weekend I maxed out my 400x loader + pallet forks with a bundle of 45 6"x8' fence posts. She's get it about 4' up and that was it. Just guessing, but I'd say that was 2000lb or more. The back tires still stayed on the ground (lightly on the ground, could feel them slipping a wee bit). The front ones looked like pancakes.
When I bought my machine 6 months ago I had the same Q's, so I hope this helps. I guess the wheel weights add a bigger margin of safety, but they're also $$, rough on the grass, and kinda ugly I think. I don't think there's any hope of getting 2600lbs of anything off a trailer with our machines.
-J.
jgrreed
Platinum Member
I've moved ~ 45 1000-1200lb round bales with my 4720 + 400x + spear, with JD ballast box + extensions filled with small sized gravel (?~800lbs), along with ballast in my rear tires and no rear wheel weights. I'm just very careful to make sure I'm on level ground, and that I use the loader gently and keep the load as low as possible. I was pulling the bales off my GN and stacked them 2 high.
This past weekend I maxed out my 400x loader + pallet forks with a bundle of 45 6"x8' fence posts. She's get it about 4' up and that was it. Just guessing, but I'd say that was 2000lb or more. The back tires still stayed on the ground (lightly on the ground, could feel them slipping a wee bit). The front ones looked like pancakes. I don't think there's any hope of getting 2600lbs of anything off a trailer with our machines.
When I bought my machine 6 months ago I had the same Q's, so I hope this helps. I guess the wheel weights add a bigger margin of safety, but they're also $$, rough on the grass, and kinda ugly I think.
-J.
jgrreed
Platinum Member
What weighs more, 2600lbs of posts, or 2600lbs of salt?? Feathers??
hee-hee....
-J.
hee-hee....
-J.
flyngti
Silver Member
Yikes. Front tires looking like pancakes is a sure sign you don't have enough ballast. Weight off the rear is supposed to distribute the weight so you don't overload the front axle. I'd say you were on the edge.
jgrreed
Platinum Member
OK, pancakes might be a bit of exaggeration. It was near 32 deg F, and they were a bit squished. Probably just needed a bit more air in the cold.
Point taken about more ballast, probably just shouldn't be lifting that much anyway, it's likely pretty hard on the loader.
-J.
jgrreed
Platinum Member
All this talk has got me thinking. I don't know exactly, but from what I can glean on the web a 6" x 8' treated post should weigh around 70lbs. There was either 40 or 44 in each bundle, lets say 40 to be conservative. That's 2800lbs of posts, plus 350lbs of pallet forks, is 3150 lbs that my machine lifted. Oy!!!
That was with a ballast box + extensions filled with gravel, and calcium in the rear tires, with no wheel weights.
I know someone here will say that doing that wasn't wise, and your probably right, but take it as a guide of what it can do, not what it should do. I'm gonna weigh one of the posts to get a more accurate calculation.
I take back the comment I made about the 2600lbs of salt earlier.....
-J.
That was with a ballast box + extensions filled with gravel, and calcium in the rear tires, with no wheel weights.
I know someone here will say that doing that wasn't wise, and your probably right, but take it as a guide of what it can do, not what it should do. I'm gonna weigh one of the posts to get a more accurate calculation.
I take back the comment I made about the 2600lbs of salt earlier.....
-J.
Just an update on getting my BB ready for snow, woodcutting chores...or whatever? I have at least found a permanent home for some of the scrap pieces of metal that have been cluttering up the shop.
Maybe some day I will actually hook it to the tractor....
Maybe some day I will actually hook it to the tractor....
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Yourkie
Silver Member
That's a good idea having the ability to secure tools on the weight box.
I filled mine with 1/2 inch landscaping stone that I had as surplus but I'm debating on emptying it and adding some tubing etc for tools.
I figure it weighs about 600+ lbs now. I keep mine stored on two small moving dollies that I purchased from Harbor Freight for about $10 each on sale. That way I can move it to an out of the way place in my garage.
I filled mine with 1/2 inch landscaping stone that I had as surplus but I'm debating on emptying it and adding some tubing etc for tools.
I figure it weighs about 600+ lbs now. I keep mine stored on two small moving dollies that I purchased from Harbor Freight for about $10 each on sale. That way I can move it to an out of the way place in my garage.
