Kustomized Ballast Box

[slaveToHorses]

Just finished customizing my new John Deere ballast box.
Wanted to make it a little more usefull for hauling my typical grounds maintenance tools so before filling it with concrete I added some hooks and eyes and three 4" tubes to hold chains and tools.

Here is the original box. At this point all I have done is seal it up.

 

[slaveToHorses]

Here I have added removable eyes at the corners and a cleat at the back.
Sometimes I just need somewhere convenient to tie off a line.

 

[slaveToHorses]

This one is after glueing in the tubes. I used a polyurethane glue. There are drain holes at the bottom of the tubes. The two outside tubes are canted back about 15 degrees. Those are for rakes and shovels. The middle one is longer and straight up. I will use that for the pole saw.
I also welded some 5/8" grab hooks on the back. I can hang chains off the hooks or in any of the tubes.

 

[slaveToHorses]

Concrete poured. 7 80lb bags. I had guessed 8. It probably would have taken the full 8 without the tubes.

 

[slaveToHorses]

Concrete sealed and painted

 

[BloomingtonMike]

Awesome!. How much does it weigh now?

 

[slaveToHorses]

Well, that's a good question. Unfortunately I don't have a good answer. I do know it is WAY heavier than when I got it!

 

[ronjhall]

Nice project. Wish I had put some of the tubes in my ballast box before pouring the concrete.

 

[JRP]

Nice project. Wish I had put some of the tubes in my ballast box before pouring the concrete.

This is the value of TBN. We need a post called POST YOUR PICTURES OF BALLAST so everyone can post their pic and those of use who want to buy or build can see a lot of ideas in one post.

I see the eye bolts in four corners. Another idea would be a single loop in the center for lifting the box with a chain.

An axle and two wheels right over the CG could make it easy to move. The axle heigth could be such that only one inch or so of wheel protrudes below the bottom for stability.

Very nice job. Thanks for sharing.

 

[ovrszd]

Well, that's a good question. Unfortunately I don't have a good answer. I do know it is WAY heavier than when I got it!

Relatively easy to figure out. The estimated weight of the box when you started, plus 560 pounds of quickcrete, plus the weight of the tubing and accessories you added.

 

[slaveToHorses]

I don't think the final weight of the concrete is the same as the dry weight.
I used to know this, I was a architecture student, but that was 30 years ago
I'll check out my text books tonight.

 

[Willl]

Nice job, love the color.

 

[BloomingtonMike]

What did you use to seal it up before pouring the concrete?

 

[slaveToHorses]

What did you use to seal it up before pouring the concrete?

I used a silicone based cauking that I happened to have in my gun.

 

[elginfarm]

Nice job. That is something that I am considering for my tractor. How much was the ballast box?

 

[slaveToHorses]

Had to trim the driveway so I put it to work.
It is more stable on the hills with the ballast box than it was with the backhoe on. It really felt good, even with the large materials bucket filled with wood.

Sorry Elginfarm, I don't recall the price. It was part of a package deal. I think it was $200 or so.

 

[JWE]

To those that may be considering casters for their ballast box.

I made a dolly for my ballast box and it sure is convenient to be able to roll it around the garage floor. My box only weighs around 400 pounds and it takes a lot of force to get it moving. slaveToHorses's box weighs a lot more than mine so I suspect it would take a LOT MORE force to move one that size unless you use very large casters and high quality bearings. I think my casters are 3.5 inches and 200 pound capacity each.

Nice job slaveToHorses!

John

 

[slaveToHorses]

ditto to that. I thought about casters for a second. Mostly, I don't have the luxury of a concrete floor to store it on, so it is gravel driveway for me. No way casters would survive or be useful. Plus they would rattle. I store mine on a pallet that happens to be the perfect size. They come on one from Deere

Sure it is nice to be able to move it about. Connecting to it takes a bit more skill when it doesn't move but that applies to most of my attachments so I am used to it. Telescoping drag links are sure handy

Hey, this ballast box is pretty usefull. I had to haul a bunch of wood in from my wooded area. It is unstable ground and really tricky to move around. I have to have the loader at full height while negotiating tight territory. That with my high volume materials bucket filled with maple rounds and splits. It was tough with the hoe. Impossible without, but not scary at all with the new ballast box.

 

[3720_Owner]

Really nice job. I have the ballast box just filled with stone right now. Bought the extension since it does not have enough weight with stone in it. Considered filling it with cement since deere says it takes up to 977lbs (with extension). Nice mods. Hmmm ... maybe I need to get back on that project.

Steven

 

[kennyd]

Sure it is nice to be able to move it about. Connecting to it takes a bit more skill when it doesn't move but that applies to most of my attachments so I am used to it. Telescoping drag links are sure handy

Have you thought about getting a Imatch? You wouldn't even need to leave the seat!