Ballast L48 Question, Rear Ballast

Anonymous Poster · Apr 10, 2003

Please reply with your experiences!!!
Looking to purchase a L48. Some dealers are pushing loaded rear tires & or wheel weights. Please advise if you feel this is necessary. Please also advise trailering experiences. Not sure if my 2001 Chevy K3500 Dump, with 5K trailer is adequate. Please advise, Thanks in advance.Mark /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

JATO_RaT · Apr 10, 2003

I just sold my L48, a wonderful tractor. I did not have the hoe. If you have a hoe, the 5000 lb trailer will not be enough, come to think of it without a hoe it's not enough especially with a boxscraper on back. I loaded the tires and no wheel weights. With a heaping bucket with a toothbar, about 20 cu. ft. of dirt type material, I am not able to get the rear wheels off the ground nor loose much traction to them. That's with a 1000lb boxscraper hanging off the rear. No boxscraper and you will surely loose traction and will tip forward on an incline. With wheels weights your going to be close to maximum usability with no boxscraper and a fully heaped bucket, Rat...

Anonymous Poster · Apr 14, 2003

Hey Rat, Thanks for the info. I was in error regarding the size of the trailer I have it's a 5 ton ( 10,000 lbs. gross) not a 5000 lbs. Further, I plan to purchase L48 with backhoe, Also plan to use machine with York Rake, Snow Blower, Harley Rake, Box Scraper w/Laser. This is were I may have problem with ballast. I prefer not to load tires with calcium, I would rather use removable wheel weights. Thanks again for yyour comments. PS. please advise your comments about trailering... I saw an L48 today behind a chevy 3/4 ton pickup. Trailer was short only about 16', since front bucket was up in the air "over" the pickup box, and rear bucket was sicking out behind trailer about 1'. Trailer seemed to go down road ok, (no sway) and driver needed to make quick stop for passing dog, with no problems. Thanks in advance for your comments. Mark

JATO_RaT · Apr 14, 2003

Wait till you try that Harley rake with the HST, if you haven't already, it's really slick. A 20' trailer would probably be the best setup, but hey, you can always make stuff work. The 10,000lb trailer is really a great way to go because of licensing. With filled tires, hoe and loader you'd probably be hitting or crossing the load limit. I think I would give it a shot without filling. The only issue might be a down hill with a heaping load of heavy material lightening up the rear end. I have ballasted tires and a 1000lb box, I have yet to get to light other then unloading a Harley Pro 8 rake out of the pickup bed (yes it fits but by about 1/32" to spare) with a downhill slant. From now on it will be where its flat. Have a great time with the L48, I did. Rat...

P.S. I really had very little use for L range on the transmission, it's low...

Anonymous Poster · Apr 15, 2003

Hey Rat, Thanks again for all the good info. Plan to purchase in about 2 months. Will let you know... see ya later. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

uhmgawa · May 23, 2003

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( P.S. I really had very little use for L range on the transmission, it's low... )</font>

Oh yea. I've found it handy for bulldozing-over trees. Scoops the
root ball right out of the ground too.