Loaded Tires, or 3PH Weight Box, or Both?

[Colgate2004]

Hi all,

I've ordered and put a deposit down with my dealer on a JD 3025E, and should be receiving it in the next couple of weeks. Now I am in the process of configuring it.

My use of the tractor is going to involve driving and doing work on off-grade (i.e., non-level) sections of my wood road. I know sideways tilt is the easiest way to rollover a tractor and probably the most dangerous place to do work with a tractor, so increasing the stability of the machine is one of my top priorities.

To that end, do folks think loading the rear tires, or a 3PH-mounted weight box (or both!) is the better alternative?

What are the upsides and downsides of each?

Many thanks for any advice!

 

[Catman8]

If the tractor your getting has a FEL the FEL manual will tell you what is required for stability, it will specify loaded tires and the weight of the ballast box. I can't answer your question about stability on off grade sittuations and what's best, but others will be along shortly.

 

[TripleR]

Lots of opinions and variables, my setup includes tires at max width, fluid in tires and wheel weights, also have spacers on a couple. I operate with 3PH ballast as well. Lots of people with more knowledge than I, so here are some threads that might help:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/279095-mowing-slopes-tractor.html

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/owning-operating/199464-slopes-tractor-tilt.html

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/104751-maximum-hillside-mowing.html

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/safety/183762-how-kill-yourself-without-knowing.html?highlight=

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/safety/186232-whos-better-estimating-slope-angles.html?highlight=

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...-spacers-weights-slopes.html?highlight=slopes

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/safety/242289-safe-mowing-slopes.html?highlight=slopes

 

[ericm979]

I operate on slopes a lot as we're on the side of a mountain and there's little flat land. I got rear wheel spacers, lower profile wheels and tires from a different model Branson, and loaded the rear tires with rimguard. R4 tires as they're wider. And I put an implement on the back. I'll get a weight box eventually but for now I use the box blade.

Both the weight box/box blade and the loaded tires lower the center of gravity (if the implement is kept low).

 

[Catman8]

Roll over

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/safety/116448-tractor-rollover-demo-pictures-videos.html

 

[RNeumann]

Simple answer is tires first. Ballast on the 3 point takes away the 3 point for other implements. Plus tire weight is lower and doesn't take weight off the front end. If you still need stability consider rear wheel spacers. You can gain 4-6" of width doing that. Have the dealer do it before you pick it up and you will never look back.

 

[FTG-05]

Both. I live on a hill and are almost always driving up or down or sideways (yikes) on hilly terrain. As far as I'm concerned, there is no other answer.

Since you're in Maine, I bet you can get Rimguard (trade name for beet juice). If so, I'd pay the ~$3/gallon and have it loaded on your rear tires.

Good luck!

 

[Colgate2004]

Thank you all very much for your feedback!

I'll start with loaded tires and a ballast box when I'm not using a rear implement. If necessary I'll add wheel weights and if that's still not enough I'll then look in to spacers (I'd rather not use spacers because the rear wheels are already ~60" wide and with only ~18HP at the 3PH I'd be REALLY pushing it to get away with even a 5ft rotary cutter and definitely can't go bigger!).

Many thanks!

 

[ericm979]

The 3pt hitch has some side to side adjusment, usually a few inches. Is the implement is nearly as wide as the tires you can bias the implement to one side so it cuts as wide as that tire. But unless you're cutting close to walls or fences a lot and really hate touching up the borders with a string trimmer it's not a problem to have the cutter be a bit narrower than your tires. The tires on my Branson are about 64" across, I'm using a 5' rotary and it doesn't bother me. I can still get close to trees by backing up. On fence lines I have a strip a couple inches wider to trim, no big deal. I went with a 5' for manuverability.

 

[bdog]

I would load the tires, maybe even all four to help lower the center of gravity. Set the tires out as wide as they will go. That will help a lot. We have a very large ATV and a very small UTV. Very similar weights but the UTV is about a foot wider. It amazes me how much more it is resistant to tipping than the atv when on side slopes due to the wider stance.