The Real Problem With the Titan Ballast Box

[Suburban Plowboy]

The concrete density figures I was given don't support a figure of 800 pounds for concrete. I was told I would get 1.5 times as much weight with concrete, and that's about 560 pounds. I'm not using the dubious volume figure given by Titan. I'm using the amount of sand I got into it and multiplying by the ratio of the density of concrete to the density of sand.

The volume figures appear to be misleading, unless I have special fluffy sand that has a super-low density. I have not measured the box to check the volume, because there is no point. It holds what it holds. It may be that the volume figures from Titan ignore the tool tubes and the big empty cavity under the box.

 

[Einthewoods]

One way to end this would be to calculate the volume based on your own measurement. The weight of concrete is published, so the calculation will be simple.

 

[ruffdog]

Get a tape and measure the actual box we are talking about. We need the real WxLxH numbers.

 

[Suburban Plowboy]

Anyone who measures this box will have to account for the thickness of the metal, the tubes, and the cavity under the box. I won't do it because it would be pointless.

 

[ruffdog]

Anyone who measures this box will have to account for the thickness of the metal, the tubes, and the cavity under the box. I won't do it because it would be pointless.

OK....just wondering....what was the "point" of this thread?

 

[Redlands Okie]

Perhaps the interpretation of what is expected to be used as weight in a ballast box.

 

[John Fitzgerald]

Lead weighs 709 pounds per cubic foot. That would get you to 800 pounds, and you would have room in the box for a chain, etc. It's not that expensive if you can find it as scrap and make ingots. Guys that make fishing sinkers tend to hoard it. Iron/steel is about 490 pounds per cubic foot. With that, still a lot of space left in the box.

 

[countrybumpkin]

OK....just wondering....what was the "point" of this thread?

Perhaps the interpretation of what is expected to be used as weight in a ballast box.

Pretty much.

 

[shooterdon]

if the box has tubes etc that make measuring difficult, fill the thing with water. There are 7.48 gallons in a cubic foot.

 

[ruffdog]

Lead weighs 709 pounds per cubic foot. That would get you to 800 pounds, and you would have room in the box for a chain, etc. It's not that expensive if you can find it as scrap and make ingots. Guys that make fishing sinkers tend to hoard it. Iron/steel is about 490 pounds per cubic foot. With that, still a lot of space left in the box.

Even better, Gold weighs 1206lbs per cu ft. The OP would only need 3/4cuft to get 800lbs!

 

[John Fitzgerald]

Even better, Gold weighs 1206lbs per cu ft. The OP would only need 3/4cuft to get 800lbs!

Ha! He could probably find some old steel barbell weights cheap, or maybe free. Sand is too bulky, IMO.

 

[TheMan419]

He could get around 6000 lbs of uranium into the thing....

As for not measuring it.... well Titan provides measurements on their web site. Measure the thing and see if you are close. Maybe they gave you one that is significantly smaller than 5 cuft? We could sue them!

 

[Suburban Plowboy]

Not sure people understand. If it holds 375 pounds of sand, it holds something like 560 pounds of concrete (not 800), and 560 + 130 = total weight of 690. Even if the figures are a little off, a weight (contents without box) of 800 is out of reach without metal. Measuring will not change that.

 

[ruffdog]

Not sure people understand.

Where does Titan ever say that the box holds 800lbs of sand?

They say the "capacity is 800lbs" which is very different. I take it as that is their weight limit on their product. Just like when a manufacturer says the loader on your tractor has a 1500lbs "capacity". They are saying the loader will safely lift that amount. They don't guarantee that the bucket holds 1500lbs of sand.

 

[WranglerX]

Not sure people understand. If it holds 375 pounds of sand, it holds something like 560 pounds of concrete (not 800), and 560 + 130 = total weight of 690. Even if the figures are a little off, a weight (contents without box) of 800 is out of reach without metal. Measuring will not change that.

Dry sand weighs about 100 pounds per cubic foot depending on particle size and density...

If box is 5.3 cubic feet it simply holds about 530 pounds of sand....

https://sciencing.com/calculate-weight-sand-8149924.html

You need to research better values for "fill" materials and check you dimensions (actually give true values of inside box area) and not depend on manufacturers advertised values....

Dale

 

[CMV]

Not sure people understand. If it holds 375 pounds of sand, it holds something like 560 pounds of concrete (not 800), and 560 + 130 = total weight of 690. Even if the figures are a little off, a weight (contents without box) of 800 is out of reach without metal. Measuring will not change that.

The issue is your interpretation, not the box. Most people would read that description and think "I can put up to 800 lbs in it and it won't break". Very few would read that description and think "I can just fill it with material of any density and it will weigh 800 lbs".

 

[Suburban Plowboy]

The issue is your interpretation, not the box. Most people would read that description and think "I can put up to 800 lbs in it and it won't break". Very few would read that description and think "I can just fill it with material of any density and it will weigh 800 lbs".

View attachment 567973

The ad specifically mentions concrete and sand. Neither one will get you to 800 pounds. People on forums are claiming concrete did the trick for them. Not unless it's some kind of concrete not found here on earth. And as I explained, measuring is a waste of time. It won't change the density of concrete.

Think about it. A container that holds 10 pounds of lead will only hold 17 pounds of gold, no matter what the dimensions are.

I'm providing useful information. I guarantee you, someone out there will think about buying this box, and he will Google for information, and he will find out he can't get 800 pounds without metal. I don't know why anyone would have a problem with me helping such people out. I Googled for information and found claims that were just plain wrong.

This is a common problem with Internet forums. People talk about how posts upset them rather than the substance.

 

[WranglerX]

The ad specifically mentions concrete and sand. Neither one will get you to 800 pounds. People on forums are claiming concrete did the trick for them. Not unless it's some kind of concrete not found here on earth. And as I explained, measuring is a waste of time. It won't change the density of concrete

Think about it. A container that holds 10 pounds of lead will only hold 17 pounds of gold, no matter what the dimensions are.

I'm providing useful information. I guarantee you, someone out there will think about buying this box, and he will Google for information, and he will find out he can't get 800 pounds without metal. I don't know why anyone would have a problem with me helping such people out. I Googled for information and found claims that were just plain wrong.

This is a common problem with Internet forums. People talk about how posts upset them rather than the substance.

This is beginning to sound like a troll messing with us.... If you can not give exact capacity of BOX (HxWxD).... So far we have 4 pages of blather that does not support your assertions....

I guess your best bet right now is to sue the manufacturer/retailer for false advertising...

Dale

 

[ruffdog]

People do understand that different materials have different densities and weigh different. The ad simply states you can put a variety of things in their ballast box like sand, rocks etc... They never state that their box actually holds a certain amount (weight) of a substance, just that it has a weight capacity of 800lbs.

 

[Redlands Okie]

Well the picture above does say it holds up to 800 pounds of sand, concrete or steel. So it is a little misleading. If it said 800 lbs then fine, but it does sort of indicate it would hold 800 lbs of concrete or sand and it seems the volume is to low to do so. A bit of poor wording in the description.