Tractor ballast

[gaspasser]

Good morning all. Had a bit of a "oh crap" moment a few days back and need some advice please, Have 10 hours on new L6060 ( beet juice filled tires). Took delivery of a shed kit and helped the driver lift a load of lumber (about 900lbs) that was on top of my order with my pallet forks. Tractor facing downhill and slight lean to the left side. I grabbed in center of bundle but right wheels of tractor lifted when I raised forks. Changed my underwear and then grabbed lumber left of center without further incident. I understand initial left lean was part of issue ( as well as this size tractor being new to me). Thinking 3 pt ballast box or equivalent might be helpful. So question is 1) how much weight to use and 2) will the ballast cause me to tip backwards when I go up my steep, long driveway (14% grade at some points) if I don't have weight in front end loader? Perhaps I need to use 2 ballast boxes ( 1 kept on hill top and one stored at bottom? Thanks all and Merry Christmas

[chevytaHOE5674]

A ballast box will certainly help and won't cause you to tip backwards. A quick Google says the 3pt hitch is rated for ~3000lb so you shouldn't have any issues with a reasonable sized ballast box.

I would start with say 800-1000lbs and see how it works.

Could also add wheel weights that way you always have the weight and can use the 3pt hitch for other implements at anytime.

[gspren]

  Maybe get some wheel weights. Since you have some hills to consider see if you can add some weights to the frame just forward of the rear axle, helps with loader work and up hills.

[beenthere]

Thinking 3 pt ballast box or equivalent might be helpful. So question is 1) how much weight to use

Ballast box on 3ph will be easy to pick up for those times you know are at the load limit, and how much? just enough that the rear wheels don't pick up.  ;)

Likely for most of your jobs, you are good for weight. For those heavy ones, where the lift starts out high and you are likely going to be turning, then add the ballast box.

Another way, lift the load and hold it steady while the truck or trailer are pulled away, rather than try to move the load while up in the air on the loader.

And I don't believe the "changing underwear" quip, as that just doesn't happen other than a figment of imagination for story telling. 

[Crusarius]

I use my box blade for weight. it works well but it does add a pretty good size tail of the back of the tractor.

I have a pile of old brake rotors laying around. I keep threatening to weld them all together into a back plate for the tractor. It will make skidding logs a little nicer to the back of the tractor and add me some slim weight on the back.

[gaspasser]

And I don't believe the "changing underwear" quip, as that just doesn't happen other than a figment of imagination for story.

Great tip Beenthere about moving the truck instead of the tractor. And yes, didn't actually change my shorts but it did get my attention prompting me to think more carefully about future maneuvers. Thanks for the advice. Best....

[gaspasser]

Thanks Crusarius. Seems like many folks advocate for box blade as implement and ballast (double duty). Cat 2 blades weigh about 400 lbs. I have heard some place extra weight on box blade. I'll have a look at some box blades in person and see what mods might make that possible. Thanks again.

[Crusarius]

I bought mine from tractor supply. I think the specs say 500 pounds. apparently after going to look it up I realized the price has almost doubled I bought mine around $600.

[SawyerTed]

My 3 pt ballast is homemade.  I put a drawbar through the sides of a 55 gallon barrel. It's offset to one side.  To that I welded an I beam in an upside down T inside the barrel.  To the top of the I beam I welded two tabs on for the top link connection.

Filled with rocks, broken block, bricks and concrete, it weighs about 1,400 pounds. 

[gaspasser]

Great idea. Any possibility of getting a pic or two of the setup? Thanks.

[Ljohnsaw]

My Gannon box with 4 hydraulic adjustments says it weighs 1,200 pounds. I stuck my forks under a too-big log and tried to lift. Picked up the rear end lickily split. :D

FEL is rated at 5k.

[chevytaHOE5674]

My Gannon box with 4 hydraulic adjustments says it weighs 1,200 pounds. I stuck my forks under a too-big log and tried to lift. Picked up the rear end luckily split. :D

FEL is rated at 5k.

To pickup 5k with that tractor and move around requires much closer to the 3k lb the rear hitch is rated for, even then it isn't going to be comfortable.

[chet]

Gaspasser, an easy way to make a ballast box rated exactly to the weight you want is to cast one of concrete. Size your form keeping in mind concrete normally weights in at at 140-150# per cu/ft. Any hitch connections can be cast right into the concrete.

[SawyerTed]

 

 

Great idea. Any possibility of getting a pic or two of the setup? Thanks.

It's not pretty but it works. 

[Al_Smith]

I've got a barrel full of concrete on my Ferguson TO 20 plus wheel weights .It's heavy duty Davis "Midwest " loader much larger than needed for that size tractor .Fact I had to plate both sides of the front axle to keep the front end from spreading .No power steering ,90 PSI of air in 16" 6 ply tires .

[barbender]

 I ran a New Holland 445 for years on a asphalt prep crew. That had a belly grader blade, wheel weights, and a barrel full of concrete on the back for counterweight. The bucket on it was 1 yard iirc, and when you got it heaped up it made the front tires really squat and the back tires would get light if you got too rammy.

[Brucer]

I use a 6' land plane for ballast. Weighs 500+ pounds and is about 4' long. The nice thing about the land plane is it keeps the extra weight nice and low and shifts it further back. Both of those improve stability.

Titan makes a really nice ballast box if you have the $$. Besides being able to hold about 800 pounds (of concrete), it has a sliding gate for emptying loose fill (sand or gravel), a built-in 2" hitch receiver, and a couple of vertical tubes you can stick a tool handle into (think shovels, rakes, axes, etc). Even if you don't want to spend the money, there's some good ideas there for a do-it-yourself version.