MX6000 Ballast Box Suggestions

CoThG

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MX6000, Z421
Mar 7, 2021
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1
Ohio
I currently have a Woods 60" tiller on the back of my MX6000 that I mostly use for ballast. I'm looking for a lager ballast box that's sized for a tractor the MX's size. My tires are loaded with RimGuard and I need additional weight out back that's heavier than the tiller. I work in and around confined wooded areas so hanging a larger, although heavier implement off the back isn't desirable.
 

85Hokie

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Jul 13, 2013
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I would imagine you'll need a box that will be not very deep but can handle in excess of 1200-1500 pounds.

Max width? 5 1/2 feet (tractor is almost 70")
Depth of 2 feet?
Height? 3 feet?

That box will hold over a cubic yard of something ....... sand? I would not use concrete unless IT IS the box if you know what I mean.
 

jimh406

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A conventional ballast box with steel weights inside and attached on the outside will probably be the heaviest and smallest. Another option is conventional ballast box filled with scrap lead that you form into ingots, so it is removable. I don't know if the ballast box will hold up to that much weight. You might have to reinforce the attachment points.
 

rc51stierhoff

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B2650, MX6000, Ford 8N, (BX sold)
Sep 13, 2021
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Ohio
I currently have a Woods 60" tiller on the back of my MX6000 that I mostly use for ballast. I'm looking for a lager ballast box that's sized for a tractor the MX's size. My tires are loaded with RimGuard and I need additional weight out back that's heavier than the tiller. I work in and around confined wooded areas so hanging a larger, although heavier implement off the back isn't desirable.
Hi there neighbor (I see you are from Ohio) and welcome. Maybe do a search and you will see a lot of past submissions from members. I recently did this (see below link) for my B, and I will do same or similar for my MX…already have the larger box for the MX. either way maybe do a search and you will get some ideas.

 

SDT

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multiple and various
Apr 15, 2018
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I currently have a Woods 60" tiller on the back of my MX6000 that I mostly use for ballast. I'm looking for a lager ballast box that's sized for a tractor the MX's size. My tires are loaded with RimGuard and I need additional weight out back that's heavier than the tiller. I work in and around confined wooded areas so hanging a larger, although heavier implement off the back isn't desirable.
I have a Kubota M8180 ballast box for use with either my M9960 or L6060.

Filled with bagged playground sand that can be added/removed as desired.
 
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mcmxi

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***Current*** M6060HDC, MX6000HSTC & GL7000 ***Sold*** MX6000HST & BX25DLB
Feb 9, 2021
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NW Montana
I decided to go with wheel weights rather than a ballast box. I have three Kubota weights per side for 660lb of weight. So far I've seen no downsides to this and plenty of upside. With the Rim Guard that the local dealer adds to all rear tires there's a lot of weight out back to offset anything up front.

I also have over 1,000lb of suitcase weights that I could hang off a custom bracket on the 3-point if needed. I don't see a ballast box in my future.

mx6000_hstc_04.jpg


mx6000_hstc_05.jpg
wheel_weights.jpg
 
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rc51stierhoff

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B2650, MX6000, Ford 8N, (BX sold)
Sep 13, 2021
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I agree with SDT and MCMXI…I use sand in ballast box, filled tires and have wheel weights…for me BH is the best ballast out of my options, but it takes up some space off the back where I think a ballast box much more compact and I use mine to haul other tools and gear as well. I like sand as SDT stated, it’s removable, and the use it on concrete drive for grip if it gets icey…I just scoop out of ballast box and spread by hand, refill as needed. The wheel weights are also really helpful on the MX.

If buying/building a box, id think about something you can modify to fit how you want to use it. As an example, I think a trailer hitch built into the box is helpful too.
 
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SDT

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I decided to go with wheel weights rather than a ballast box. I have three Kubota weights per side for 660lb of weight. So far I've seen no downsides to this and plenty of upside. With the Rim Guard that the local dealer adds to all rear tires there's a lot of weight out back to offset anything up front.

I also have over 1,000lb of suitcase weights that I could hang off a custom bracket on the 3-point if needed. I don't see a ballast box in my future.

View attachment 95898

View attachment 95899 View attachment 95900
I, too, have the max of 6 identical weights on my L6060 but no liquid ballast.

Helpful but not nearly as effective as a ballast box or other counterweight for FEL work.
 

CGMKCM

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RVT-1100C, ZD323, L4760
Jan 26, 2021
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Randolph county N.C.
I have a Kubota M8180 ballast box for use with either my M9960 or L6060.

Filled with bagged playground sand that can be added/removed as desired.
I have this same box loaded with 5/6 gravel. Tires filled and wheel weights also. The box makes a huge difference when using grapple to move logs for firewood.
 

jyoutz

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Equipment
MX6000 HST open station, FEL, 6’ cutter, forks, 8’ rear blade, 7’ cultivator
Jan 14, 2019
2,998
2,043
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Edgewood, New Mexico
I decided to go with wheel weights rather than a ballast box. I have three Kubota weights per side for 660lb of weight. So far I've seen no downsides to this and plenty of upside. With the Rim Guard that the local dealer adds to all rear tires there's a lot of weight out back to offset anything up front.

I also have over 1,000lb of suitcase weights that I could hang off a custom bracket on the 3-point if needed. I don't see a ballast box in my future.

View attachment 95898

View attachment 95899 View attachment 95900
I would like to add to my liquid wheel ballast. What did those weight cost?
 

mcmxi

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***Current*** M6060HDC, MX6000HSTC & GL7000 ***Sold*** MX6000HST & BX25DLB
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I would like to add to my liquid wheel ballast. What did those weight cost?
The current price according to Kubota's website is $1,194 which includes the necessary bolt kits but not installation. When I "built" the tractor that I ordered using Kubota's website the weights were $600, but now they're over $1,000. The final sales invoice for the MX6000 had the weights shown as costing $1,305 which included the bolt kits and installation. But those final numbers shown on the invoice are often a way for the dealership to move costs around to offset something else. I ordered a lot of upgrades and some were cheaper than the price listed on the website and some more expensive. So the bottom line is that I can't say exactly what I paid for the weights installed since it wasn't something I ordered after taking delivery.

I have two weights per side on the M6060 and ordered the third set back in July but they still haven't come in yet.
 
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mcmxi

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I, too, have the max of 6 identical weights on my L6060 but no liquid ballast.

Helpful but not nearly as effective as a ballast box or other counterweight for FEL work.
The loader on my MX is mounted to the tractor about 2ft behind the front axle, and the rear axle is about 4ft behind the loader mounting point and 6ft behind the front axle which is what the tractor would rotate about if the back end lifted up. I'd be interested to see what the weight distribution is on the front and rear axles with ballast in the tires and 660lb of wheel weights and just the loader and bucket up front.

Anyway, I'm not disagreeing with you. Ballast boxes are a better alternative for some folks over a large and heavy implement out back, but like many things tractor related, they're a compromise. They're an additional cost over an implement that has another function other than just weight, and they can't be moved to the front of the tractor when weight is needed there. For some a better option is suitcase weights that can be moved to the front or the rear depending on the need. I wouldn't object if I found a decent used ballast box locally, or if someone gave me one, but with Rim Guard, wheel weights, suitcase weights and two 900lb+ implements I can hang out back, not to mention the turnover plows, I don't see a need for one at the moment. It'll be interesting to see what the OP ends up with.

When I first bought the M6060 it didn't have Rim Guard in the rear tires or wheel weights. I raised a bucket full of dirt to dump on the dirt pile and the rear wheels came off the ground a little. No such problem lifting up heavy logs or dirt after 1,440lb of Rim Guard and 660lb of wheel weights were added.
 
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Todd C

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B2650
Feb 18, 2020
15
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SW Mich
A conventional ballast box with steel weights inside and attached on the outside will probably be the heaviest and smallest. Another option is conventional ballast box filled with scrap lead that you form into ingots, so it is removable. I don't know if the ballast box will hold up to that much weight. You might have to reinforce the attachment points.
I took the lead ingot route and put about 500 lbs into my box and it only took up about 1/3 of the space.
It leaves plenty of room for chainsaw gas and oil as well as various chains and what-not.
I am very happy with the results