Rimguard customer service AWOL?

[pigdoc]

Hi Folks,

I need to get ballast in my (new) rear tires and wheels.
Settled on Rimguard (beet juice) as my choice.

BUT, I am NOT inclined to either a) haul the tractor to the nearest Rimguard dealership (100 miles RT), OR, b) attempt to haul and then manhandle the loose rear wheels after they each have ~400 lbs of ballast in them.

Installing the fluid is fairly trivial, I just need a supply on-site. There is nothing on Rimguard's website about buying just the fluid. That said, I can find youtube DIY videos showing carboys with a Rimguard sticker on them, like they have been dispensed by the company.

It's a little frustrating that my queries to the company are met by the silent treatment.

I did visit the dealership, and they have two giant tanks (like 10,000 gallons each) full of Rimguard in bulk, but the dealer seemed to have no experience in dispensing it, other than directly into tires. Hence, probably no price schedule for that kind of transaction.

I can certainly line up an empty carboy, load it in my pickup, and have the dealership put 80 gallons in it for me. But, what's the $mark-up going to be on that?

Anyone else have any experience with this plan?

Pfft!
-Paul

 

[Dustball]

When did you try contacting them? During Thanksgiving week?

There are Rimguard mobile installers also.

 

[mcmxi]

I did visit the dealership, and they have two giant tanks (like 10,000 gallons each) full of Rimguard in bulk, but the dealer seemed to have no experience in dispensing it, other than directly into tires. Hence, probably no price schedule for that kind of transaction.

I can certainly line up an empty carboy, load it in my pickup, and have the dealership put 80 gallons in it for me. But, what's the $mark-up going to be on that?

100 miles roundtrip doesn't sound like much to get this taken care of. The local dealer charged me around $4/gallon to install Rim Guard in the M6060 rear tires but that was in May of 2022. The invoice stated 144 gallons which sounds like an awful lot of beetjuice.

 

[MapleLeafFarmer]

seems like nothing more than a business protecting their dealership network.

can't buy tractors or parts direct from JD or Kubota or whomever. (or tires from Goodyear, etc..) That is what dealers are for. If they let people cut out their dealers and go direct business would be vastly different.

I would love to buy my tractors direct and save 20% or whatever the dealer makes but not in the cards. And the service would dry up then too. Same in this case I suppose.

 

[jyoutz]

You might also consider Bioballast. There are some advantages over Rimguard.

Tire Ballast - EnviroTech Services

envirotechservices.com

 

[CAPT Seabee]

If you're mostly rural, check out Les Schwab. Our local LS does it all the time.

 

[JRHill]

This post makes me cringe. In 2010 I took possession of a big LBH and it was a major risk on our contoured land. I had the rears and fronts filled with calcium chloride. It was the only option. It added almost 2k# of low ballast. Yeah, it's a pollutant if it gets out so you don't let that happen. I am still alive because of ballast.

But I've seen what the stuff does to wheels.... You think a tire replacement is expensive? Try finding a replacement for a corroded wheel on a big machine

 

[mcmxi]

This post makes me cringe. In 2010 I took possession of a big LBH and it was a major risk on our contoured land. I had the rears and fronts filled with calcium chloride. It was the only option. It added almost 2k# of low ballast. Yeah, it's a pollutant if it gets out so you don't let that happen. I am still alive because of ballast.

But I've seen what the stuff does to wheels.... You think a tire replacement is expensive? Try finding a replacement for a corroded wheel on a big machine

There are no corrosion concerns with beet juice unlike calcium chloride. The clue is in the word chloride.

 

[JRHill]

Hopefully its a for someone else to deal with in the future. We are far remote and CC is the only thing available.

 

[TheOldHokie]

Hopefully its a for someone else to deal with in the future. We are far remote and CC is the only thing available.

I think you can relax. I have had CC in the rears for almost 30 years and zero signs of corrosion. I think the coatings on Kubota rims is a little better than the coatings on the old 8N which only lasted 70 years.

Dan

 

[JRHill]

I think you can relax. I have had CC in the rears for almost 30 years and zero signs of corrosion. I think the coatings on Kubota rims is a little better than the coatings on the old 8N which only lasted 70 years.

Dan

Well that's reassuring. Cars on salted roads don't fare so well.

If I have a complaint it's that tire gauges are throw away items with CC, even if the valve is at the top and ya purge it.

 

[TheOldHokie]

Well that's reassuring. Cars on salted roads don't fare so well.

Most of the ones made in the past decade do. Ram pickups are a notable exception

Dan

 

[GreensvilleJay]

curious and bored Google says 2 1/4 beets = 1 cup of juice so........
do the math, grow some beets , and make your own rimguard !!!

 

[jyoutz]

I think you can relax. I have had CC in the rears for almost 30 years and zero signs of corrosion. I think the coatings on Kubota rims is a little better than the coatings on the old 8N which only lasted 70 years.

Dan

I think your experience is extraordinary. My neighbor’s B7500 has calcium filled tires and they are corroded through and leaking. After about 20 years.

 

[mcmxi]

I think your experience is extraordinary. My neighbor’s B7500 has calcium filled tires and they are corroded through and leaking. After about 20 years.

I don't see why anyone would choose calcium chloride today when there are non-corrosive options which are effective in adding weight with no risk.

 

[JRHill]

I don't see why anyone would choose calcium chloride today when there are non-corrosive options which are effective in adding weight with no risk.

Because there are no other options.

 

[mikester]

Every one of my machines with CC ended up with leaks and corrosion issues especially with brass valve stems. I stopped using the stuff when I bought my M59.

 

[TheOldHokie]

Because there are no other options.

In my case the decision was made 30 years ago. At that time the inventor and founder of Rimguard liquid ballast was still tryig to figure out what to do with all the leftovers from his sugar beet processing....

 

[JRHill]

Sounds Like A sweet deal

I worked a bridge project in western Nebraska. Beets all over the roadside. I didn't know I could but them in my tires.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

In my case the decision was made 30 years ago. At that time the inventor and founder of Rimguard liquid ballast was still tryig to figure out what to do with all the leftovers from his sugar beet processing....

reminds me of DEET and Post-its........