Ballast Box Vs. Loaded Tires

[Eddie Jr.]

So my dealer had offered my one or the other when I pick up my new tractor (B3200). I plan to use the tractor as my mower for the summer months and do some landscape work with the FEL/rear blade (the blade could act as ballast at that point I guess). For the winter months it will be a snow moving machine.
Any preference with the guys here and why?

Thanks for the input!

 

[gktilton]

I think you mentioned mowing around Ponds in one of your other posts. Any wet ground being mowed. I like loaded tires, the weight is low which is good. I use loaded tires and a ballast box. My only concern for you is with loaded tires the weight is always there, if the main purpose of the tractor is Mowing on relatively flat ground you won't need the weight most of the time but you will have it there compacting your soil and RUTTING if you have soft ground.

A ballast box you can remove if you don't want the weight.

Other opinions will vary.

 

[pat331]

I agree with gktilton. I have my rear tires ballested with water/antifreeze. I use a rear mounted mower and like having as low a center of gravity as I can when mowing side slopes. I also have a ballast box which is a 55 gallon drum filled with concrete (about 900 lbs). I use it when I am using the FEL for heavy lifting. There have been times when I wish I had another 500 lbs on top of both to make sure the rear of the tractor stayed put. Also, I rarely have to worry about rutting the ground. Hope this helps! Good Luck.

 

[Eddie Jr.]

Yes! Thank you guys. I am going to go with the box I think mainly for the mowing aspect. I think the loaded tires would be great in the snow season but the rear blade should help a little. I feel the box is a little less “permanent” as well.
Gk – No pond yet, maybe somewhere down the road but most of the property is fairly flat, just a ditch at the front of the property about 500ft or so long. There is fairly good slope there in the ditch but it should be fine after a little landscaping.
Appreciate the info guys, thanks again.

M.

 

[Eric McCarthy]

Without a doubt liquid ballast the rear tires for better traction and low center of gravity. For me landscaping as a side business I always have the grading box on cause if I'm doing loader work I'm always doing fine grading with the box. I could see a ballast box or some means of weight on the 3pt hitch being helpful if your doing loader work in a real tight space and something big and bulky could get in the way. Like if you had the tractor in a horse barn mucking out stalls and you were not able to turn as sharply if you had a big attatchment hanging on the back. There are plenty of cheap means to make your own weight box. I'd say take whats free from the dealer and let them fill the tires. And later down the road make your own afforadble weightbox.

 

[Eddie Jr.]

Thanks Eric! I will give that some thought. The soil around my place is fairly firm so it shouldn't "rutt" so badly but I want to keep the overall weight of the unit down when mowing over the septic field too.
You guys give good advise, thanks! I like to see the different views too. Well done.

M.