Ballast Box vs. Suitcase Weights on Box Blade

[jmlundy1972]

So you're saying you can't lift your loader's max weight with just that BB on the back? With no added balast on it? Have you tried, and the rear wheels lifted before the loader?

Just question of what people are using or prefer.

 

[nbryan]

Just question of what people are using or prefer.

Ok, I'm just asking why you may need the weights. Only because with my albeit much smaller B2650 I need nothing more than my BB1560 boxblade on the 3-point to effectively counterbalance the maximum load my front loader can lift with enough rear wheel traction to remain safe, at least at low speeds.

 

[Vigo]

So far, i have only really used my box blade as ballast for the loader on my b6100 (vs other forms of ballast). But that is a somewhat unusual situation because the loader only lifts 500lbs and the 60" box blade at 300+ lbs is already considered 'big' for that tractor. I doubt that 'just' a 300-400lb box blade would let a much larger tractor safely max out its loader capacity.

On my B6100, I intend to crank the loader pressure and perhaps almost double the lift capacity (and deal with the fallout.. lol) and one of the things I did in preparation for that was add 113lbs to the rear of my box blade. In my case i bolted on a loading dock bumper (those stacks of used tire pieces bolted together for trucks/trailers to bump into when pulling up to a loading dock) because I figured it would make a good push bumper too and it was cheap on Amazon. Plus, it makes a box blade work better if it's heavier.

So i'm all for adding weight to a box blade you already have. If you don't already have one, buy the heaviest one in the width you're looking at. But it has major maneuverability penalties vs a dedicated ballast weight, and i intend to eventually build one of those too, for a different tractor.

 

[jmlundy1972]

So far, i have only really used my box blade as ballast for the loader on my b6100. But that is a somewhat unusual situation because the loader only lifts 500lbs and the 60" box blade at 300+ lbs is already considered 'big' for that tractor. I doubt that 'just' a 300-400lb box blade would let a much larger tractor safely max out its loader capacity.

On my B6100, I intend to crank the loader pressure and perhaps almost double the lift capacity (and deal with the fallout.. lol) and one of the things I did in preparation for that was add 113lbs to the rear of my box blade. In my case i bolted on a loading dock bumper (those stacks of used tire pieces bolted together for trucks/trailers to bump into when pulling up to a loading dock) because I figured it would make a good push bumper too and it was cheap on Amazon. Plus, it makes a box blade work better if it's heavier.

So i'm all for adding weight to a box blade you already have. If you don't already have one, buy the heaviest one in the width you're looking at. But it has major maneuverability penalties vs a dedicated ballast weight, and i intend to eventually build one of those too, for a different tractor.

Great point, I think I can just fab another piece of plate and weld it to the box blade much cheaper for another 100-200lbs of ballast. Might be the easiest and most economical solution.