Rear ballast idea - good or bad?

[Daylight]

I have been thinking of a quick and easy way to make a rear ballast for the BX 231, and came up with this idea, which I submit here for the forum’s opinion.

What if I weld a piece of heavy-gauge steel plate (red in the picture) to a 3-point hitch, so I can hang my 4 Kubota suitcase weights (+/- 220 lbs. total)
on it? The separate weights and hitch are easy to move around and store, and a hitch is cheap. Does that make sense?

 

[pokey1416]

Is that going to be enough weight for ballast? Sounds good and nice and compact.

 

[NCL4701]

Heavy Hitch has been making something similar for a while. I don’t have one. Never heard any complaints about them, so the general idea has been done and seems to have worked.

Category 1 3 Point Hitch Receiver Drawbar Heavy Hitch - Compact Tractor Attachments

Optimize your tractor with our Category 1, 3 Point Hitch Receiver Drawbar and Suitcase Weight Bracket. Enhance functionality and add ballast. USA Made.

heavyhitch.com

 

[Daylight]

It's only for a little BX231 with a limited front loader capacity. I can try and, if needed, get a couple more weights.

Is that going to be enough weight for ballast? Sounds good and nice and compact.

 

[Daylight]

Thanks for the link!

Looks good, though rather expensive. I can get a decent hitch for the euro-equivalent of $65, and have plenty of scrap steel laying around, so during my next R&R I'll ask my brother to come over with his welder (living on a old 130-ft barge he's become an expert at everything metalworking...).

Heavy Hitch has been making something similar for a while. I don’t have one. Never heard any complaints about them, so the general idea has been done and seems to have worked.

Category 1 3 Point Hitch Receiver Drawbar Heavy Hitch - Compact Tractor Attachments

Optimize your tractor with our Category 1, 3 Point Hitch Receiver Drawbar and Suitcase Weight Bracket. Enhance functionality and add ballast. USA Made.

heavyhitch.com

 

[85Hokie]

Daylight - one thing to consider, the farther out the better the weight - you are adding weight AT the pins - thus more is better, a 350 lb back blade works well because all of the weight is way out past the pins -
The force = weight @ a distance

whereas you are wanting to place weight AT the pins - thus add more, like get up there - 400 lbs or MORE

 

[NCL4701]

Thanks for the link!

Looks good, though rather expensive. I can get a decent hitch for the euro-equivalent of $65, and have plenty of scrap steel laying around, so during my next R&R I'll ask my brother to come over with his welder (living on a old 130-ft barge he's become an expert at everything metalworking...).

Definitely agree. I’m a hack at fabrication but I would cobble something together before buying a Heavy Hitch just to hang weights on. I use a 500+lb box scrape and loaded rears for counterweight but looks to me like you have a solid plan.

 

[SDT]

I have been thinking of a quick and easy way to make a rear ballast for the BX 231, and came up with this idea, which I submit here for the forum’s opinion.

What if I weld a piece of heavy-gauge steel plate (red in the picture) to a 3-point hitch, so I can hang my 4 Kubota suitcase weights (+/- 220 lbs. total)
on it? The separate weights and hitch are easy to move around and store, and a hitch is cheap. Does that make sense?

View attachment 58593

Should work well.

Similar devices are commercially available.

SDT

 

[MNVikingsGuy]

Had been using the box blade as back ballast, but like the additional maneuverability of smaller footprint of my heavy hitch. It gives me 600 lbs with case weights. Sounds like your project would give you the same benefits.

 

[Motion]

Are your rear tires filled? If not you may want to start there.

 

[Daylight]

You have a good point, but I don't want constant weight. My soil is very fragile (dirt over slate), so I want to tread lightly whenever possible.

Are your rear tires filled? If not you may want to start there.

 

[Daylight]

Well noted (how did I not think of that myself?) - thanks! Instead of welding the plate on the hitch, I can fabricate a U-shape that sticks out behind it, giving me maybe 4-6 inches more. Given my often limited maneuvering space, overall length is an issue.

Daylight - one thing to consider, the farther out the better the weight - you are adding weight AT the pins - thus more is better, a 350 lb back blade works well because all of the weight is way out past the pins -
The force = weight @ a distance

whereas you are wanting to place weight AT the pins - thus add more, like get up there - 400 lbs or MORE

 

[19thSF]

There is a lower cost alternative. Heavy Hitch make a good product. Titan's is just serviceable. It depends on your budget and product opinion. Good luck with your purchase, or, your idea will accomplish the same thing.

Tractor Drawbar with Suitcase Weight Brackets | 2" Receiver | CAT 0 3-Point

The Titan Attachments™ Tractor Drawbar with Suitcase Weight Brackets and a 2" Receiver Fits Category 0 3-Point.

www.palletforks.com

 

[skeets]

So what is the prices of suit case weights around the world?

 

[Daylight]

Here in my little corner of the woods, original 25-kilo Kubota weights are EUR 84 (= $101) apiece, including 21% VAT but without shipping.

So what is the prices of suit case weights around the world?

 

[man00]

I have been thinking of a quick and easy way to make a rear ballast for the BX 231, and came up with this idea, which I submit here for the forum’s opinion.

What if I weld a piece of heavy-gauge steel plate (red in the picture) to a 3-point hitch, so I can hang my 4 Kubota suitcase weights (+/- 220 lbs. total)
on it? The separate weights and hitch are easy to move around and store, and a hitch is cheap. Does that make sense?

View attachment 58593

kinda like mine