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DIY Ballast Box

Farm tractors perform many tasks that other pieces of heavy equipment normally would do. On the farm they are required to dig holes, grade roads or land, lift heavy loads and till. Some of these jobs can be hazardous to the operator as well as to the tractor if the load changes the center of the tractor's gravity to the point that it tips forward or backward on two wheels. To offset the weight of the load and keep the tractor stable, you can construct a ballast box to attach to either its front or rear. The ballast box holds items of added weight to maintain the center of mass over the rear wheels. If you want to lift large loads or dig deep holes, the center of mass needs to shift to the front of the tractor, keeping the front wheels from lifting off the ground.

Things You'll Need

Steel box
1-inch steel rod
Welder
Quik-krete
Chain or other scrap metal

Instructions

- 1
  Select a steel box with an open top. The size of the box isn't really important as long as it's at least 18 inches deep and fits within the hooks on the tractor that are used for attaching tools. Allow a minimum of 12 inches of clearance between the bottom of the box and the ground. If you need to add more weight but won't have enough room in the ballast box at these dimensions, you can extend the sides of the box beyond the hooks, as long as the box can still attach properly.
- 2
  Attach a 1-inch steel rod to the side of the box using a welder. Place the rod in a position that will allow it to fit into the hooks on the back of the tractor. The rod must extend beyond each side of the box by at least 6 inches. The box should connect to the tractor at three different points: to the two hooks just mentioned as well as to the hydraulic system.
- 3
  Mix the Quik-Krete rapid-setting concrete mix as directed on the bag and pour it into the box. Fill the box at least halfway to the top with concrete. Leave a space at the top of the box to hold more items to increase the weight. Large rocks, lengths of chain or scrap metal work well to add weight to your ballast box.

Animals & Science