My Tractor Forum banner
Cancel
Create thread New Forums

Rear Weight Options

Jump to Latest
1 - 20 of 31 Posts
W

winchester

· Registered
Joined
·
95 Posts
Discussion starter · #1 ·
Hey fellas. I'm trying to come up with a way to have some weight on the rear of my x748 when I have the 54inch blade on the front. I have a carryall type thing that can mount to the back of a 4 wheeler on a trailer ball, and was wondering if that would work on my tractor. I think that these are the only parts that I need. http://www.shopgreendealer.com/view_cart.asp

I priced the click and go brackets and weight bracket, and they ended up being around $250, and by the time you add 4 or more suitcase weights its quite a lot of $$$$$. I figured if I could make this setup work, I could just put some cinder blocks on the carrier, or some sandbags, and avoid spending so much money. Any thoughts?

I can't seem to find any information on how much weight I could put on the receiver hitch and drawbar in the link above. Any info would be appreciated.

Thanks
J
 
#2 ·
I can't see what's on the link you provided. But if it's the jd receiver hitch and you mount it in top of the hitch plate for extra strength and you should be able to put a couple hundred pound on your carry all no problem.


Sent from the MTF Free App
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
Discussion starter · #3 ·
8086bruce said:
I can't see what's on the link you provided. But if it's the jd receiver hitch and you mount it in top of the hitch plate for extra strength and you should be able to put a couple hundred pound on your carry all no problem.


Sent from the MTF Free App
Click to expand...
Darn, thought that link would work. Yeah it was the JD receiver hitch kit, and the drawbar kit.
http://www.shopgreendealer.com/John-Deere-Rear-Receiver-Hitch-BM20877.html

http://www.shopgreendealer.com/John-Deere-Rear-Receiver-Hitch-Drawbar-Kit-BM23989.html
 
#4 ·
I have the receiver hitch and drawbar on my X720 mounted on top of instead of below the hitch plate. I can confirm they would handle a couple of hundred pounds, but what you are proposing sounds like a real hassle!

Think about lugging sandbags and cinder blocks on and off that carry-all. And all the space that would take up? Then have a block fall off and damage something? JD Click and go is expensive, but handy. It's nice to quickly and easily take the bracket off when you don't need it.

Or search CL and see if you can find a suitcase weight setup. If you were closer I'd give you a deal on the extra ones I'm unloading.
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#5 ·
Suitcase weights are really the way to go and once purchased, you have them for a life time to use front or back.

Your platform system your thinking of adding could be very cumbersome and bulky in tight turns
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#6 ·
-If your carry-all is 2" you will need an 1 1/4" x 2" adapter and that will put it even farther behind the tractor. I bought a bumper mount 2" adapter for a truck and bolted it to the tractor hitch. http://www.harborfreight.com/catalog/product/view/id/8892/category/428/ This way the adapter isn't needed to use the 2" carry-all.
-The biggest issue with the carry-all method is the size of it. It makes your already large tractor even larger. I used one 4 years ago and had 5 cinder blocks on it with a sand bag on top. It will work, but I think you will have regrets and wish you weren't so cheap.:hide: I know I did.
 
#7 ·
The other issue with having the weight that far behind the axle is it will unload the front axle and you will have less steering control when plowing. Wheel weights and loaded tires can give you the traction you want while not negatively affecting your steering traction.
 
#8 ·
badgerland01 said:
The other issue with having the weight that far behind the axle is it will unload the front axle and you will have less steering control when plowing. Wheel weights and loaded tires can give you the traction you want while not negatively affecting your steering traction.
Click to expand...
True. Op on a 4wd x748 loaded tires and wheels weights should be enough. A lot cheaper than the brackets and suit case weights.


Sent from the MTF Free App
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
Discussion starter · #9 ·
Thanks for all the input. Went to a dealer in Columbia today and get some 50lb wheel weights. The box was tore up so I got about $10 dollars off each weight! I'll see how they do this year, then will revisit the suitcase weights and bracket next year if I need to. But with both 50lb weights and me on there, it should be about 335lbs on the rear wheels. Hopefully that'll get the job done.
 
#10 ·
winchester said:
Thanks for all the input. Went to a dealer in Columbia today and get some 50lb wheel weights. The box was tore up so I got about $10 dollars off each weight! I'll see how they do this year, then will revisit the suitcase weights and bracket next year if I need to. But with both 50lb weights and me on there, it should be about 335lbs on the rear wheels. Hopefully that'll get the job done.
Click to expand...
Good deal! Sounds like a good way to go.
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#11 ·
The weight bracket I have is a little less money than the click-n-go option. It is well built and works well (but not with a 3pt hitch).
This post shows it on my X748 http://www.mytractorforum.com/showthread.php?p=1477097
This is the seller http://www.ebay.com/usr/absolutemetalworks or search ebay for "Rear Weight Bracket Fits John Deere X475 X485 X575 X748"

This thread shows using the weight bracket to mount my rear platform. I mostly use it to carry a 16 gallon sprayer which it does very well. http://www.mytractorforum.com/showthread.php?t=184607

Good luck with it!
 
#12 ·
I made rear weights by filling two 6 gallon buckets with steel and concrete and mounted it to the tractor using two layers of 3/4" plywood. I ended up with about 430 lbs of weight at a total cost of about $70 which a good share was for green paint.
 
#14 ·
If you still want to mount up a receiver to use that carry-all, heavy hitch has a 2" bolt on hitch which is much beefier then the JD hitch and only a few dollars more. Another idea to consider is the click-n-go ballast box because you can find cheaper weight like dirt, concrete, scrap metal, etc.

You don't mention what kind of tires you are using but that makes a big difference. If you got turfs, and no chains or straps, the weight won't help. If you have all-trail tires you may be ok with just wheel weights and 4x4. Remember the point of the weight is to add traction, but if you don't have tires that grip, it won't matter how much weight you add.
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#15 ·
The nice thing about suitcase weights is you can add or take away 42 pounds at a time. I use some front weights on my X740 when mowing to keep the steer tires from being pushed forward in corners.

The downside to having lots of weight in 1 or 2 items, is that to move that item by hand when the time comes sucks, big time.

I plan to use 6 suitcase weights on the back, two 72 pound wheel weights, and two 50 pound wheel weights attached to those yet. Once I get my 54 inch blade that is. Add on the tire chains too, I want to push as much as I can!

My total added weight will be 496 pounds. I weigh 220 pounds and my weight is centered right over the rear axle, so basically I will have 716 pounds of weight on the rear.
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
Discussion starter · #16 ·
z0lt3c said:
If you still want to mount up a receiver to use that carry-all, heavy hitch has a 2" bolt on hitch which is much beefier then the JD hitch and only a few dollars more. Another idea to consider is the click-n-go ballast box because you can find cheaper weight like dirt, concrete, scrap metal, etc.

You don't mention what kind of tires you are using but that makes a big difference. If you got turfs, and no chains or straps, the weight won't help. If you have all-trail tires you may be ok with just wheel weights and 4x4. Remember the point of the weight is to add traction, but if you don't have tires that grip, it won't matter how much weight you add.
Click to expand...
Do you need a 3 point hitch to use the heavy hitch? Right now I've got the HDAP tires on all 4 wheels. I've seen the ballast box and the click and go brackets. They sure are nice. But everything with green paint seems to be sooooo expensive. By the time I bought the click n go brackets and the ballast box, i'd be around $400 :thSick:
 
#17 · (Edited)
winchester said:
Do you need a 3 point hitch to use the heavy hitch?
Click to expand...
Here is the HH 2" receiver I am referring too;

http://www.ebay.com/itm/141060681837

They also have a 2" receiver weight bracket but it's not cheaper then the Deere part.

https://heavyhitch.com/store/heavy-hitch-accessories/suitcase-weight-bracket-for-receiver-hitch/

This one from another manufacturer is a little cheaper but not as nice as the HH product

http://www.ebay.com/itm/251346093795

winchester said:
Right now I've got the HDAP tires on all 4 wheels. I've seen the ballast box and the click and go brackets. They sure are nice. But everything with green paint seems to be sooooo expensive. By the time I bought the click n go brackets and the ballast box, i'd be around $400 :thSick:
Click to expand...
Not trying to be liberal with your $$$, but you got a ~expensive~ tractor, that you had no problem putting on $500 tires at some point, but buying a universal weight solution for ~$400 is out of line? I just had this priced out from my local Deere dealer;

BM17976 50lb Plastic Wheel weights Qty 2 $132.68
BM20779 Click N Go Rear Weight Bracket Qty 1 $156.21
R66949Y Yellow 44lb Suit Case Weight Qty 4 $196

$485.00 for 276lbs of weight or about $1.75/lb. I use other click n go accessories so I already have the tractor brackets. Click N Go is really pretty nice... If you want to save a few bucks there is a used/bolt-on bracket for sale here by HarryC.
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#19 ·
winchester said:
Do you need a 3 point hitch to use the heavy hitch? Right now I've got the HDAP tires on all 4 wheels. I've seen the ballast box and the click and go brackets. They sure are nice. But everything with green paint seems to be sooooo expensive. By the time I bought the click n go brackets and the ballast box, i'd be around $400 :thSick:
Click to expand...
This is what I have assembled for rear weight. My weight unit is BLUE and BLACK - read that...less expensive! The four suitcase weights are 60 pound Ford weights for which I paid $120. I drilled and tapped half inch threads for secure attachment. The draw bar is from Northern Tool, $33. Also from Northern Tool is a draw bar stabilizer, $75. Total cost is about $235 (with fasteners) for approximately 260 pounds total weight. As you can see the stabilizer has provision for a 2 inch receiver hitch. The weight is able to be carried low for stability and demounted quite easily so I can use the draw bar for a variety of uses. They, of course, can be mounted on top of the draw bar if more clearance is needed. Normal storage is by setting the unit on a furniture dolly. This set-up works great for me. Actually, with the weight of my X748 AWD I have never needed to use the weight for snow blowing…even with the 10 inches of heavy, wet snow we received this past May.
 

Attachments

#20 ·
There's several options, but I'd steer clear of the carry-all/receiver approach; it's bulky and it would put a lot of stress on the hitch plate (that it wasn't designed to take).

z0lt3c said:
$485.00 for 276lbs of weight or about $0.56/lb.
Click to expand...
You may want to check your math. :hide:
 
1 - 20 of 31 Posts
About this Discussion
30 Replies
13 Participants
Last post:
Jimbochap
My Tractor Forum
posts
4.4M
members
246K
Since
2005
A family friendly forum community dedicated to all Tractor owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about specifications, modifications, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
John Deere Forum Craftsman/Sears Forum Backyard Round Table: L & G Tractor Related Topics Introductions Walk Behind Mowers