Carver Equipment, Hwy 301 South, Dunn, NC  28334
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Weighting a Box Blade for extra Counterweight" 

For years industrial use tractor loaders have used weight boxes mounted to the rear frames of the tractors to serve as counterweight offsetting the loader operation. Note "mounted on the frame."

For lighter duty tractors and tasks, the benefits learned from the industrial users can be achieved by commercial and homeowner users in a number of different ways. One way is: 
Take a standard box blade implement and add your weights. Some folks use plate iron, pour cement blocks, add old tractor weights, etc., attached or nested on to the top, sides and rear of their implements. 

Caution:
1. Use common sense and do not "over do it" i.e.: use too much extra weight.
2. This practice requires extra focus to properly stabilize side to side 
movement and caution not to lower to quickly at times.

The box blade makes for an excellent "weight carrier" because they always have a three point hitch; sit flat on the ground when not attached (so they don't try to turn over and are easy to re-couple to the tractor); are easy to stabilize with they are attached to the three point hitch; made of steel and on "right angles" (so you can add/weld "nesting" brackets easily.

Use of any three point "counterweight" offsets the loader bucket counterweight because it is AS FAR BEHIND the tractor as the loader bucket is IN FRONT OF THE TRACTOR. Therefore it tends to stabilize the unit as a whole.

If an urgent -- "slipping or de-stabilized" situation occurs while you are in the tractor seat and - Where you feel uncomfortable about your safety -- YOU CAN QUICKLY push down the three point lower lever and really put a lot of weight ON THE GROUND. Sometimes this is really a good thing if you loose you footing on a slope or hill side. In other words, a boater would say -- it's like throwing out an anchor.  This is where the box blade, in my opinion, works better than (other type, i.e.: barrels, bars, drums) three point mounted weights because IT WILL DIG IN instead of slide along the ground.  The box blade is easily removed when you do not need it or when you are not doing "heavy work" with the loader.

When a weighted box blade is lower to the ground, the tractor engine shut down, the "hydraulic lock down" valve is closed --- The tractor become very difficult for thieves or children or any unauthorized person to move your tractor. So it can become a positive safety "implement" as well.

tractors to serve as counterweight offsetting the loader operation. Note: "mounted on the frame."

For lighter duty tractors and tasks the benefits learned from the industrial users can be achieved by commercial and homeowner users as number of different ways. One way is: 

Take a standard box blade implement and add your weights. Some folks use plate iron, pour cement blocks, add old tractor weights, etc., attached or nested on to the top, sides and rear of their implements.

Caution:
1. Use common sense and do not "over do it" i.e.: use too much extra weight.
2. This practice requires extra focus to properly stabilize side to side movement and caution not to lower to quickly at times.

The box blade makes for an excellent "weight carrier" because they always have a three point hitch, sit flat on the ground with not attached (so they don't try to turn over and are easy to re-couple to the tractor), are easy to stabilize with they are attached to the three point hitch, made of steel and on "right angles" (so you can add/weld "nesting" brackets easily.

Use of any three point "counterweight" offsets the loader bucket counterweight because it is AS FAR BEHIND the tractor as the loader bucket is IN FRONT OF THE TRACTOR. Therefore it tends to stabilize the unit as a whole. If an urgent -- "slipping or de-stabilized" situation occurs while you are in the tractor seat and - Where you feel uncomfortable about your safety -- YOU CAN QUICKLY push down the three point lower lever and really put a lot of weight ON THE GROUND. Sometimes this is really a good thing if you loose you footing on a slope or hill side. In other words, a boater would say -- it's like throwing out an anchor.

This is were the box blade, in my opinion, works better than (other type i.e.: barrels, bars, drums) three point mounted weights because IT WILL DIG IN instead of slide along the ground.  The box blade is easily removed when you do not need it or when you are not doing "heavy work" with the loader.  When a weighted box blade is lower to the ground, the tractor engine shut down, the "hydraulic lock down" valve is closed --- The tractor become very difficult for thieves or children or any unauthorized person to move your tractor so it can become a positive safety "implement" as well.

A weighted box blade performs better than one without weight, so you enhance the "implement" as aspects as well. But is much more expensive than -- just taking a 30 gallon HD plastic trash container, run a long rod all the way throw it from side to side (this will be the attaching point for the right and left lift arms), fabricate a bracket or brace to serve as the "top" center link for the hitch -- Fill with "premix cement" to desire level, add water, stir, wait 24 hours -- and -- INSTANT COUNTER WEIGHT -- paint as desire and add "really neat bumper stickers or decals" that you wife would not let you use anywhere else.

The cost estimates:
Box Blades - 36"- $300 to 72" - $550.
Trash container with cement: $ 65.