wheel weights-loaded tires- or chains

Get weight on the back end; wheel weights, loaded rears, or weights off the drawbar for summer use. Chains are indispensible for winter use; even extra weight on the rear will not prevent slipping on ice/packed snow.

we have all that on our loader tractor. Fluid and wheel weights all year round and chains in the winter.

Chains will offer the best traction in winter use I just put some on dads wd I don't know how he did it for 20 years with a 9 ft sc blade without them liquid weight in tires gives you the biggest bang for the buck but after time can eat your rim wheel weights are great but more expensive and they don't rot your rim chains and wheel are the best combo in my opinion

Edited by NICKMI - 14 Feb 2012 at 4:27pm

Dakota Dave wrote: For a loader tractor you need weight for stability. Loaded tires are the best option, Calci will eat your wheels only if you let them leak. if your taking the loader off in the summer than I'd go for wheel weights. Either way you still need chains if you get a lot of snow or any Ice. still need the weight for stability. the most dangerous implement you can have is a loader on an unweighted tractor.

I'm with Dave on this. 

If you don't want the rust either pay the money to have them foam filled which forever rids you of flats, or fill them with windshield washer fluid. Weights help too. Foam is a bit expensive but it makes for great weight, and saves tires and rims.

I had a tire sidewall split while I was running a back hoe attachment to a welding shop. The spray of CaCL rusted the tractor through the paint instantly.

Rim Guard is one fairly expensive alternative made of beet juice, a product from Michigan. Windshield washer fluid works and usually doesn't freeze too hard.

Iron weights don't make the tractor or the rims rust but may break your back (and your bank account) handling (and buying) them. Heavy tractor tire chains will add a couple hundred pounds weight and will dig in for traction. As will suitcase weights on the drawbar or a frame mounted out back just to hold them. I've seen a 55 gallon barrel set up with three point hitch parts and then filled with concrete. That may have been more weight than some tractors will lift on the three point.

When you get enough weight to hold the back end down and keep picking up heavy loads with the loader the front axle will the the next thing to break. Perhaps loads should be subdivided. A bucket filled with snow or manure isn't nearly as heavy as that same bucket filled with dirt or gravel. Dirt and gravel loads may have to be moderated or loaded in a smaller bucket to preserve the front end and rear tire traction. Snow/manure buckets are not the right buckets for dirt and gravel.

Gerald J.

Titan Tires web page strongly recommends that you not use fluid.  They recommend weights as needed. On the other hand, we always used fluid and I never saw any problems.

Edited by DougS - 15 Feb 2012 at 8:00am