I'm planning to revamp my weight bar over the winter and go to a box. From what I've learned this year, it seems that most start with a piece of thick plate for the front and build box behind it to put smaller removable weight. I also want to incorporate a trailer jack on each side to support the weight bar during transport. How have you guys constructed them and will you post a picture or 2?

Alan

I just run tractor weights, but as far as the jack stands... one issue you might have with that is when the truck is loaded, and you put down the stands, and you travel down the road, the suspension movement puts the weight box in a bind because of the inability to move due to the stands. I run 600 pounds of tractor wights, 4 wet cell batteries, a hyd steering motor, and the weight of the weight bar itself and haven't had any trouble with flex or breakage....... it's held on by 2 cat 3 receivers and 1/4" 2x2 square tubing... hope this helps

sean

Alan

We run to and from pulls ( approx 700 lbs) much like Sean with no support but I have seen a few guys use an airbag setup. Granted they are hanging alot more weight than what we run but it seems to do the job for them.

I'm running quite a bit more weight on the front, plus with the front springs on the stops, I'm concerned about the shock to the supports which is why I want to put jacks on it. Currently I use a bottle jack to raise the front, then lower it down on jack stands.

AP

A,

Once you get your new hauler just build a frame that the weight bar pushes up onto as you load it. Dave Dorsetts truck is the only one I can think of that has the jacks like you are refering to.

Travis

Alan, I have two weight boxes with jacks like you are talking about, (1) on a 4 Pro and (1) on a 4 super and they work fine. On the other hand if you looked at my truck and trailer I have a weight box ramp, just drive on and tie down and your done. Walt

I did notice that you had something you drove onto on your trailer Walt, but I didn't go over and really study it. Should have huh!.

Alan

The pro4 box Walt refers to is mine. He can tell you more about it, channel frame covered in sheet metal(your better off to have him make one for you and just weld it on, save$$). Filled it full of lead. The stops on the side work great, around 6yrs of use. It would be better to use a ramp. That would eliminate the need of the stands and the time it takes to jack it up. The thinner you can make it the better. Walt also made the fuel tank shown in the picture. Just needs some polishing.

We used a thick plat for the front weighed little over 500#s. Then the box behind it to put lead in. We used a stand the the truck sat on but have seen a lot of trucks use jacks to hold them up during transport. I wouldn't haul a truck with something under the weight rack. It helps the stress on the box and makes it ride better also.

Lot of the trucks I've seen, use pin on, crank up jacks on the sides of the weight box, like the ones that come on the side of the tongue of bumper pull car trailer. Saves time, just slide it on, drop in the pin, and wind it up. It helps tighten your tiedown chains too.

Thank you Mr. Stepro for the pics. I sent Walt an email and plan to call him tonight.

So for the lead, did you just use old tire weights? I was looking into buying a lead melting pot, but haven't found anything affordable to pour up to 20lb ingots. This year the scales at the pulls we were at varied by as much as 200lbs, so I like the idea of ingots to make it easy to handle them, plus get right to the limit.

AP

Oh and if I was to go with jacks on both sides, here is what I'd use on both sides;

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200331153_200331153

Alan

Alan,here is the ramp i was talking about.

HERE YOU GO ALAN THANKS TO GOOD OL TRACTOR SUPPLY I THINK THIS IS WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR

[IMG][/IMG]

Yeah, we have a friend that has a tire shop, he donated the tire weights. I believe a propane turkey fryer type burner was used to melt down the lead into small weights. If you do make your own mold, make a big cold weld of your name written backwards in what will be the top of the weight, this will help distinguish your weights from everyone else when you forget and leave them at the scale.

Cool, One of my sponsors is a tire dealer, so I shouldn't have trouble getting used tire weights. In fact, I'll bet that I have over 800lbs of used tire weights sitting in a ballast box we made for the tractor. I may have to swap some of the tractor weights for lead weights when we get the box made.

Alan

Thanks for the good word CStepro. Walt