Tire loading cost

[Bill Loser]

IM getting the rears of my bobcat ct2040 filled next week. The company that doing it is charging $400 or so to fill both rears with rim guard. Does this sound like a decent price? There aren't many places around here that do it and even fewer who will come here to do it. Just wondering if that's a decent price?

 

[Brian662]

I think they put something like beet juice in my tractor tires and it was about the same price you're paying for them to do it at the dealership. If they're bringing it to your place and doing it, I'd say you aren't going to find a better price.

 

[Bill Loser]

Thanks Brian. Mostly just curious as I don't have too many options anyway. I was hoping to find someone who used beet juice because that seems a lot more "natural" if that makes sense? Not so corrosive. But no one seems to use it around here.

 

[Wind Gypsy]

Yep. I want to say it was around $500 add on to fill my rears on kubota l3560 when I bought new at dealership.

 

[Tree Spud]

Service trip, labor, & materials ... very reasonable fee.

 

[Foggy47]

The best weight bang for the buck. Adds no stress to the axels or chassis....yet provides torque and ballast for your loader. Non corrosive and wont nuke your land if you get a flat in the field.

 

[Bill Loser]

Yeah I didn't think it was a horrible price. I actually thought it was a really good price. I just was curious how it matched up with what others paid. I've never done any of this before. I dropped the back hole off it for winter last weekend and without that weight on the back it drastically changes how it handles so I figured I better get them done sooner rather than later. If for nothing else just for safety.
Thanks everyone for the replies. Much appreciated

 

[hillrunner]

Do compact tractors have road gear? How fast can they go?
I ask because all the construction equipment I've owned with foam tires has been pretty much undriveable in road gear, they'd bounce you right off the road at 20 mph. It's great on site but you need to trailer if you are moving them down the road.

 

[Foggy47]

Do compact tractors have road gear? How fast can they go?
I ask because all the construction equipment I've owned with foam tires has been pretty much undriveable in road gear, they'd bounce you right off the road at 20 mph. It's great on site but you need to trailer if you are moving them down the road.

Most have multiple range transmissions (usually two or three ranges) and a hydrostatic drive or a gear drive.....that may allow up to 20 to 25 MPH. Foam filled tires are not used much on tractors but is used in skid loaders quite often. Maybe some tractors used at building sites would have foam in them.

Lots of compact tractors have gone to beet juice to prevent corrosion and provide the ballast. It's a liquid and does not freeze at most ambient temps. I've never heard of problems with "FLUID" filled tires....but I can see that solid foam may bounce quite a bit. That said.....at road speeds.....many tractors get a bit squirlly and can be a challenge to drive. The culprit is no suspension, unbalanced tires / wheels, and a relatively short wheel base, etc.

I always think its odd.....that a machine with so much torque has problems attaining road speeds. Speed takes HP. I dont think I have ever had my tractor in high range yet. 10 MPH feels pretty fast in a tractor....lol.

 

[Bill Loser]

Most have multiple range transmissions (usually two or three ranges) and a hydrostatic drive or a gear drive.....that may allow up to 20 to 25 MPH. Foam filled tires are not used much on tractors but is used in skid loaders quite often. Maybe some tractors used at building sites would have foam in them.

Lots of compact tractors have gone to beet juice to prevent corrosion and provide the ballast. It's a liquid and does not freeze at most ambient temps. I've never heard of problems with "FLUID" filled tires....but I can see that solid foam may bounce quite a bit. That said.....at road speeds.....many tractors get a bit squirlly and can be a challenge to drive. The culprit is no suspension, unbalanced tires / wheels, and a relatively short wheel base, etc.

I always think its odd.....that a machine with so much torque has problems attaining road speeds. Speed takes HP. I dont think I have ever had my tractor in high range yet. 10 MPH feels pretty fast in a tractor....lol.

Yeah, I had mine in high once, once it got up and went it scared me a little, to old to be feeling out of control I guess!

 

[SwampCat]

My jd 5065e, 65 hp is comfortable at about 18/19 miles ph on the blacktop. It doesnt get squirrelly above that - just feels like u r flying

 

[rocksnstumps]

Use high gear a lot on my JD 4600 running a country road between where tractor is stored and my land. Believe top speed is around 17 mph. But as mentioned without much of a suspension gotta watch those cracks and rough spots on rural roads. They are not smooth and maintained like a highway. Snapped the adjustable top link on a 3 pt disc going over a quick dip right before the main gate to my land once. Learned to throttle back in that area with any cantilevered load on the 3 pt

 

[Foggy47]

I've never had anything with foam in the tires. Not familiar with it....other than to know it prevents flat tires. I've seen foam filled tires on a bobcat where big gaping holes exposed the foam....and they still were operating it. Not sure if foam adds any meaningful ballast? Kinda doubt it??

 

[hillrunner]

I've never had anything with foam in the tires. Not familiar with it....other than to know it prevents flat tires. I've seen foam filled tires on a bobcat where big gaping holes exposed the foam....and they still were operating it. Not sure if foam adds any meaningful ballast? Kinda doubt it??

Foam is extremely heavy, it adds a lot of ballast. It also makes for a rough riding SOB because you lose all the squish of the tire. On equipment, tires are the suspension.

 

[Bill Loser]

Happy man.
Rears filled yesterday afternoon. Cost me 389 and change plus a $20 tip(the guy was good,and he explained everything to me as he went). He said it would add close to 700lbs . Makes a hell of a difference with the snow pusher for sure. Also learned that rim guard is beet juice I did not know that.
Thanks for all the info guys!

 

[Foggy47]

FWIW.....some guys that do not have access to rim guard.....have been filling their rear tires with windshield washer antifreeze. It's not as heavy as rim guard and I dont think there is a big money savings, but it is a DIY means to add ballast. The process is written about quite often on Tractor by net or on a you tube video. Basically use a small pump and a drill to pump the juice.

Filling the rears is a night and day difference to me in stability and traction.