I’ve researched and read a little on this^^^

i haven’t had the chance to go to the CAT scales yet to see the actual difference for myself but I made a 1000 pound ballast box that I lift in the back with my 2 ton shop hoist.

i know dually’s aren’t typically great in the snow but that extra 1000 pounds right up next to the tailgate sure helps out.

 

@Big Horn 2

That is a clever custom made ballast box, for several reasons. But before exploring and congratulating you on those clever reasons...

Apologies to @RigCity for the brief thread hijack, but there is a hidden agenda behind the hijack, which will be revealed by the end of this post, if not already self-evident.

Back to Big Horn 2... before even getting into your ballast box, it looks like you have a rope handle attached to your tailgate.

Is that what I am seeing? That's not just some random bungee cord laying on top of your tailgate... that is a brilliant addition to assist in managing the mass from center of the tailgate when removing, carrying, or reinstalling it. Very Nice!

Ok, moving to the ballast box...

1. The ballast is in a large monolithic box... as opposed to tractor weights laying in the bottom of the bed, or other small weighty items that can become missiles flying toward the cab when having to stop (or involuntarily stopped by something or someone else) at highway speeds.

2. The ballast box can be forked out or shop craned out.

3. The ballast weight is concentrated AFT of axle, not on axle. The AFT of axle concentration multiplies the leverage effect of the ballast, and with Ford's leaf spring shackle design, the aft of axle weight concentration softens the ride more, with less weight needed.

Occasionally, I have obtained a chassis cab to do a few things to the bare chassis before the final upfit body is installed, and when the body manufacturer is quite some distance away from me (hundreds of miles), I have driven the chassis to the plant myself. Chassis cabs have a minimum "SUB" weight specification for traction and braking, where "SUB" stands for Second Unit Body. Like you have done, I add ballast weight to simulate minimum SUB weight when I take a bare chassis on a long trip to a body plant.



Notice that 100% of the simulated SUB weight in the form of ballast is loaded on the chassis at the tail end of the frame, aft of axle. This end of frame positioning multiplies the effect of the added weight, which means less ballast weight carried for the same desired effect... which is to make the bare chassis cab tolerable to drive for the journey. Albeit my strapped together ballast bags look pretty hokey compared to your nicely built ballast box.

Notice that the weight is NOT placed between the rear axle and the cab, because then more weight would need to be added to tame the rear suspension from bouncing. This particular unit had a 14,706 lbs Rear GAWR. I determined that 660 lbs of ballast would be sufficient and safe, and with a 204" wheelbase, would not unload the steer axle.


Which brings us back to RigCity's rig... who wants both a front AND a rear winch. To the extent that the front and rear winches are rated the same (1.5x rig weight) and thus might be the same type and brand that weigh the same, the weight of the rear winch aft of axle can cancel out the weight concentration of the front winch on the front axle.

Therefore, while the front axle may already be closer to the max Front GAWR than the rear axle is to the Rear GAWR, the distribution of the aggregate weight of both winches can possibly be rear biased, so that no overload occurs on the front axle, if permanently placed winches are desired. A winch big enough and stout enough to handle the weight of my truck and at the same time overcome the resistance that stuck the truck... I'm probably to old to lift and carry, and that could factor into my recommendation for permanently mounted winches, if winches are desired.

 

My apology to RigCity as well, the hijack wasn’t intentional. I’ll open a thread under projects for further explanation. (Post edit: Thread opened in Projects - under Lots of Mods / Health)

i hope the OP finds a winch set up he likes, absolutely worth every penny 🙂