I found here where they carry sandbags you can get a junk truck inner tube cut it in half and fill with sand and seal with 2 pieces of flat iron with bolts on both ends they use that here for traction going up hills in beds of pickups
The Collapsible water containers can be found at Walmart, REI and other stores and online for $9 to $11. At Amazon they were $10.00, buy two and find something else for $5 and the shipping is free. You could put a mixture of water & sand in them, but with water it's easy to dump the water if you pick up a passenger, and to refill if the passenger leaves. Plus you have an emergency supply of water if your caught in freezing winter storm, lost power and pipes busted (or the water well pump stops working.
Or at worst you'll have a lot of ice. lol
lonnie
Further update...
I've ridden around a bit with my two oil-drain-jug ballasts, and I like them. They seem to stay put -- no disconcerting bangs -- and the amount of weight seems right. I've got a lot more confidence going into right-hand corners that my outrigger will stay planted.
Not doing any riding now. Too cold, too much of a chance of ice on the road. We'll see if my feelings about ballast change over the next riding season.
Best,
Ed Bianchi
Delaware USA
The inner tube thing can be done with bunching and twisting the end and wrapping it tightly with bailing wire. Fill it with sand and do the other end the same.
It has several advantages. One being that it is flexible to stuff anywhere, the other is it does not have any edges to damage the body of the hack it is in from bumps and vibration.
When you stop and camp, it makes a great pillow.
Best of all, it is cheap.
Phelonius
If you're carrying sand shop around for a river bag or two. The bags are waterproof and hae a roll-top closure, so can easily be opened to add/subtract ballast. Ballast also doesn't collect...life forms...as the sand stays dry. The vinyl material is very heavy-duty and holds up well. One example would be http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___70564, there are other sizes available as well. Once in a while you can find a bargain on these at a surplus store or an online closeout marketer.
Best,
GTRider
I like lead for ballast. I use a 46 pound weight on the outside of the frame on my Harley TLE. It's right over the right spring. It's got a 1/4" steel casing with lead melted into it, It's on all of the time, with or without a passener or other load. Harley used to sell a cast iron 46# weight but they are no longer available. I used the same poundage for my lead-filled one and it's almost the same size and shape..
If you can somehow get your weight to the outside, you won't need as much weight.
I use 1/4" plates made to fit under the seat I have 5 of them Iadd or remove as needed
If i can figure out to get my dog in and out I wouldn't need the plates
They are english mastiff 180pound each one of them would do it
Build a small set of stairs for the dogs, or a ramp and do a little Mastiff training.
Lonnie.
I'm using lead shot. It comes in 25 lb heavy cloth bags and stays where you put it.
