Ballast Location and types

[Gregg]

The spare tire (which may be removed) only weighs 50lbs? You folks in MiDiv aren't trying hard enough.

Regardless, the ST ballast rules are considerably different than IT.

[Greg Amy]

The spare tire (which may be removed) only weighs 50lbs? You folks in MiDiv aren't trying hard enough.

Be careful...I've had Tech ask me to remove my spare a few times, just to check for water and/or concrete. It didn't bounce when he tried (no pressure) but there was air inside...

Queue IT nerd discussions regarding "air" being freely replaced with something else...like nitrogen. Or water. Or concrete. Review "unintended function" reg first, please... - GA

[OUBob]

That ballast certainly isn't secured properly.

[Greg Amy]

That ballast certainly isn't secured properly.

The spare? If that's the way it came from the factory, then it's compliant to the regs even if it's just an 1/8" bolt. Not smart, but compliant because technically it's not "ballast", it's the spare that's allowed to remain.

When I chose to leave the spare in my ITA car I added a 1/2" bolt through one of the wheel holes to tie it through the floor. After arguing with a scrutineer regarding leaving the spare in (he eventually concurred that it's allowed) he started to get me for non-compliant ballast (the bolt weighs something). I pointed out to him that one, hardware is free, so I "can" replace the factory tie-down bolt with something sturdier and two, did he really want to force me to leave a ~25# mini-spare back there when secured with only a cheap-grade 1/8" bolt? He gave in. - GA

[jumbojimbo]

That ballast certainly isn't secured properly.

It could be bolted, but I see a ratchet strap. If the ratchet strap is needed then it shouldn't be passing tech.

[gran racing]

In my previous B car, I put a bulkhead that closed off the exposed trunk. Spoke with Topeka's primary tech guy before doing it and he agreed it met the rules. It was a nice way to add some weight in the back of the car - I mean add to the safety.

[Gary L]

As some have guessed, the tire was full of something besides air. Sand, to be precise, 50 lbs of it. The spare (full of nothing but air) weighed 37 lbs.

The spare was bolted to the car using one of the lug holes and an added bolt & nut. The stock setup was a ratchet strap, although it may have been black as opposed to red.

Yes... this was my car, as purchased. Also FWIW, I just so happened to agree with Greg A (and still do), so I removed the sand based on the "prohibited function" clause.

[AE86ITA]

Great stories folks, KEEP'EM COMING!!! also pictures of correctly placed and stacked ballasts.