Building a wagon to pull behind a Wheel Horse

[cleat 4,948]

I picked up this old wagon frame from work.

Front end was really low to the ground so I cut and offset the front spindles.

I had already put an offset in the tongue so now I need to take some out of it.

Rear end needs spacer plates welded in to level it.

 

 

I have started building the side and tailgate latches and hinges.

I will drill and paint them once the wood rack is built and I know how everything comes together.

 

 

[KC9KAS 4,741]

Looks like a heavy duty wagon you are putting together.

[AMC RULES 36,945]

Looks like a fun project Cleat...      

would be pretty cool adding four wheel steering too. 

[pfrederi 17,145]

I see you have a hitch on the front of your horse...good thing i would need it.   4 wheel trailers are a PIA to back up a skill i have not mastered.  Can't back up the hay wagon with the Case VAC so WH with front hitch to the rescue.

[squonk 38,905]

Neat project. I hope to build a mini haywagon out of old horse parts someday. I stink with lumber though so I've had to line up a carpenter already! 

[cleat 4,948]

I am somewhat good at backing up 4 wheeled wagons.

I grew up on a farm backing up hay wagons since I was 13 or so and actually never backed up a 2 wheeled trailer until I was in my 20's.

 

2 wheeled trailers are easier to back up for sure, this little wagon is worse than a larger hay wagon.

 

I will try out the front hitch next to see how that works.

 

[pfrederi 17,145]

44 minutes ago, squonk said:

Neat project. I hope to build a mini haywagon out of old horse parts someday. I stink with lumber though so I've had to line up a carpenter already! 

The hay wagon in my pics is a home built and I am no carpenter.  Running gear came from  an auction and is from a Model A Ford.  I helped cut most the wood at a local non-OSHA approved sawmill.

[Phil854 130]

Neat little wagon project great find!!!!

[Tankman 3,515]

I've always had an easier time backing up the longer wagons / trailers.

Can't wait to see your finished project. 

[DennisThornton 4,769]

I've got a couple larger hay wagons and a small tow behind a WH wagon and if you want a chuckle I'll record a video of me backing them up.  Sometimes I do OK and sometimes I just give up and go another way.  

 

But I'll still be watching this build 'cause I want to build a mid-sized one.  (Maybe I'll find someone else to back them up or fix a front hitch!)

[cleat 4,948]

They do sometimes get a little unruly. Just pull ahead and straighten things out then try again.

 

I think for the most part I will be going forward.

[ericj 1,576]

i learned to back up 4 wheeled wagons with a john deer 630 with a hand only clutch, and anybody that ever drove one of those old hand clutches they were a real bear, let a lone backing a 4 wheel wagon. but my wheel horse wagon is harder to back becuase you can't split the brakes and turn as sharp as a bigger farm tractor with a horse. i'll be watching this build also

 

 

 

eric j

[Kegler 68]

Nice little wagon, should be very useful. Got pretty good at backing a 4 wheel wagon but when is comes to getting into tight spaces we would turn that tractor around and use the front hitch. Makes it a lot easier to cut into tight spits.

 

[Ed Kennell 35,735]

OK all you Wheel Horse drivers,   try backing this rig into the hay barn.    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 20, 2016 by ekennell

[pfrederi 17,145]

or this

 

[Wishin4a416 2,185]

Nice project. Keep the pictures coming.

[cleat 4,948]

Removed front wheels and pulled off tires.

Got all old ugly blue paint off of the tires.

Wheels are ready to go to work to be bead blasted and painted.

 

 

[Ed Kennell 35,735]

How many remember these ?     If you made too many attempts at backing a wagon, the axle nuts turned loose and the wheels fell off.     I didn't have time to take pictures..I was in a panic to get the wheels back on before Pappy caught me.

                                                                                     

[roadapples 6,981]

2 hours ago, ekennell said:

OK all you Wheel Horse drivers,   try backing this rig into the hay barn.    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I don`t believe I could even find reverse on that rig...

[cleat 4,948]

1 hour ago, ekennell said:

How many remember these ?     If you made too many attempts at backing a wagon, the axle nuts turned loose and the wheels fell off.     I didn't have time to take pictures..I was in a panic to get the wheels back on before Pappy caught me.

                                                                                     

Those pre-date even the old wagons we had on the farm.

 

16 minutes ago, roadapples said:

I don`t believe I could even find reverse on that rig...

 Me either.

[stevasaurus 22,229]

I was 15 when I drove the old ford tractor, with 2 loaded four-wheel hay wagons to close to the conveyor for the hay-mow and almost trashed that.  Hank, my cousin's husband, through me off the tractor and backed them both up at once.  I can't even picture how he did that.  I can back up one, but having two hooked up...I was impressed.  I did not break the conveyor...would have played hell getting those bales in the barn with out it. 

[squonk 38,905]

The color of the tractor was all wrong Steve. If it was red you would have made it easy! 

[cleat 4,948]

Front wheels are now sandblasted and painted.

New tubes are also ready to replace the ugly rusty ones.

 

 

I will mount tires when the paint has cured for a while longer.

 

Now to work on the back wheels and tires.

 

[cleat 4,948]

Well, I got impatient and mounted the tires with the new tubes.

Front wheels are now complete.

 

 

[cleat 4,948]

Wagon frame has been stripped of all bolt-on components ready to have rear axle spacers welded in.

Frame will then be sanded and painted then reassembled.

Frame has been drilled for bolts to attach wood rack.