Building an ecconomical two-wheel farm wagon

[Verticaltrx]

I've long used a little 4x6 utility trailer around the farm for a variety of tasks. It was a little $300 cheapo from TSC, and while it has served me well it is both falling apart and inadequate.

Biggest drawback is it is too short at 6' long. You can't haul much firewood on a trailer that size, and most of all 8' fence posts put it way off balance. Also being a tilt trailer, the axle is centered giving no tongue weight. Lastly, it just isn't built for going through the woods, across creeks, over rough fields, etc. Every light is busted out, the wiring harness is a mess, both fenders long ago ripped off and the whole thing is slightly tweaked.

Awhile ago I found this old ad for a Ferguson 3/4 ton two-wheel farm wagon online. Looks about like what I need and very simple to build. (ad attached at bottom)

Mine will have a 45" x 97" x 14" bed (pressure treated), a frame and cross members made of 3" 4.1# channel, and a 3500lb axle. Tires will be 215/75R15s until I can get some 16" wheels for a set of 7.50-16 tires I have. It will have a pin hitch and no lights. While it won't necessarily be street 'legal' it will be highway towable and it might be used on the road between farms and such. Primary uses will be hauling firewood, fence posts, ear corn, square bales, two 4x4 round bales, and other misc stuff around the farm.


I got started on the frame tonight but didn't have my camera, so the pics will have to wait. I had all the metal already from some pallet racks that I bought for $20 CWT. Axle was one from another project that I'll have to shorten. Got a pile of 2x10-12's that I'll use for the bed that were leftovers from a fencing project. So far all I'll have to buy is some axle u-bolts, paint, hardware and a jack.

Might get a chance to work on it again tomorrow, pics forthcoming.

 

[Artisan]

Looks fun to build but consider this. I wanted a trailer recently about the same size. I went digging on Craigslist. Old Jet-Ski trailers are selling really cheap. I picked one up for 225 bux, it only had I think a 600# axle but I didn't, at the time, think I needed more. What I am getting at is there are tons of Personal Water Craft (PWC) trailers for sale for outdated, lastyears flavors of PWC trailers. There easy to modify...I cut out the 2 "u" shapped crossmembers that the bunks attached to and welded in some thinwall 2" x 2" and Viola...

Be sure to post pics whatever you do!

 

[Verticaltrx]

Looks fun to build but consider this. I wanted a trailer recently about the same size. I went digging on Craigslist. Old Jet-Ski trailers are selling really cheap. I picked one up for 225 bux, it only had I think a 600# axle but I didn't, at the time, think I needed more. What I am getting at is there are tons of Personal Water Craft (PWC) trailers for sale for outdated, lastyears flavors of PWC trailers. There easy to modify...I cut out the 2 "u" shapped crossmembers that the bunks attached to and welded in some thinwall 2" x 2" and Viola...

Be sure to post pics whatever you do!

Sounds like a good idea, but I think I need something a little heavier. Hoping to be able to haul about 3000lbs on this one.

:thumbsup:

 

[HiTechTed]

Did you ever consider getting a surplus military trailer? You can find them fairly cheap on govliquidation.com. I bought one and I use it as a dump trailer (I'll save that for another thread). Some are older, some are 80's or early 90's models. Mine is a 1968 M101A1 3/4 ton trailer but it will haul more than 3/4 ton. I won the bid on it for $430. It measures 8' long and 45" between the wheel wells. The 1.5 ton M105 trailers are longer and wider but don't dump. Depending on the site where they are being sold, they are sometimes sold in pairs and I've seen pairs go for $500. You could buy one and sell the other, or cut them up and make a pretty hefty dual axle trailer.

Mine's rusted in places but I don't care since I abuse it anyway. It had brand new tires on it when I bought it and it works like a charm. Plus it's far more durable than any of them you'll buy at a farm store, for a lot less money. And you can pull one through the woods or across a plowed field like nothing. Just a thought...

 

[kf4uda]

Did you ever consider getting a surplus military trailer? You can find them fairly cheap on govliquidation.com. I bought one and I use it as a dump trailer (I'll save that for another thread). Some are older, some are 80's or early 90's models. Mine is a 1968 M101A1 3/4 ton trailer but it will haul more than 3/4 ton.

I have one of these as well. Makes a great farm trailer. I use it for everything including hauling water with a 325 gal tank and gas pump. At the moment I am loading it up with scrap iron to haul off and sell.

 

[HiTechTed]

I have one of these as well. Makes a great farm trailer. I use it for everything including hauling water with a 325 gal tank and gas pump. At the moment I am loading it up with scrap iron to haul off and sell.

I hear you! For what I paid for mine, I just can't say enough good things about it. I have modified a couple of things that I might show in another thread because I don't want to hijack this one. I swear, I load mine down to the point where it squats and pull it all over my property. They might not work perfect in every single situation but for the small price you get a very heavy duty trailer.

 

[Verticaltrx]

Thanks for the replies. I'm mostly building this just as a fun project that will also be useful. I like the vintage style of the trailer I pictured so that was my basis. It will fit well behind my Ford NAA and also be the right size for my little 'bota.


Only had about an hour to work on it this evening, but got most of the main frame welded up and the plates for the hitch made. Having all the cross members already cut to length makes it too easy. All told it would be equal to two full sticks of channel plus about another 4'.

I'm welding the frame with my little Lincoln sp175 welder using flux core wire. I'll probably stick weld (7018) the hitch plates on as well as the axle. Drilled the hitch plates with a 1" hole saw. Top plate is 3x1/2", bottom is 3x3/8".

Attached are a few pics of the progress. The pic of the frame is what I got done yesterday. Finished welding all the cross members in today as well as the frame joint.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

You are on your way to a very nice trailer.

 

[Taylortractornut]

I have a customer that comes to thelandfill for shavings. He has a farm built trailer thats made from 4 inch pipe and an old u shaped axle. Its ballanced when I load 7 yards of shavings on it that a person cna one handed pick the tongue up. Its a neat looking trailer no suspension and has a nice stake bed on it. I like looking at the old farm trailers and wagons around.

 

[Mathias NY]

Hey! It looks like you have a pretty good plan and are making good headway. I'm actually working on a similar project right now. If I can figure out how to post pictures they will appear below.

I'm working with a 4" channel iron frame that is from a trailer my dad built 30 years ago and a front axle from a Dodge delivery van that my grandfather salvaged 40 years ago. When completed it will be a 4'x8' dump trailer, with 235/85R16 tires, and a 2" ball hitch. The dump will be cable operated and it will have 2' tall removable sides. In the pictures the tires are just set into place. I am having a welding shop make some custom rims because the originals were not salvageable.

Good luck on your project, please keep us posted on your progress.