Wiley's jeep tractor

[DT86]

I have a Topeka jeep bought off the county- which used a side mounted mower for mowing ditches. the lift for the mower and the mower head all operated off the front of a continetal red seal 4cyl. motor. It has dual 15 inch tires on the back and 4 wheel drive on the front. Large hyd. tank on back end and some serious counter weight hung under the left side of the frame to counter balance the mower. Way under powered for most tasks.

We definitely need pictures of that!

 

[BHD]

I would think a old two wheel drive truck with a second transmission in it and either change the tires or chain them and weight the rear, would be a better choice, if you can fine one with two speed low range. you may not need a second transmission, many of the ones made during the 30's and 40's the trucks were shortened up as well,

The Epitome of American Ingenuity - Doodlebugs, Scrambolas, Jitterbugs, Field Crawlers and Other Farm Rigs

https://www.google.com/search?q=Doo...ZFoHlyAGbt4DgCw&ved=0CCsQsAQ&biw=1280&bih=800

 

[bcp]

Another interesting Jeep "tractor" with 2wd and permanent low range.

the CJ-10A aircraft tow tractor:
a stock CJ-10A wagoneers.com - Copyright © 1995 - 2006 John Meister

THE Official CJ-10a thread!! - Pirate4x4.Com : 4x4 and Off-Road Forum

Bruce

 

[lhfarm]

Hello everyone. I'm new to this forum and just wanted a bit of insight from all those that are experienced. I own a 2002 Wiley's jeep and was wondering if I could modify it and run it as a tractor. I saw a couple of videos of people in the US doing it and also found out that Wiley's themselves made a tractor jeep long ago. According to some basic calculations I did, if I add a secondary reduction after the gearbox the jeep should be able to produce enough traction. So is this possible ? Or am I missing something here a. And any idea why something like this doesn't already exist ? A car or jeep that can be used to plough and till.

Thanks in advance for your response.

We get this questions now and then at our Web site. I start by saying that it certainly possible to use a modern Jeep to pull a two bottom steel wheel plow and a pull type disc. In fact, the original Farm Jeeps were designed to use drawbar implements. The 3 point hitch was an add-on not made by Willys. Right after WWII the Farm Jeep was marketed to the small farmer who was still using horses or mules and he needed to be able to use the implements he had. So if you can find some antique farm implements you can use your jeep (or most 4WD pickups) as a tractor. How well they work is another matter.

From years of talking to farmers who owned used Farm Jeeps I think there were several factors that caused Jeep to not continue the farm jeep options. The biggest change was that farming in the USA really changed in the 1950s and 60s. Farms got larger and the days of 40 acres and a mule were long gone. More powerful powerful tractors were needed to work large fields. Jeeps farm market had disappeared.

Here is a great video that shows what I'm talking about - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaVkRZL5G_c

 

[groundcover]

Sounds like he needs a Unimog !

 

[Looking4new]

I have a 2001 Jeep TJ that I use to plow/disk and cultivate a clay field with. Just make sure the clay is fairly dry. The plow is an old IH 2 bottom trip plow. The disks are a tandem set of drag disks and the cultivators were at the time of manufacture horse drawn. This Jeep is also my 'daily driver'.

 

[Sheetanshu]

Another point: Weight. A lot of traction, also known as tractive effort, is a function of weight.


You can have all the torque and horsepower you need, but if you can't hook it to the ground with a combination of wheel size, tread pattern and weight, all you'll get is wheel spin.

You also need to consider the effect of the rear suspension. Tractors have no suspension other than the cushioning effect of pneumatic tires. If you have leaf springs, some of the torque that you're trying to put on the ground to do work will result in twisting the rear end in the spring mounts and "winding up" the springs.

At the least, you'll have wheel hop. At the worst, you break the springs, universal joints or driveshaft.

None of the above is a "deal killer" you just need to think about matching your load to the amount of usable tractive effort you can generate without breaking things.

Hey thanks for replying
I realize that traction really has the biggest role to play here. And I'm honestly quite worried about my jeep rear crumbling down. And that's why i thought I'd confirm. What I probably will end up doing is just get a couple of ol and small tractor tires and modify my keep's rear end up a bit. Then try a 3 row plough with a normal draw bar hitch. Let's see how that works out.

 

[Sheetanshu]

Just curious...where did you find a "2002" Willys anything?
View attachment 352136

Hey. I'm from India. Mahindra markets the jeep here under a different name like some one else mentioned. And they obviously use a different name. But I thought id just mention that to avoid too much confusion here.

 

[bcp]

There's an old trick used in the desert with 2wd cars in the 1920's and 30's to prevent wheel hop and loss of traction.

Jack up the rear of the vehicle so the axle is hanging. Cut some wood blocks so they fit tightly between the frame and axle, and wire them in place using holes and screws. Now you have a solid rear suspension that won't bounce.

It might help in your situation.

Bruce

 

[Sheetanshu]

A neighbor has one as /pine pictured. 3pt hitch & pto & 4WD. Very cool. I don't think you'll do much plowing with a 2WD. I remember years ago as a kid seeing jeeps used on the highways mowing. Seen them set up as ditch diggers with a rear "ditch witch" style chain, and a few other "arrangements" that were odd. I think that someone posted one here that had a loader/backhoe set up a year or so ago.

Yeah jeeps have been used with all sorts of front and rear implements. Seen a bunch of pictures of those. Goes to show how absolutely marvelous that tiny thing really is.

 

[bcp]

Mahindra markets the jeep here under a different name like some one else mentioned.

Now it is the Mahindra Thar.

Affordable 4x4 SUV | Off-Road Soft Top Adventure SUV | Mahindra THAR

Bruce

 

[Sheetanshu]

I would think a old two wheel drive truck with a second transmission in it and either change the tires or chain them and weight the rear, would be a better choice, if you can fine one with two speed low range. you may not need a second transmission, many of the ones made during the 30's and 40's the trucks were shortened up as well,

The Epitome of American Ingenuity - Doodlebugs, Scrambolas, Jitterbugs, Field Crawlers and Other Farm Rigs

https://www.google.com/search?q=Doo...ZFoHlyAGbt4DgCw&ved=0CCsQsAQ&biw=1280&bih=800

Okay that was good advice. I'll probably wanna try that to see how that works out. Coz India still is in the small farm age. If foresee a small jeep with farming capabilities (although limited) working out really well for a farmer who had let's say, less than 10 acres. For an affordable cost, you get a jeep/ pick up truck and a tractor. I will look into this combination though. Thanks for that.

 

[Sheetanshu]

We get this questions now and then at our Web site. I start by saying that it certainly possible to use a modern Jeep to pull a two bottom steel wheel plow and a pull type disc. In fact, the original Farm Jeeps were designed to use drawbar implements. The 3 point hitch was an add-on not made by Willys. Right after WWII the Farm Jeep was marketed to the small farmer who was still using horses or mules and he needed to be able to use the implements he had. So if you can find some antique farm implements you can use your jeep (or most 4WD pickups) as a tractor. How well they work is another matter.

From years of talking to farmers who owned used Farm Jeeps I think there were several factors that caused Jeep to not continue the farm jeep options. The biggest change was that farming in the USA really changed in the 1950s and 60s. Farms got larger and the days of 40 acres and a mule were long gone. More powerful powerful tractors were needed to work large fields. Jeeps farm market had disappeared.

Here is a great video that shows what I'm talking about - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaVkRZL5G_c

Exactly what I had in mind. The US is at the point that the farm jeep just doesn't make sense. You canny operate that big a farm with something like the jeep. But India on the other hand, average size of a farm is around 5 acres. And The drudgery of the farmers in India is horrible to see. Oxen and hand held tractors are a pain to operate. The farm jeep would be a good solution. Which is exactly why I wanted to know about the tech. So if I enlarged the wheels, tinkered with the gearbox and maybe a put a lowers reduction and added let's say a ballast of around 200 kgs In the back .. It'd work ?

 

[Sheetanshu]

I have a 2001 Jeep TJ that I use to plow/disk and cultivate a clay field with. Just make sure the clay is fairly dry. The plow is an old IH 2 bottom trip plow. The disks are a tandem set of drag disks and the cultivators were at the time of manufacture horse drawn. This Jeep is also my 'daily driver'.

Hey thanks for the info. The clay you're operating on, is it more to the soft side or hard ? I'd be interested in knowing if there's any specific kinda soils the jeep would not be able to handle Hard soils can be difficult to plow in

 

[Sheetanshu]

Lots of photos at the "External links" at the bottom of the Wikipedia article.

Doodlebug tractor - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bruce

These doodlebugs, I couldn't find the specifications of their conversion kits online .. Any one have a clue what kinda changes they made ? Did they use a tractor power train ?

 

[Sheetanshu]

Now it is the Mahindra Thar.

Affordable 4x4 SUV | Off-Road Soft Top Adventure SUV | Mahindra THAR

Bruce

Precisely

 

[hr3]

It can be done,,

 

[coondle]

If you want a versatile road and field unit take a look at the Mercedes Benz MB Trac tractors discontinued in the 1990's and the still produced range of Mercedes Benz Unimog.
Germany following World War 2 was forbidden from making military transport vehicles, the response was the Unimog, first designed in 1945 as an agricultural tractor. But it had the capability of a tractor, 4 equal sized 4 wheel drive with a tray, a sort of truck as well as a tractor with all terrain capacity. A short history of Unimog is at: Unimog - History of an All-Rounder - YouTube
When you watch the video note the high clearance under the differentials, which are mounted up to the chassis and drive transmitted down via transfer cases on each wheel ie independent suspension
Try this as a challenge for entry and departure angles as wel as clearance between wheels: Unimog Offroading - YouTube
I could watch these unimog videos for hours and would love to have one myself, take a look at its suspension travel and extreme angles: 4Xformance9 by DF -Unimog extreme 4x4- - YouTube
The unimog morphed into the MB TRAC which could carry 2 ton behind the driver, had 3 point hitch front and back and pto front and back, full air brakes and inn Europe I believe rated to a combination of 32 tons, plus a road speed of 80 kmph (50 mph), see : MB-Trac in Sweden - YouTube
Note the tyres reversed to reduce the wear experienced on sealed roads with R1 tread agricultural tyres.
Or another sort of conversion to 4 tracks: www.lr-mad.co.uk/en/cuthbertson_tracked

 

[coondle]

The last link should read: Cuthbertson Tracked
Apologies to all

 

[Sheetanshu]

If you want a versatile road and field unit take a look at the Mercedes Benz MB Trac tractors discontinued in the 1990's and the still produced range of Mercedes Benz Unimog.
Germany following World War 2 was forbidden from making military transport vehicles, the response was the Unimog, first designed in 1945 as an agricultural tractor. But it had the capability of a tractor, 4 equal sized 4 wheel drive with a tray, a sort of truck as well as a tractor with all terrain capacity. A short history of Unimog is at: Unimog - History of an All-Rounder - YouTube
When you watch the video note the high clearance under the differentials, which are mounted up to the chassis and drive transmitted down via transfer cases on each wheel ie independent suspension
Try this as a challenge for entry and departure angles as wel as clearance between wheels: Unimog Offroading - YouTube
I could watch these unimog videos for hours and would love to have one myself, take a look at its suspension travel and extreme angles: 4Xformance9 by DF -Unimog extreme 4x4- - YouTube
The unimog morphed into the MB TRAC which could carry 2 ton behind the driver, had 3 point hitch front and back and pto front and back, full air brakes and inn Europe I believe rated to a combination of 32 tons, plus a road speed of 80 kmph (50 mph), see : MB-Trac in Sweden - YouTube
Note the tyres reversed to reduce the wear experienced on sealed roads with R1 tread agricultural tyres.
Or another sort of conversion to 4 tracks: www.lr-mad.co.uk/en/cuthbertson_tracked

Okay that's ecavtly what I've been searching for. Thank you for that. That's perfect !!! Never knew that existed. And I'm guessing the later farms and bigger requirements in the US caused it to be discontinued ?