Anyone doing a hay ride?

[gladehound]

Hi all, just set up my trailer for my first annual hay ride. Below are some pictures. All the kids had a great time. Weight was distibuted about 50/50 on the tractor wheels versus the trailer wheels (with 9 kids & 10 adults) with about 30% of the total weight on the tractor's rears. With this weight distribution it stopped easily in 2wd even down a slight hill on gravel. I was very pleased with how easily the little tractor handled this big trailer. I think high tongue weight is the key to control with a big trailer and little tractor.

1st pic - my family in the tailer after I set it up.
2nd pic - side shot of trailer.

 

[gladehound]

Wanted to add that I'd like to see other peoples set ups.

 

[rgood]

Hey, I mean Hay, that's a nice setup !

 

[RoyJackson]

I don't do hayrides (no trailer) but I made my decision to buy a tractor when I was on a hayride. Well, I sure was motivated by all those Deere UT's in the parking lot!
In southcentral PA, there is an annual Halloween hayride/tour of Rehmeyer's Hollow which is the location of a "witch" being murderd in 1927 (give or take a year). A local volunteer firehall (Winterstown) does this as a fund raiser. Should be a good one this year due to the brisk nights and tree finally turning.

Great pics, Ron!! Where abouts in PA are you?

 

[RollTideRam]

I did one Saturday night. Of course I did not get any pics, and we did not have enough hay. This was the first time I have pulled a hay ride with my tractor. It was all my tractor wanted with the two small hills I had to climb on the route. We had about 7 adults and 10 kids on my 22' trailer. It was chilly but fun. I once pulled a 40' cotton trailer for a hay ride, want do that again. JC

 

[Tororider]

We also had a hayride on Saturday night, and we too didn't get any pictures I don't think, although I should ask the wife if she took any, I was too busy driving tractor and grilling hot dogs. If I have any I will post them.

I just used my old landscape utility trailer with sides on it, was a bit narrow, but worked out great. Took 8 bales and everyone seemed to have fun.

 

[gladehound]

Roy - I'm in South East PA, in Lower Frederick Township, near Schwanksville. If you made a triangle with Reading, Allentown and King of Prussia, I would be in the middle fo the triangle.

RollTideRam - I was worried about not having enough hay as well but It worked out perfect and I wouldn't change the amount of hay (actually used straw not hay). I used 9 bails. I left 8 as bails to sit on and took one appart and spread it around. Halfway through the second hay ride of the night, an adult pushed a kid into the pile of loose straw in the middle. This sparked an all out straw war between about 5 of the kids (2-5 yrs old). I looked back and straw was flying everywhere. It really looked fun. The 2 yr old is mine. She is unbelievably agressive and I hear she was getting the better of a 3 yr old boy. My wife says I'm a bad influence on her. She's probably right

My trailer deck is only 14 x 7, but with bails around the parimeter and 3 foot sides as back rest there was plenty of room for adults to sit and monitor the youngsters playing in the middle. I actually got a request to do another hay ride for Thanksgiving and to make it longer.

I can't lie, more engine would have been nice. Our loop included about 1/2 mile of paved road where I brought the speed up to about 7 mph (1800 RPM in top gear). The combo weighed around 8-9K. Even the slightest hill would force a down shift to maintain speed. Glad my trany is syncronized. Off the road I had plenty of power at 1600-1800 rpm because the speeds and gears were lower. I hear of some guys just idling along, that would be nice, but not in the cards with a 19hp tractor and a 8-9K combo.

 

[2manyrocks]

I'm glad to see those side rails on your trailer.

My daughter went on a hayride last week on a farm trailer with no rails. My wife went and held onto her. The guy that put on the hayride is an insurance agent who ought to know better. I've decided I'm going to have to tell my daughter from now on ---no rails --no riding.

 

[RobJ]

Hay rides, floats, and this December I'm taking a carolling group around. Always lots of fun.

And your pics!!

 

[heymack]

We did a haunted hayride this past weekend at a neighbor's party and will do a trick-or-treat hayride tomorrow going door to door. My kids have done both city and country trick-or-treating and prefer the country version hands down.

 

[SLOBuds]

Someone on National Public Radio this morning said that he does an all-out 'haunted farm' thing which makes bunches of more money than growing corn.

He's got this massive thing going which now involves 180 employees, half of which are 'actors.'

 

[Soundguy]

I do one a couple times a year. i pull a 16' car hauler with electric brakes behind my Ford 5000. No stopping or weight problems encountered.

I string xmas tree lamps all over it and use an inverter to run them.. kids and the adults have a blast..

nice pics, good memories

Soundguy

 

[jsborn]

I am doing one tonight for our church as part of the towns Fall Festival. I am pulling my 18ft equip trailer with my L4400. I don't think I will have any stopping or pulling problems either but I did have to get an insurance policy to cover the church and myself. This is a new twist but I guess with today's lawyer happy society it is probably for the best. we will be leaving the church and traveling thorough the downtown streets (closed off for festival) and around the city cemetery and back to the start point.

I hope we will have a good turnout and some fun for the kids and adults.

 

[gladehound]

Jack - what kind of insurance did you get. My homeowners doesn't cover me as soon as the tractor leaves my property. The hay ride I did goes off my property and on the road some. I was thinking of making it annual. So I was thinking about insurance. I would hate to make friends sign a waiver but it seems like that is the direction this world is going.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

The closest I got to a hay ride was between the gate at the front of my place to the haystack at the back when I was bringing the last of the hay home for the horses. It was all of about 100 yards.

I stopped to open the gate and the kids piled out of the truck and onto the trailer. There were my two oldest and my friend who was helping me put his four up there too. All of the kids were 8 and younger.

I was pulling my 14' trailer with my truck. No stopping problems, and I had plenty of horsepower. I'm sure I also had plenty of hay, about 50 bales.

As short as the ride was, the kids loved it. They laughed and giggled the whole way. It did get me thinking about doing a real hayride, though. I like Soundguy's idea with the lights.

 

[jsborn]

Jack - what kind of insurance did you get. My homeowners doesn't cover me as soon as the tractor leaves my property. The hay ride I did goes off my property and on the road some. I was thinking of making it annual. So I was thinking about insurance. I would hate to make friends sign a waiver but it seems like that is the direction this world is going.

It was a liability policy for a wildly high amount that covered me ,my equipment and the Church. It was written for a time period of 4 hours and the route of the hayride was spelled out in the policy. The Church covered the cost so I can't help with that info.

I love what we have become

But with all that we had a great time with no problems and I think God was pleased with the turn out.

 

[PineRidge]

My neighbor did his thing a week ago. Because he has such a large trailer and 29 kids were expected to attend he thought it best to pull the load with his RAM truck instead of using his tractor. He had 3 adults in the bed of the pickup watching the kids along with an adult on the trailer itself. They circled our property 3 times driving over the dam. It was easy the next day to see exactly where they had been the night before because of the hay trail left by the kids. Everyone had a good time.

 

[RobJ]

I love what we have become

Man you said it....a 4 hour insurance policy? And hauling around a bunch of Church people to.

Rob

 

[Rara Avis]

Man you said it....a 4 hour insurance policy? And hauling around a bunch of Church people to.

Rob

The Washington Cathedral has to have a similar one day policy during its yearly open house...because people have access to the bell tower...


If you are ever in DC during the event...it is worth the visit...
Washington National Cathedral Open House - The Metro Christian Social Meetup Group (Washington, DC) - Meetup.com

 

[Tororider]

Here are those pictures, my wonderful wife did get some while I was busy having fun on the tractor.

I am the good looking guy in the Tractor Supply coat locking the gate.

No problems with weight or anything, as you can see it is a pretty small trailer, had it from a landscaping company I used to have. It rained for a few days before so I was a little worried about up inclines, but no problems at all. Was able to cram people in and did 3-4 rides so it was fun for me.

I think I will make some more trails next year for a longer ride.