Hay wagon, drawbar question

[Laminarman]

Dumb question here: I bought the 4,000 lb running gear to make a hay wagon for rides for my kids and light duty tasks. I notice the bar to pull the wagon has one of those wimpy little holes like on ATV implements, not a large one the size of my drawbar pin. Do I cut and weld on a larger piece, do I "ream" out this hole larger, do I use a bushing to take up space, or do I just it slop around (which I don't want to do). Thanks for the help.

 

[slowzuki]

It is smaller so when the wagon twists compared to your tractor there is room for the pin to twist without twisting the drawbar of the wagon or tractor.

Most will take a 5/8" or 3/4" pin.

 

[beenthere]

From your description I cannot tell if you are talking about the tongue of the trailer you purchased, or the drawbar on your tractor that you have.

Which is 'wimpy'?

When you state ""the bar to pull the wagon"" that implies the drawbar on the tractor and not the tongue on the wagon. Just confusing to me, and maybe not to others. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Laminarman]

Sorry guys, let me clarify. The bar coming from the wagon (the tongue?) has an opening which is noticeably smaller than the opening on my draw bar. If I put a pin in that fits that hole on the tongue (same size as a garden tractor or ATV implement) it really only fills part of the hole on the drawbar. So consequently there's a lot of "slapping" going on. Hope this helps. I'd measure them but I'm at work now.

 

[firtol88]

Pictures might be nice. I would like to see what you found since I'm looking for the same thing for the same use. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I would likely weld a ball hitch on and get a 3 point receiver hitch.

 

[Laminarman]

I appreciate your idea of welding a ball on, and may look further into that. Still, it bugs me if this is supposed to be like this. Call me ****, or challenged.

 

[PineRidge]

Here's another idea that may work for you. If you add a receiver tube to your draw-bar you can slide any attachment into it that you like. And unlike a 3-point mounted hitch it won't ride up and down when you don't want it to.

 

[KenVT]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( It is smaller so when the wagon twists compared to your tractor there is room for the pin to twist without twisting the drawbar of the wagon or tractor.

Most will take a 5/8" or 3/4" pin. )</font>

This is the reason for the slopiness....

One way to get rid of it would be to weld a regular trailer tongue on the end of the hay wagon, and put a ball on the tractor...

http://abctrailerparts.com/straightcouplers.html
Just an idea

adding some chains to the tongue for safety would also be a good Idea.
Ken

 

[slowzuki]

It really isn't a big deal folks, just about every hay wagon in the world is like this. Just use the largest pin that fits the wagon tongue. It can't be tight the tractor pin hole or it will bend something.

 

[Laminarman]

<font color="blue">It really isn't a big deal folks </font>

It is a big deal to me, isn't that what this forum is about? So I'm clueless, but I bet there are thing I know that you don't....so there.

 

[KenVT]

It is a big deal to me, isn't that what this forum is about? So I'm clueless, but I bet there are thing I know that you don't....so there.
)</font>

Totally true.....

But I am a firm believer that 'ignorance is bliss'

I know a lot of Happy people /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Keith_B]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( It is a big deal to me, isn't that what this forum is about? So I'm clueless, but I bet there are thing I know that you don't....so there.
)</font>

Totally true.....

But I am a firm believer that 'ignorance is bliss'

I know a lot of Happy people /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif )</font>

Get a drawbar for your 3pt hitch. The holes in the drawbar will more closely match the pin size for the wagon.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Ken is right, it is not a big deal (in other words, it is nothing you should be loosing sleep over).

Another thing about the drawbar hole being larger then the tounge hole is that it makes it easier to line up and put a pin thru. You will not notice the little bit of slap that is in it and the only time you will notice it is when you first take off. No matter what hitch set up you go with there is always going to be some slap as you can't make it fit tight and still have it work properly without binding.

The nice thing about this board is that you learn things and not get upset and try to put others down if they tell you something you don't know. Take care

 

[KiotiJohn]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">(
Get a drawbar for your 3pt hitch. The holes in the drawbar will more closely match the pin size for the wagon. )</font>
If you do go with one of these horizontal drawbars, keep in mind that you need to stabilize it against twisting while the trailer is being towed. It hooks onto your hitch arms and without a drawbar brace, can cause some problems with towing.
John

 

[slowzuki]

I didn't mean to put anyone down /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif just that people are thinking too hard on the problem when responding.

<font color="red"> The pin is not meant to fit tight to the tractor drawbar </font>

Even if the wagon drawbar has the same size hole as the tractor drawbar, you are supposed to use a smaller pin so it won't bind when going up or down hills or when the tractor or wagon tire drop into a hollow.

You don't need a ball, and you don't want a 3 point hitch drawbar unless the have it sway and raise braced.

The hitch should be rigid so if the wagon trys to push you down a hill the drawbar can't sway or jump into the air throwing your tractor around.

 

[Indydirtfarmer]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Dumb question here: I bought the 4,000 lb running gear to make a hay wagon for rides for my kids and light duty tasks. I notice the bar to pull the wagon has one of those wimpy little holes like on ATV implements, not a large one the size of my drawbar pin. Do I cut and weld on a larger piece, do I "ream" out this hole larger, do I use a bushing to take up space, or do I just it slop around (which I don't want to do). Thanks for the help. )</font>

That's sort of the "nature" of a drawbar/tongue/pin hitch. They need some "slop" to prevent binding when you run over any irregularities in the ground you're driving on. In any event, I wouldn't try to get a "machined fit" with that sort of hitch. If it does truely worry you, I'd suggest what others have said, and use a ball hitch. (Hitch "slapping" can get a little un-nerving when using a wagon to transport people....)

(And a nickels worth of free advice.... Don't get upset with folks on here when the give "their opinion". You asked for it, and they just gave it to you as they see it. Also, most everyone on here throws in a little humor/sarcasm from time to time. No need to take everything to heart)

Hope you enjoy TBN! I sure do!

Bill

 

[Wannafish]

"Also, most everyone on here throws in a little humor/sarcasm from time to time."

Not me! I'm told I HAVE no sense of humor... /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

BTW Indy, did you get you're plowing finished?

 

[Laminarman]

I re read my post earlier, and certainly didn't take offense. I can see how my post made it sound like I was ticked off. Not true. Anyone who knows me personally knows I really don't give a crap what others think of me! So sorry to make it sound like that, and I do enjoy this board, and my question has been answered. I was just alarmed and somewhat uneasy about the slapping when pulling along little kiddies and merely wanted to know if it was the normal setup. Thanks again all.

 

[Indydirtfarmer]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( "Also, most everyone on here throws in a little humor/sarcasm from time to time."

Not me! I'm told I HAVE no sense of humor... /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

BTW Indy, did you get you're plowing finished? )</font>

GOT-ER-DONE..... Took the digital camera with me, only to find out the battery needed charging.... /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Also lost my wedding band while plowing..... /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Wife thinks it's some sort of sign from above....I just think it means I'm spending a couple hundred peso's for a new band..... /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif