How do I build a people carrier??

Laminarman · Dec 5, 2003

I have a NH TC40D (taking delivery soon) and am interested in making a people mover to have some family fun. I don't have a horse, so I figured pulling a small sleigh in the snow with padded seats would be fun. Also, if I could convert it into a wheeled wagon for the same purpose that would be fun. Any ideas?? I live in upstate NY so we do get snow and that would be my primary desire if I could only do one "vehicle". I do have a MIG welder, so doing some cuttin' and grindin' is ok.

RonR · Dec 5, 2003

If I were doing it, here's what I would try:

Design or buy a simple two wheel trailer that could be used as a utility trailer. Think you can buy a lightweight trailer for about $250, like at harbor Frt, etc.
Buying it saves you the time and trouble to build the trailer part.

You could easily add some bench seats to this, for family comfort.

I would add some bolt on skid plates for the snow that would ride 4-6" above the ground, so you could leave the wheels on and the skids would hold the weight when it was snowing.
Make them bolt to the bed of the trailer, just inside the wheel spacing, and they could be removed for non-winter use.

End result, you have a utility trailer, a snow sled, and a summer people mover as well.

When you get it built, pls post some pics!
Ron

slowrev · Dec 5, 2003

I have a couple of old Jeep rear bench seats that I screw down in a 4X8 utility trailer for the family reunions and such.

RobS · Dec 5, 2003

Congrats on your new tractor! I've been shopping for a haywagon to handle the people moving chores around our place. Not a big one but an older, smallish one. Something with some character. We had a halloween party but didn't have the haywagon so I pulled my flatbed carhauler trailer. Put some hay bales on for seating. Everyone had a good time, but it is too wide for my trails and just doesn't have that "character".

Haywagons have a high deck though. For easier entry I've seen old flare-side wagons used. The rear is opened up for entry, the floor is lower than a hay wagon and you can put benches along each side at the flare.

I wouldn't bother with sleigh runners. Any snow your tractor can get through, a wheeled wagon/trailer will too. If you had horses, it would be a different story /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

beenthere · Dec 5, 2003

I would avoid the use of a rope or chain to pull a sleigh, as it can catch up to the tractor and get tangled in the wheels easily.

The suggested idea of a wagon or trailer with a stiff tongue would be my preference. Regardless, there is some danger involved in sports like this. There is a tendancy to wanting to go too fast and trying to whip the people off into the snow. Most of the time, it works just fine.

/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Soundguy · Dec 6, 2003

Like someone else mentioned.. The pre-built or trailer kits sound like a good idea. Someone already sat down and did load enfgineering on them.. takes ~some~ of the liability off your shoulders.. adding fixed seats sounds neat too.

First thing I would do is up the umbrella coverage on your homeowners plan....

A terrible though.. but in our litegous world.. if you don't think about it someone else's lawyer will.

I at one time planned to offer hay rides at halloween to the neighborhood kids, using my antique tractors and a prefabbed trailer.. bales of hay etc... I have fond memories of this as a child...after I thought about it for a moment.. I popped back into reality...

On the other hand.. we already did rais our homeowners INS due to the fact we have some large livestock.. namely long horn cows, and horses.. cya all the way.

Soundguy

have_blue · Dec 6, 2003

( Any ideas??)

Only thing that crosses my mind is height. Make the sleigh/trailer as low as practical. It's much safer, and more fun riding down low. The snow seems to whiz by even when going slowly.

rdam · Dec 7, 2003

(

I have fond memories of this as a child...after I thought about it for a moment.. I popped back into reality...

Soundguy )

What a shame. I remember taking hay rides on a pumpkin farm on Long Island when I was a kid. It's sad that the thought even crosses our mind.

Tractors4u · Dec 7, 2003

I was at an antique tractor show back in August and one guy was pulling an old old old manure spreader that he had completely refurbished and added two rows of seats in it. The first thing that came to mind was "Hey a politician carrier!"
Everytime I saw it he had it full of people pulling them around with his old John Deere. I have a picture around here somewhere. When I find it I will post it.

RonR · Dec 7, 2003

My fondest memory of tractors as a kid:

When I was in 1st grade, we had a slumber part with 2 other boys at Brad's house. Brad's dad farmed (I was the city kid) and had a ?? tractor and loader. That evening, his dad put us in the bucket and hauled us around the yard, raising us WAY UP in the air and then jiggling the bucket lever like he was going to dump us. It was tremendous fun for us.

It was one of my first nice tastes of being around a tractor.

Of course, in retrospect, I realize HOW DANGEROUS that was! I wouldn't think of putting mine or other kids in a bucket and moving them around.........

I'll always remember Mr. Evans for that fun ride though! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif