James,
Thanks for the tips.
Joshua, things I would do different, after 2 years.. I would put in at least 1 more 2 inch pipe for tools. or maybe a 3 inch.
I'm kind of torn on this. On the one hand, I see the advantage. On the other hand, my property is relatively small and I seldom need to tractor around hand tools like that. I just walk up and get them from the barn, or toss them in the bucket. But maybe this is one of those things that once you have it, you don't know how you got along without it. And once the cement is poured, there's no going back to change your mind later.
I would put more scrap steel or scrap lead in the bottom for more weight. I have 750 lbs.. I could use 350 more.
I haven't got any scrap steel or lead laying around, so I would have to acquire it. I can see, though, that a full 55 gallon drum (without any tool tubes) would get to around 850 lbs (at 15 lbs a gallon for Portland). My manual recommends a rear
ballast weight of 880 lbs without loaded tires, but I bet that a little more would be better to take some of that load off the front axle. Where can a guy get scrap lead from easily?
I use the 2 inch reciever for my sprayer
I am contemplating just sticking a ball mount in the back of the barrel, since I have an extra one of those laying around, and it would be nice to drag the trailer around without having to hitch up the big truck. Not sure if I am motivated enough to buy a 2" receiver... although it would be nice to have the variety, and they're only $20 or so.
on the top link connection I took angle Iron scrap and drilled holes to fit the draw-bar I had run thru the barrel and then drilled holes for the toplink pin and used bolts to the draw-bar..
I am not sure I am picturing this correctly. The angle iron scrap went all the way down the barrel and connected to the draw-bar?
The only welding I did on the barrel was some rebar cross braces to the 2 inch receiver I put in the back. to get that welded to the drawbar.. Welding with your head in a barrel is not fun. You might find a way to avoid even that much if you wanted a 2 inch receiver in the back ( I use mine all the time) by using all thread to bolt thru extra holes in the draw-bar.. The key is the premade draw-bar having all those extra holes in it.
I think I see where you are going. Drill an extra hole in the receiver tube and then bolt it to the draw-bar that goes through the barrel, to keep the tube from pulling out.
Thanks for the input, James and everybody else. This is really helpful.