My Carryall Saga...

[oliver28472]

Does anyone know of some good online retailers to get the lynch pins and the top link pin from?

This stuff is pretty common at any decent hardware store.

 

[milkman]

Yeah, after reading on here, I'm planning to go with the 2x8's.

I used 5/4 treated deck boards on both of mine, cheaper, saves a little weight and is tough enough to take whatever I throw at it.

 

[CompactTractorFan]

Most any wood will work, however, the 2x8's will be much more durable and can take a licking and keep on ticking.

If you want to spend your money once...go with 2x8's.

I made the mistake of using 1x12 pine boards. I have found that the boards will crack and chip at the grain of the wood.

Definately use 2x8's. Pressure treated if you can afford it.

It is a good attachment to have. I have used mine for things I never thought I would. Like carrying an old porch floor to the burn pile.

Though a carryall is light in weight, I do find it to be a bugger to hook up to the 3pt. hitch. I'd rather hook up my snowblower.

Thanks! I am planning on going with the 2x8's...

 

[CompactTractorFan]

Another thing you might consider is to just use pallets. You can nail a piece of plywood to the top and have a smooth, flat surface.

If you use 2x8s the Carryall will be tied up only for things you can carry on it.

With pallets you can have different things on each pallet, build them for special tasks (like firewood hauling), pre-load them for quick use later, etc. It is a much more flexible solution.

The pallets will eventually splinter and break so then you get another fresh pallet and use it until it is destroyed.

How would you do this? I don't think there is enough clearance to use them like forks.

 

[CompactTractorFan]

AgriSupply should have everything you need.

Agri Supply - Farm Supplies, Tools, Lawn Mower Blades, Cast Iron Cookware

Yes, I get their catalog. I think I might order from there.

 

[CompactTractorFan]

This stuff is pretty common at any decent hardware store.

Yeah, I just was thinking that the hardware store down the street might have them...

 

[/pine]

Most feed stores have tractor pins...and some auto parts stores also have them...

get carriage bolts to fasten your boards...don't drill the holes too big so the bolts spin....

If you have a hydraulic toplink...the carryall will double as a "dumping" platform...Honestly...without a HTL the carryall will not be nearly as useful...I've carried many things that needed to be tilted back to steady...I've also needed to tilt it up in the back to make it easy to slide a piece of equipment on...either one having to use a manual toplink would be a chore....IMO a HTL makes a carryall a much more dynamic attachment...

if you plan on painting it to match your tractor be sure to take all the stickers off and rub it with course steel wool...

 

[CompactTractorFan]

Most feed stores have tractor pins...and some auto parts stores also have them...

get carriage bolts to fasten your boards...don't drill the holes too big so the bolts spin....

If you have a hydraulic toplink...the carryall will double as a "dumping" platform...Honestly...without a HTL the carryall will not be nearly as useful...I've carried many things that needed to be tilted back to steady...I've also needed to tilt it up in the back to make it easy to slide a piece of equipment on...either one having to use a manual toplink would be a chore....IMO a HTL makes a carryall a much more dynamic attachment...

if you plan on painting it to match your tractor be sure to take all the stickers off and rub it with course steel wool...

We don't have a hydraulic toplink or a SCV so that's not an option...I'm not planning on painting it right now.

 

[Just2quickz28]

I would go with 5/4 pressure treated decking material. Over that span on the carry all it would cut down on added weight and be plenty durable for use.

Figure that a 2x8 is more than twice the amount of lumber as a 5/4 x 6 decking. Plus at the big box home improvement stores the decking will cost less per foot than the 2x8.

 

[Freds]

Interesting. I just get mine made, patterning it off of the TSC Countryline, and I noticed they rotated the top horizontal angle iron 45 degrees to get the toplink attachment point vertical. Either that or the way I fabricated my carry all is the new design.

Anyway, sounds like quite the adventure. Driving around ain't cheap anymore. I called my local TSC and asked them if they had something in stock a month ago and they had no clue what I was even talking about. They are not the same store as when they first opened, that's for sure. At least around here.