Trailer behind tractor?

[CobyRupert]

I got this small wagon running gear from an online auction at the end of our road:

Added a few new bolts, used tires and tubes and painted it. I have just used it a couple of times to make sure I can handle it on the hills. The bed is about 3.5 x 8' and I added side stakes 2' high. It is possible to extend it a few feet but I will likely leave it at 8' because I work on narrow, winding trails. My main wood supply is at a neighbour's 1 to 2 miles away.

I have been hauling mainly 12' logs with some up to 16' logs on the new trailer. The trailer makes loading and unloading much easier. I carry or drag the logs to it and load it with the pallet forks. I also carry a set of 16.5" log tongs. Unloading the trailer is also a lot easier and safer.

How do you unload the logs? One at a time? From the side or pull them all at once from end? Do you use a grapple to unload or just have forks? It's REALLY tricky to unload multiple 16' or 24' logs with forks spaced 3'-4', especially on uneven ground when a couple get unbalanced from the rest.

I have a wagon running gear that I use (or used) for the small pine logs when I was clearing to make a pasture. (I never knew what a "bolster" was until I had to buy one)

I was selling 8' logs, which were too short to rest on wagon's axles which are spaced longer, so I would have to cut logs 16' then cut them in half at my header/ log truck pick-up station. I suppose I could of cut down the wagons main beam pole, or maybe found a way to make it adjustable (it's not). Now I just use wagon occasionally as a poor man's log truck to take the odd log(s) to a "neighbors" sawmill, so I'm glad I kept it a long length. Right now I make sure I have long enough logs to set on the bottom if I have short ones that need to ride on top. Maybe there's something I could build on the wagon if I need to move only short logs? Or just put a bed on it!

Not having a telescoping tongue on the wagon is a real pain too if you're doing all the loading/unloading with one tractor. Eventually I bought a log winch and could drag (4)-24' or 32' foot logs to the header and cut them there. Way way way faster than hitching, unhitching, loading, unloading wagon.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Every trailer and wagon I own has been behind my tractor! Even the couple of those pickup bed trailers I have...

Sometimes I even pull doubles or triples of wagons and trailers,

A trailer doesn't know what's pulling it... lol

SR

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I was selling 8' logs, which were too short to rest on wagon's axles which are spaced longer, so I would have to cut logs 16' then cut them in half at my header/ log truck pick-up station. I suppose I could of cut down the wagons main beam pole, or maybe found a way to make it adjustable (it's not).

It's called a "reach" and on most running gear these days, they are adjustable for length.. It's not hard to make them adjustable...

SR

 

[PHPaul]

Got any more info on your Pasquali tractor? Would love to see some more pictures in another thread. The Power Trac, Steiner and Ventrac owners would, too. :thumbsup:

The Story of Guido the Pasquali

Since that was written, I've sandblasted, primed and painted the wheels and mounted new sneakers.

One of the things that amazes me about that tractor is how well it starts with no glowplugs or ether in the coldest weather. Easier, in fact, than the John Deere 750 I used to have.

 

[Jstpssng]

The Story of Guido the Pasquali

Since that was written, I've sandblasted, primed and painted the wheels and mounted new sneakers.

One of the things that amazes me about that tractor is how well it starts with no glowplugs or ether in the coldest weather. Easier, in fact, than the John Deere 750 I used to have.

That looks nice, and I enjoyed reading your link. I'm not much of a painter so I have to ask; is applying paint with a broom the normal way to do it?

 

[John_Mc]

<snip

Now THAT Polar trailer is on nice little trailer. Ideal for 'round-the-farm' use. But, for $700, I probably won't be buying one. I'll just have to continue using my old Snowco snowmobile trailer. Thanks for your post though - very informative.

Current price on Northern Tool is $570 with free shipping, if you are part of their "Advantage" club. The walking arm suspension is great on rough terrain, but it does drive the price up. If you don't need that, the Polar Model# 8233 is the same trailer with just a single axle. Northern Tool sells this for $400, and it does go on sale from time-to-time. You can add the tandem axle modification at any time, just another pair of wheels and an assembly that mounts where the single wheel mounts now.

As mentioned, I don't consider this a "tractor-sized" trailer. It's too light duty to get the most out of even a compact tractor like mine. It does run rings around the Rubbermaid trailer I was using behind my Coot. I've lent it to a friend to use behind his Polaris UTV, and he found it a good match for that.

If you are looking for a trailer for an ATV or smaller tractor I do think the Woodland Mills Woodland ATV Trailer that Redhead linked is a much nicer trailer for a smaller tractor - however, it runs roughly 3 times as much as the Polar trailer, so it ought to be better. (Woodland Mills offers two trailers: the Woodland ATV trailer and the T-Rex trailer. Of the two, I prefer the Woodland trailer, since it can dump its full rated 2000#. The T-Rex can carry 2000# but only dump a 650# load - however it adds a loading boom.)

 

[MossRoad]

The Story of Guido the Pasquali

Since that was written, I've sandblasted, primed and painted the wheels and mounted new sneakers.

One of the things that amazes me about that tractor is how well it starts with no glowplugs or ether in the coldest weather. Easier, in fact, than the John Deere 750 I used to have.

Very cool and thanks! :thumbsup:

 

[grnspot110]

One I built mostly from parts on hand:

 

[Aquamoose]

Mine was a former 1953 utility 3 ton trailer. I couldn’t overload it if I tried!

Word of caution with trailers, use the drawbar, not the 3ph to pull with!

 

[PHPaul]

That looks nice, and I enjoyed reading your link. I'm not much of a painter so I have to ask; is applying paint with a broom the normal way to do it?

For some folks, apparently. I think the guy's only tool was a Crescent Hammer too...:laughing: