Towing running gear with pickup

[Sawyer Rob]

Are you talking about a long wagon frame? I had a friend tow this horst 12 ton running gear made into a trailer with his half ton as I drove a Dakota!

I also have one Horst running gear... It tows perfectly, Horst are made in Canada and of VERY good quality…

SR

 

[oosik]

I bought brand new ten ton Horst running gear to build my farm wagon. It was not assembled - so it was just, load the pieces in the pickup and drive the 320 miles home. The build was fun. I seem to remember something in the Horst OP Manual - "not recommended for speeds over 25mph".

Anyhow - here is my green farm wagon. The color is the result of a few cans all mixed together.


View attachment 583876

 

[Industrial Toys]

I think it's more a matter of whether you think you can stop, excercising common sense of course, more than how well it might tow. And that also encompassses road conditions. We have a freezing rain warning here today. I would not tow anything if I had the choice today, even with brakes! A friend builds wagon racks for large trailers and pulls many running gear only and completed wagons a long way with his F350.

This is how I got my Horst Running Gear Home. As Johny Cash Would say "I went right to the factory, it's cheaper that way"

 

[Farmer495]

If it's just the gear, separate at gear pole and load on pick up. If you do tow, check there isn't 50 PSI or something crazy in the tires or they will bounce like a ball over any bumps.

I've towed wagons (running gear plus body) 55 MPH no issue, another one would pull perfect behind tractor at 20 MPH, but would jump violently a 35 MPH behind a truck.

I pulled a silage wagon I bought 25 miles behind pickup, did 40 MPH no issue, 50 MPH it would sway and since it was a box..it would start to get tipsy.

 

[MHarryE]

Towed a gravity box with that type running gear 450 miles 2 years ago. It has used truck tires so speed not an issue. Depending on the road it was 15 mph to 55 mph. This year bought a used hay rack 100 miles away and it also towed without sway. Farmer had installed used light truck tires so again no speed issue. Nice thing with the large truck tires is the load capacity is huge and I have an unlimited supply from our county highway department as they change out at 50% and want to get rid of them.

 

[Wood_Butcher_Dav]

Since some of you own these types of wagons, how is your experience with these backing up? I can back a car or cargo trailer with no problems, but the double pivot points on them farm wagons, forget backing any more then a few feet.

Dave

 

[CobyRupert]

Since some of you own these types of wagons, how is your experience with these backing up? I can back a car or cargo trailer with no problems, but the double pivot points on them farm wagons, forget backing any more then a few feet.

Dave

Same logic and actions as backing a trailer (but with different responses): Just move the tongue in the (left-right) direction it needs to go!!......just like if you were pushing it by hand. Anybody can do that right?


It only gets really tricky when your backing a wagon up that's hooked behind another one, or behind a baler, chopper etc... Then one can only go a couple lengths before the S.H.T.F.

Obviously tongue length plays a part, just like with trailers. I was also going to say the turning radius of the vehicle you're doing the backing with plays a big part in how tight you can turn when backing a wagon, but I don't think this is 100% true (say 98%), but it does effect how fast (shortest distance) you can make reactions.

 

[pmsmechanic]

Since some of you own these types of wagons, how is your experience with these backing up? I can back a car or cargo trailer with no problems, but the double pivot points on them farm wagons, forget backing any more then a few feet.

Dave

We learned to back these wagons up as kids. A tractor was easy but my uncle taught us how to back up using a 1 ton truck. Just move the top of the steering wheel the same direction the wagon moves in the mirror. We could back up 30 - 40 feet without too much trouble.

 

[LouNY]

Same logic and actions as backing a trailer (but with different responses): Just move the tongue in the direction it needs to go!!......just like if you were pushing it by hand. Anybody can do that right?

It only gets really tricky when your backing a wagon up that's hooked behind another one, or behind a baler, chopper etc... Then I can only go a couple lengths before the S.H.T.F.

Obviously tongue length plays a part, just like with trailers. I was also going to say the turning radius of the vehicle you're doing the backing with plays a big part in how tight you can turn when backing, but I don't think this is 100% true. But it does effect how much space you need to get to and recover from the minimum turning radius that the wagon allows (if that makes sense).

It can get interesting!!!!!

I have always found that the shorter and tighter turning the tow vehicle is the easier to back up.
The big 4wd tractors can't correct as easy as a shorter tight turning 2wd,
the 2 easiest tractors I've used to backup with have been the Farmall 560's with the narrow front ends and
the Ford 8000 which has the set back front axle.

 

[CobyRupert]

It can get interesting!!!!!

I have always found that the shorter and tighter turning the tow vehicle is the easier to back up.
The big 4wd tractors can't correct as easy as a shorter tight turning 2wd,
the 2 easiest tractors I've used to backup with have been the Farmall 560's with the narrow front ends and
the Ford 8000 which has the set back front axle.

Another reason to have brake steering! (-as asked on other threads)