hay wagon, will it work for firewood?

[jimmysisson]

I'm trying to figure out how to get in firewood in ~12' lengths, from my woodlot about 1/2 mile downhill to the barn. My tractor setup might weigh 7000 lbs, so I would not want to carry much more than that. Is an ag wagon (4 wheels, steerable front, X frame, usually for stacked hay, etc.), of big enough capacity, able to be modified for that use? I imagine 4, maybe 6, 3" pipes vertical for stakes, 6x6 wood bunks crossways for logs to rest on and to leave room for forks/grapple, and a place to tie down with chains. I imagine loading and unloading with a bucket grapple or similar tool.
I have no experience with this style trailer. Are the physical mods possible? And would it be hopelessy cumbersome to turn around, etc. I have a fairly large flat landing in the woods.
The road up the hill is rough, not too steep. Would a loaded wagon push the tractor around? Ford 2120, mfwd, ag tires, good brakes.
Thanks for any insights.
Jim

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Easy answer is if you put too much weight on the trailer it will push the 2120 down hill. And if it is wet and muddy it won't take too much weight to push it.

All you really need to do in order to use the running gear for a log wagon is pull any bed that is on it off and put your uprights on the gear itself. If you fab the uprights up like on commercial units so once you clear the wheels it can get wider. Then again, Just piling wet longs straight up will put quite a bit of weight on the wagon for when you go down hill.

Of you could look into a commercial log wagon for forwarding logs out of the woods. It hooks up to the drawbar of your tractor and has a boom with a grapple for loading logs. I have no idea what they cost but they look slick and I want one even though I don't really have a use for it

 

[Farmwithjunk]

A 4-wheel wagon can be the ultimate test of operator ability. Backing a wagon is a challenge for beginners. But when all is said and done, they'll follow a tractor in it's own wheel tracks better than a trailer. If your running gear is in decent shape and of sufficient weight rating, it should make a good wood hauler. I'd think a loaded wagon would be safer than a loaded trailer behind a tractor. (no excessive weight on the drawbar) Just don't go overboard with the load. Keep weight equal to or LESS than weight of the tractor and you'll do OK. I've seen some incredable loads of hay and straw on farm wagons.

 

[Egon]

It will work.

As stated get prepared for a backing up course. A longer tongue will back up easier. If there is such a thing as easier.

 

[Youare]

You can carry as much wood weight on the hay wagon as it can carry in hay weight. When going down hill leave the tractor in 4WD that way you get some braking effect with the front wheels also.

As far as backing up goes it's not that bad with a tractor, you just have to remember that it is the opposite of backing up a regular trailer. A little trick is to use the FEL or front of the tractor to back up a hay wagon that way you can see what is going on. I used a skid steer to back up hay wagons into the barn when unloading them, it took a few minutes to get use to steering one way to go the other. I've even seen pick ups with a hitch on the front to connect to a hay wagon so you can back them up easier, and it is a lot easier because the steering wheels are in the front on the pick up so the reaction time is quicker plus you can see what is happening.

Randy

 

[slowzuki]

I use a wagon chassis with a log frame on it to hold logs, sawn lumber and slabs. All I did was add bunks across the two main fore - aft beams and put some uprights on them. It will haul a lot more weight than a pickup should ever pull because of no brakes but the tractor does pretty good at low speed.

I don't try to turn it in the woods. The steering gear is the worst out of all my wagons (it has rolled, has a super short tongue and is ancient) so it is a pain to back up. Thats why it doesn't have a hay rack on it.

I would like to get a 2 wheeled unit some day since it adds weight to the tractor tires when loaded.

 

[Egon]

Easiest way to back up a wagon is to hitch several horses to the front of it!!

 

[dubba]

Yes a hay wagon would work, but a scoot is more fun

Please, Please, Please chain down your load. Even if you are going slow & just "over there". I have to chain the load behind by horses so it doesn't slide into them.

A scoot wouldn't require a bucket grapple if the financial officer isn't willing. I load one every day by hand, by myself.

Don't forget green red oak weighs 77lbs per cubic foot Average 10" 8' long is ~500lbs. You are talking 12 foot or better so 750+ per log. 10 logs capacity means the vertical stakes don't need be too high.

If you need more brakes for the hill just drag 3 or 4 logs off the back axle. git more done at the same time

You ain't got to back it up if you don't want to

 

[oliver28472]

Is your road smooth and wide enough to just use forks on loader and 3ph? That might be simpler and faster than the wagon. Haul the logs on the front and back of the tractor.

 

[slowzuki]

As soon as there is any distance that becomes impractical and slow, plus dragging equals dirty logs. I hate filing chains, I hate paying for sawmill blades even worse!

Is your road smooth and wide enough to just use forks on loader and 3ph? That might be simpler and faster than the wagon. Haul the logs on the front and back of the tractor.