New Kory Wagon Sized for Compact Tractors

[rozett]

Well, I went ahead and bought the 2200 pound capacity running gear from Northern Tool. I got it on sale for $219. When it arrived, it was missing the loose hardware. Since Northern has these drop shipped, I called to manufacturer and they shipped them right out.

I put it together today. They include a parts explosion, but no directions. Everything is pretty straight forward except for the front axles because they have a tab for the tie rods. But I put it together the way I thought it should go and it was fine. Now my only problem is how to set the tie rods for proper alignment.

I plan to build the body using a couple of 2x6x8' rails with 2x3x5' cross ties and then laying the 5/4 fir decking lengthwise for the bed. Later on I will build some sideboards and endboards for it. Should make a great wagon for hauling hay and cut timbers. I'll post a photo when it's done.

 

[TCowner]

I see FarmTek has the same wagon for $169.99. It was shown in their latest catalog. They have a web site (FarmTek.com/) but I'm not sure it shows the wagon.

 

[rozett]

Terry, where were you wen I needed you? /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[TCowner]

Bruce, I also purchased on these wagons from Northern 2 years ago. The wagon was shipped in two boxes and instead of getting a front half (steering half) and a rear half (trailing half) they sent two of the front halves. I was a little disappointed with the customer service folks at Norhtern because it took about 4 or 5 phone calls for anyone to understand the problem because their computer showed to boxes were shipped. I finally was able to talke to someone who realized it was possible to ship the wrong box. It took about 2 weeks to get the rear half. WHen it arrived it was obvious that the manufacturer had made some changes because the the paint was different, the pipe that connects the 2 halves wouldn't fit the rear half and the rear half tracked a couple of inches different from the front. The tracking problem wasn't a big problem but I wasn't about to find someone to cut and weld to make the pipe connect the two halves. Again, I called Norhtern's customer service and asked for a complete new wagon. It took another 4-5 phone calls to get them to agree. Finally, a complete wagon arrived in about 2 weeks.

The local Fleet Farm store has one of the Kory wagons that has been discussed previously and there is no comparison between the two wagons. The Kory wagaon has the 20" tall tires compared to the 16" on the Northern wagon. The Kory is rated for 3000# and it looks like it could handle it easily. The Northern wagon is rated for 2200# and I would hesitate to try that much weight. Maybe 1500# but I wouldn't push it any more. Of course there is a big price difference. The Kory wagon is $600 and as I posted yesterday we can get the same wagon Northern sells for $229 for $169 at FarmTek. A $370 difference is a lot. I think the cheaper wagon is OK as long as the purchaser doesn't expect too much of it. I made a flat hayrack (half scale) for pulling behind my JD X595 garden tractor. It doesn't look too far out of porportion. But behind a compact utility tractor it is too small. The tongue would also have to modified as it will not go over the large tractors drawbar. The Kory wagon would look much nicer behind a compact.

 

[rozett]

Well, here is the wagon project. I've got the rails and cross-ties mounted. I had some extra steel channel left from building the stalls in the barn, so I used them to stregnthen the cross-ties. The bed is 5' wide and 8' long. The bed planks aren't screwed down yet. Like most lumber yard PT stock, it was awful wet. So I want it to dry out for a few days.

 

[Joe1]

This is going to sound like i'm from the city, which I am, but what are the advantages and disadvantages of buying a compact sized farm wagon over a conventional trailer that can also be used on the highway? Obviously it's got 4 wheels in the corners for stability but what is the safe top speed for something like this on paved roads? I just moved onto 6 acres and acquired a used JD 770 so I'm to educate myself.

Thanks.

 

[Slamfire]

4 wheel wagons with a steerable front axle are a bit easier to back up with, they just push different than a two wheel cart, which is what most over road trailers are reguardless of the number of wheels.
Pretty good price on the complete wagon at farmtek, $259 for the running gear and deck.

 

[rozett]

Another advantage of the four-wheeled wagon is that it is easier to leave it loaded. If you wanted to leave a roadable trailer (axles close together) loaded, you would have to support the tongue in order to disconnect the tractor. For the wagon (axles spread apart), the load is supported by the four wheels, so you just disconnect and go.

Stan, while the price for the wagon and bed is a good one, the bed is just too small for my uses. I built a 5x8 bed that will haul more bales of hay and more brush than the smaller one.

 

[JackIL]

Back in April I submitted a post about a new Kory wagon I had just purchased. I have revised it some and now have the bed and sides completed.

The original design called for the flooring to be screwed into the steel frame members and the stake pockets were on the inside. I didn't like either of these ideas. I welded on outer rails with a removable rear rail and welded new stake pockets to the outside. The rails essentially form a "picture frame" that captures the flooring. The plywood slides in from the rear and then the rear rail is bolted in place.

The floor is a 4 by 8 sheet of 3/4 inch treated plywood. I trimmed it down to provide space for expansion and contraction since this wagon will be outside year round. Sides are made of 5/4 by 6 treated planks. The stakes are 1 by 1/2 inch cut from 5/4 material. Corners clips are the same as used on the DR Power Wagon.

The wagon is rated at 3000 pounds but I don't expect to ever haul that much.

Several photos follow.

JackIL

 

[JackIL]

Details of revised frame. Note original stake pockets inside the outer frame members and the new ones on the "picture frame" rails.

JackIL