The ultimate in diy tractors

[pengyou]

I am in the process of buying some land in high plains desert. Part of it is level, part of it is hilly. It needs a lot of work - will need to haul a lot of stuff around - will be hauling water forever bcuz I dont want to have to put thousands of feet of water pipe. As I was thinking about what kind of machines I would need, I got the idea that having a powered trailer would be ideal. It would be about 12 ft long and 6 ft wide, the size of the water tank it will carry, not including width of tires. The water tank can be taken off and replaced with a dump bed or left flat to haul things. It would have a bucket and back hoe - all of the amenities of a tractor. The difference is that the top of the body of the tractor will be a platform 30" off the ground. Operator will either stand on a platform next to the backhoe or will operate it remotely. I have seen some lightweight vehicles like this but they are only designed to haul up to 1,000 pounds. I have ideas for the electronics, hydraulics and other aspects of this bird. What I am looking for now is some ballpark help with designing the frame. I am thinking 4x4 steel tubing 1/2" thick, making a rectangular box. The box will have 3 supports at 3 ft 6 ft and 9 ft...thats probably as clear as mud...any ideas? I am pretty serious about doing this but right now I have to settle for being serious about doing research untill I can get a rough estimate of the cost. The frame is the last piece of that puzzle.

 

[texasranger556]

Do you have any sort of sketch? I'm having a hard time visualizing what you're talking about.

Is it steep terrain that is steering you away from a trailer for hauling water with a standard tractor or truck?

 

[aczlan]

6 by 12 by 3ft high would be a 1600 gallon tank roughly. That would carry almost 13,000 pounds of water. That's a whole lot of water. Have you looked at a Unimog for what you want to do? They are already set up similar to what you are describing other than the water tank size, but you could do that with a trailer.

Aaron Z

 

[GLyford]

Sounds like a "platform truck", also known as a "mule".

M274 1/2-ton 4x4 utility platform truck - Wikipedia

 

[bigdeano]

You might look into using 4 x 6 x 3/8 tubing. It would weigh the same but is 50% stronger vertically than what you mentioned, if my figures are correct. Truck frames are always taller than wide for that reason. Sounds like a fun project.

 

[bcp]

Sounds a bit like a non-electric version of a GM SURUS platform, with tractor bits added.

surus platform - Google Search

Bruce

 

[BrokenTrack]

I have a Wallenstein Trailer called the Timber Talon that would do what you want, but be off-the-shelf. It will not carry that much water, but scaled down a bit, it could carry a pretty big tank (625 gallons).

It has a log grapple, post hole driller, dump body for soil, backhoe, all on a trailer that has a walking beam suspension for easy pulling, and has a 5000 pound capacity. If I was you, I might splurge on the Wallenstein Timber Talon trailer, and then buy a new or even used tractor to pull it.

 

[airbiscuit]

 

[pengyou]

Yes! That is it...the powered trailer....the mule...whatever you want to call it! Though if I took your Timber Talon, removed the drivers seat...more room for a bigger dump bed or water tank or whatever...make it remote controlled..or if larger, put a "seat pod" that will attach to the rear, or the front ! I have attached a photo of an undercarriage that is designed to carry 6 tons...can put whatever I want on it. Thank you SOOOO much for the right search words! Maybe I'm being obsessive...not, not maybe...I probably am:laughing: Maybe the bottom line - I have never cared for pulling trailers, whether with a truck, a car or a tractor. I was thinking that if the trailering function and tractoring function could be combined - for normal day to day use (not heavy duty work like developing virgin ground for building) life would be easier. The utility vehicle would be easier to maneuver, would require less distance to turn around in, etc...possibly put a backup generator in the vehicle, air compressor, water pump, arc welder....depending on needs.

 

[Egon]

Use a truck frame.