Author Topic: Today, I missed my truck--and an axle question (Read 803 times)

Robert R · « **on:** December 05, 2006, 10:24:58 pm »

I hauled my Belgians and two appys down to the farrier this morning. I sold my truck a month or so ago because of some medical bills so I borrowed a fellow's 1-ton ford dually from church. Aside from the fact that it drives like a 500 lb sow, it also got stuck about a half mile back on the farrier's driveway. We used his horses rather than mine since I didn't have my harness with me but I wish I had a picture of a team of Belgians pulling an extended cab dually ford with a 4-horse gooseneck living quarters trailer fully loaded with horses out this guys drive. I miss my Dodge. It wouldn't have gotten stuck. But I'd never trade a team for a truck or a tractor. If they've got the heart to pull, they'll always get it done. I do wish I had 2 or 3 more though.

I thought it was kind of funny. A fellow was there with a little Jimmie type thing offering to pull us out. He couldn't get the traction to even budge us but the horses did!

For my question, I need a heavy duty (not like semi big rig heavy duty, just pickup) axle with wheels. I had a round bale spike given to me the other and if I can scrounge an axle and a boat winch, I can get a round bale mover made pretty cheap. I have never been to an auto salvage yard in my life (I'm not an engine kind of guy). About what should I expect to pay for one?

Weekend_Sawyer · « **Reply #1 on:** December 06, 2006, 07:06:46 am »

I used to work on a horse farm when I was a teenager. Absolutley loved it.

I think you would do well with an old house trailer axel. They are usually rated about 6,000 lbs and generally have few miles on them. We got some from an old trailer park that was being torn out. If you want to drive to Maryland you can have one!

Jon

LeeB · « **Reply #2 on:** December 06, 2006, 06:48:02 pm »

You should of known the ford would get stuck.

LeeB

logwalker · « **Reply #3 on:** December 06, 2006, 07:50:52 pm »

What kind of breakout force can your team of horses apply to a load? Must be something to be in control of a good pair. Joe

Ironwood · « **Reply #4 on:** December 06, 2006, 08:24:41 pm »

Getting stuck always has less to do with the name tag on the truck than the differential in the axle.

Just my two cents.

Reid

Polly · « **Reply #5 on:** December 06, 2006, 08:51:59 pm »

:Dmy unule had a team of belgums used to go to horse pulling contest the last one he went to he hooked them up and went around in front of the horses and said come on boys he came in second but did get good sportsmanship trophy

some horses dont have to be driven dad had a team we used to drag logs with we would hook them up to logs they would go to log pile on their own my uncle would unhook log and send them back for another load that was good old days gone but not forgotten

LeeB · « **Reply #6 on:** December 06, 2006, 09:22:05 pm »

I like fords Ried. I just like Dodges better and couldn't pass the chance to poke fun.

LeeB

Furby · « **Reply #7 on:** December 06, 2006, 09:45:08 pm »

I'd probly go with Weekend Sawyers idea on the mobile home axel.
It will be lighter and have less roll resistance then a truck axel.
I belive the round bales only weigh like 2000-2500 pounds top, so a heavy axel isn't needed.

Robert R · « **Reply #8 on:** December 06, 2006, 09:47:15 pm »

A team that isn't afraid to pull can exert 10 to 12 times their body weight in a dead drag but not for long or for very far. Most competitive pulling teams are around 1,700 pounds and to win often takes a dead drag over 20,000 lbs for (I think, I don't compete) 50 feet. I have no idea what that would equate to a load on wheels once it is moving.

Actually, it turns out getting stuck was operator error. I didn't know they still made trucks with manual locking hubs. I've never owned one that was.

Oh well, it was still neat to see the horses do it.

Thanks for the info for my bale mover.

leweee · « **Reply #9 on:** December 06, 2006, 09:48:38 pm »

Quote from: Reid Crosby on December 06, 2006, 08:24:41 pm

Getting stuck always has less to do with the name tag on the truck than the differential in the axle. Just my two cents.

Reid

And I thought you were going to say"the nut loose behind the wheel"

Glad to hear true horsepower saved the day Robert.

Don_Papenburg · « **Reply #10 on:** December 06, 2006, 09:54:34 pm »

If you plan on hauling only one bale at a time then a one ton axle would be more than enough . if you could get the rear axel out of a front wheel drive car ,Pontiac 6000 or the like . Has a tube with bearing cartrages . The cartrage has both bearings and the hub. Might be cheap enough to just buy them new at a parts store and funish your own tube cut to the size you prefer.

Rockn H · « **Reply #11 on:** December 06, 2006, 10:40:41 pm »

Don has a good point on using a rear axle. I don't know what the your bales weight, but here a 5x4 is not going over 1000lbs so a rear car axle should work. Again I don't know what your junk yards charge, but here it would be cheaper to order a new trailer axle from the parts store or metal shop. I use northern tool Note:Please read the Forestry Forum's postion on this company alot for price guessing and since you wouldn't need springs a 2000lb axle and hub would be about $120.

Polly · « **Reply #12 on:** December 07, 2006, 07:40:37 pm »

I GOT TWO TRAILERS I MADE USING THE FRONT HUBS AND ASSY. OF AMERICAN MOTORS CARS THEY HAD A BACKING PLATE ABOUT FOUR INCHES SQUARE WITH A ONE INCH HOLE DRILLED IN EACH CORNER YOU COULD BOLT ANY LENGTH TUBING OR PIPE IN BETWEEN USE TO PICK UP ABOUT 25.00 PER SET TIRES RIMS AND ALL I GUESS THEY WERE ALL MELTED DOWN YEARS AGO

wiam · « **Reply #13 on:** December 07, 2006, 09:49:45 pm »

Around here you can buy a mobile home axle with tires for $150. They have to be shortened to be under 8' 6".

Will

Don_Papenburg · « **Reply #14 on:** December 08, 2006, 08:35:42 am »

If it is for ag use it does not need to be narrowed in Illinois.

Robert R · « **Reply #15 on:** December 08, 2006, 07:14:33 pm »

Thanks for all the great inputs. I was chatting with a fellow this morning who had a great idea of looking for one of the trailers made out of a truck bed and mounting the stinger on that. Then, I could have room to haul other feed, have room for a motorized winch or whatever or remove the stinger and still have a useable trailer. I'll need to put a bigger ball on my forecart but that wouldn't be a problem to do. Any idea on what one of those things would weigh?

News: