Start of my new ATV cart

[aandabooks]

Got the steel free from work. They were throwing several out of these racks that are used to hang crankshafts. I grabbed two of the racks. Cut the one up and the other became the center of the cart. Measures 3'x5' and I'll be pulling it in the wood with an ATV. Planning to put 1.5-2' wood sides on it. Not sure if I'm going to line the bottom with plywood or leave it open. Right now I have a spare 3/4" bar running though the 1" square tube with wheelbarrow tires on.

Any suggestions on the tires? Right now I have nothing more than the cost of welding rod in this project and I'm not looking to spend much on it. I'll be leaving this one at my property so I don't have to haul it back and forth. Have to decide on either a pin hitch or buying a 1 7/8" coupler. Have been getting by with a 10 cu. ft. $88 cart that I bought from Wal-Mart years ago.

<a href="http://s249.photobucket.com/albums/gg238/aandabooks/?action=view&current=100_1054.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg238/aandabooks/100_1054.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s249.photobucket.com/albums/gg238/aandabooks/?action=view&current=100_1055.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg238/aandabooks/100_1055.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

[hanniedog]

I would definently go with bigger tires, maybe the rear tires off a lawn mower. Also may want to think about having the wheels under the bed. Makes it a little narrower plus they will be in the atv tracks. Being in the same track makes it easier to pull in bad conditions.

 

[husky455rancher]

wow you got alot of tubes in that frame. i got wheel barrow tires on my modified crapsman dump trailer too. they do ok but i would definatly get some bigger more durable ones. tsc has tons of different types of tires you can go look at.

 

[aandabooks]

Eveything that runs front to back was already done. We have these 4 high in roller racks and hang 3 rows of crankshafts on them. They decided to get rid of a couple racks and downsize. Just threw them away in the scrap dumpster. Whole thing right now weighs about 60 lbs.

I want to go bigger on the tires but don't know what to do about the axle. Maybe something weld-on for spindles then a 4 or 5 lug wheel?

 

[hanniedog]

Like rancher said check out TSC or some other farm store. They will probably have something you could use. Also might try a junk yard never know what can be scrounged up.

 

[johnnylabguy]

You've got a nice little trailer going there! I agree that beefier tires and axel are a good thing. Your going to find that you'll going to overload the crap out of that thing eventually because hauling wood around the lot with the ATV beats the heck out of a wheelbarrow. I used to use the craftman cart too until I picked up the old man's ancient trailer for use around the yard(I've posted pics before). Now I can haul about 4 times as much wood to the garage because of a beefier axle and tires(the trailer is bigger too).Although the tires are older than I am, I'm sure!

 

[Dok]

My Polaris trailer has a simple and cheap method of hitching to a ball. It uses two hitch pins, one on either side of the ball. To unhitch just remove the rear pin. This also allows more movement than a regular ball hitch. For you, all it would take is drilling some 1/2" holes and buying two hitch pins. I can take a pic of it tomorrow.
Dok

 

[aandabooks]

My Polaris trailer has a simple and cheap method of hitching to a ball. It uses two hitch pins, one on either side of the ball. To unhitch just remove the rear pin. This also allows more movement than a regular ball hitch. For you, all it would take is drilling some 1/2" holes and buying two hitch pins. I can take a pic of it tomorrow.
Dok

I'd appreciate that. I'm having a little trouble envisioning it.

 

[ktm rider]

My buddy built a trailer just like that ( steel tube ) he used those emergency spare tires that are in most car trunks now a days. He just put some side rails on it and hauls 6-7 ft. lengths out of the woods and cuts them up at home.. It works great and it bullet proof...

Any junkyard would most likely have the tires/rims

 

[savageactor7]

Morning aandabooks I'm satisfied using a simple drop pin hitch in all the ATV and garden tractor trailers.

BUT sometimes under the right conditions it's possible for the trailer to disconnect...I just avoid those situations, like having a 220lb guy stepping on the back of a loaded trailer. Or you can put a retaining pin into the drop pin.

The ATV has plenty of torque to pull those tires threw the mud. As long as you don't go overload crazy those tire's WITH tubes will do the job. If you were pulling with a garden tractor larger tires would be of help.

 

[Major Wood]

My only suggestion would be make sure the tires are wide and the axle is high off the ground. My experience has been hauling wood in mud with thin tires they cut into the ground and drop the axle flush or below ground level. The ATV has no trouble hauling the weight until the axle drags on the ground and your buried. By the way nice looking unit!

 

[aandabooks]

I'm getting alot closer to getting this thing done. Here's the question, will a set of 16 x 6.5-8 front tires from a riding lawn tractor be a big enough upgrade to the wheelbarrow tires to be worth $70 or so? These would keep the 3/4" axle that is I already have.

Or, I can buy a set of 20 x8-8 rear tires for a lawn tractor for about the same price. They have the 3/4" hub but they are keyed and don't have the bearings in the hub. Would these wear out quickly under the loads I will be hauling?

 

[freemind]

I'm getting alot closer to getting this thing done. Here's the question, will a set of 16 x 6.5-8 front tires from a riding lawn tractor be a big enough upgrade to the wheelbarrow tires to be worth $70 or so? These would keep the 3/4" axle that is I already have.

Or, I can buy a set of 20 x8-8 rear tires for a lawn tractor for about the same price. They have the 3/4" hub but they are keyed and don't have the bearings in the hub. Would these wear out quickly under the loads I will be hauling?

If it were me, I would use the bigger tires. And yes, I would say it will wear out quickly without bearings.

How about drilling the rim a bit, so you can put a brass bushing that would be replaceable. Adding a grease zerk to the hub to boot, would be great.

 

[jwfirebird]

i got really old mobile home axles and tires for nothing. just cut the axle down to width and you dont have to worry about overloading or bearing failure

 

[aandabooks]

The almost finished product:

<a href="http://s249.photobucket.com/albums/gg238/aandabooks/?action=view&current=100_1059.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg238/aandabooks/100_1059.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s249.photobucket.com/albums/gg238/aandabooks/?action=view&current=100_1060.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg238/aandabooks/100_1060.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s249.photobucket.com/albums/gg238/aandabooks/?action=view&current=100_1061.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg238/aandabooks/100_1061.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Had the extra wheelbarrow tires laying around. Decided to make it a dually for weight and stability. Raised it up and the center has more ground clearance than the ATV. Had tried it in the lower configuration last weekend and the uneven ground had the axle dragging. Needed to be lifted. Just a couple of hinges and a clasp and I can call it done.

 

[Turkeyslayer]

Nice lookin trailer the dually set up should work really well in softer conditions.

 

[hanniedog]

If the tires are tubeless be careful not wedge something between them and break the bead loose.

 

[aandabooks]

Got tubes on the inner ones on each side and the outers are tubeless. Got to get to Farm and Fleet to but another couple of tubes.

 

[johncinco]

somebody here turned me onto this set up awhile back.

http://www.gemplers.com/product/ATVP/ATV-Standard-Kit

everything you need all in one kit. Cept a welder.....

 

[WAPITI39]

The only thing i would suggest is to add some form of suspension. depending on how rough the terrain you will be in, it could save you some bent axels when you load the heck out of it and whack a rock or a rut in the process...:greenchainsaw: