My projects - farm repairs and minor fabrication
- Thread starter California
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California
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Dad used to have a permit to buy poisoned grain, to put it in gopher runs that he encountered when digging a planting hole. I don't know if it made any difference.
I've since learned by backhoeing out stumps, that under the location of a dead tree is where the gophers site their headquarters. Its common to dig out a big ball of fine soft grass, likely the regional baby gopher nursery. Because - at a tree location is the only place in the orchard never disrupted by discing.
The gophers here are so bad that Luther Burbank, famous for inventing new fruits and vegetables by cross-pollinating, gave up and moved his operation 10 miles east. He donated that first experimental farm to the neighboring cemetery ....
I've since learned by backhoeing out stumps, that under the location of a dead tree is where the gophers site their headquarters. Its common to dig out a big ball of fine soft grass, likely the regional baby gopher nursery. Because - at a tree location is the only place in the orchard never disrupted by discing.
The gophers here are so bad that Luther Burbank, famous for inventing new fruits and vegetables by cross-pollinating, gave up and moved his operation 10 miles east. He donated that first experimental farm to the neighboring cemetery ....
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I find the details about the performance of the various welding machines you've 'been through' the most valuable posts, I've a Lincoln Tombstone and a medium-size set of gas tanks for welding and brazing. I am always interested in (frank, 'real world experience') reviews of these wire feed machines flux core and solid wire mig.
So, thanks for taking the time to share!
So, thanks for taking the time to share!
Quick easy three point implement stand made this for my 6' back blade, it's crude but works well and keeps pins for tractor off ground and always stays on blade. Notice I have hydraulic top link, when planning location of stand made sure it didn't interfere with full extension and retraction also marked pin holes on stand when implement was on tractor.
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Another pretty crude fab welding project on my other used and abused relic. Quick easy bracket to mount rear remote hydraulic multiplier. I can reach the lever to change circuit in operator station so it's like having two rear remotes for a fraction of cost. Works well.
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Small repurposed farm type garden trailers? 1st is your general big box stor cheaply built dump lawn trailer, long abandoned with a broken axle and rotten tires I repurposed some old JD front axle spindles and tires, inserted spindles in some heavy gauge square tubing I had lying around, used some old round tubing and 3/16 angle for extra support. For some reason I cambered the spindles on axle mimicking larger heavy duty trailers completely unnecessary lol. Second is 2k running gear I bought, built deck, sides front and back, using old decking, and scrap 2x wood repurposed steel mostly angle iron, rectangular tube cutoffs for stake pockets and the back is from an old repurposed fork lift forks. Got my kids out painting, slobbering left over paint on the wooden deck and sides. Added rear pin hitch to back of trailer so I can pull two trailers at once with an old jd212 I bought for parts but got running pretty good lol.
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California
Well-known member
I have two of HF's tiniest trailers, 40x48", rated 1k. The first one I bought new and built as a jeep trailer, light enough (only 150 lbs) to detach and turn around by hand if I had to back out of some impossible down/side slope in the woods.
Second one I located abandoned in a pasture and bought cheap. Its the exact size of an IBC Tote. I had to put 12" tires on it before it would tow over the steep disced ground in my orchard (instead of just plowing, especially when backing up uphill). 2300 lbs with a full tank is gross overload but I don't need highway safety. Greasing the wheel bearings annually hasn't smoothed the rust flakes in there and quieted the grinding sound but that's harmless.
These make great farm mini-trailers.
That looks great. I should build one like it!
I believe it's farm tough running gear, bought from northern tool on when I was attempting to sell pumpkins roadside. My pumpkin growing days are over lol however it is actually pretty decent lighter duty running gear for the price I paid. I'd be happy to go more in depth on the trailer build. Note that they only have one steer axle and even using a small garden tractor crawling I have struggled to back it successfully at times.I have two of HF's tiniest trailers, 40x48", rated 1k. The first one I bought new and built as a jeep trailer, light enough (only 150 lbs) to detach and turn around by hand if I had to back out of some impossible down/side slope in the woods.
Second one I located abandoned in a pasture and bought cheap. Its the exact size of an IBC Tote. I had to put 12" tires on it before it would tow over the steep disced ground in my orchard (instead of just plowing, especially when backing up uphill). 2300 lbs with a full tank is gross overload but I don't need highway safety. Greasing the wheel bearings annually hasn't smoothed the rust flakes in there and quieted the grinding sound but that's harmless.
These make great farm mini-trailers.
That looks great. I should build one like it!
California
Well-known member
Yes please!
Ok I'll try and keep it short and to the point lol. dimensions are 4x8 used old treated d2x8s for stringers and end caps for decking used 2x of various widths leftover from projects, had a few Timberloks lying around so I used them on end caps. Mounted stringers to running gear with carriage bolts. Ran angle iron around perimeter after decking trailer on ends had it facing up , on sides down mounted angle iron to decking using carriage bolts and oversized washers on back side welded all joints solid. Used old cutoffs for stake pockets and made the sides removable. Other side I used 3 old door hinges and leftover ceder 1x so it folds down. Pins to hold hinged side up are old repurposed bolts drilled a hole in bottom to run hitch pins through. Latching mechanism is old pieces of scrap with eyebolts welded to top on hinged side. Used old angle cutoff and Added second pin hitch on back of trailer below the one that came from factory (easier access) put repurposed forlift headache rack on back of trailer cause if I'm hauling longer stuff than trailer I'd rather have it hang off back instead of over my head on os of tractor. I like this running gear it was fairly inexpensive 200 bucks at time, it's held up well and all wheel hubs come from factory with grease fittings and several on steering axle. Quick tip from a former wood butcher, always crown the boards, Ground or sanded all sharp corners on steel and wood. Got kids to participate and slobber old paint on wood. Any questions please ask.
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