I have a pull behind wagon attachment hooked up to my mower. Backing up is very difficult because it turns unless you back up perfectly straight. All it has is a place for a single pin that attaches vertically to the hitch so there is a lot of movement. Has anyone here ever rigged up a similar wagon is such a way so it stays locked in line with the direction of the mower?
Wagon attachment difficult to steer
- Thread starter Lzybmbjj30
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The shorter the wagon the more difficult to steer. The length between the hitch and the wheels is the factor in this. Although actually more maneuverable, center placed wheels are the hardest. The longer the wagon and the farther back from the hitch the easier to control. Anything that would lock the tractor in straight alignment would make the tires scrub when you turned. You would then need casters instead of fixed wheels on the wagon. How big is this wagon? Got a picture?
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North Idaho Wolfman
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Those types of trailers were always such a pain when I worked on the farm, and I don't know of a good way to ever get them to track with the tractor when backing up.
You would be a lot better off getting a single axle trailer with a tongue mount.
You would be a lot better off getting a single axle trailer with a tongue mount.
It's a 3x5 wagon. There's at least a foot and a half legth on the wagon hitch. I'm trying to use it as a leaf catcher. Backing up is difficult to control and sharp turns nearly tips the thing over.
Here's a pic. It was taken in the fall so don't mind the halloween decorations.
Here's a pic. It was taken in the fall so don't mind the halloween decorations.
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The cyclone rakes have a hitch that attaches to the mower rear axle/transmission in two places so it can't jacknife when backing up. The catch is you'd have to change out your two trailer wheels for ones that swivel so the trailer can move sideways when the mower turns. Since yours is a small trailer that should be possible to improvise. Heck order the wheel sets from cyclone rake.
North Idaho Wolfman
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That's not a wagon, that's a trailer!
This is a wagon:
The trailer you have is about the easiest implement to maneuver with, that is unless you do as sheep farmer said and set it up like a cyclone rake.
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Another suggestion beside the longer trailer tongue is to put car trailer hitch ball on your tractor and then on the trailer tongue put the matching hitch.
In my family, with 4 brothers living in the area we adopted a 2" ball as our standard and the same on any trailer. lawn roller, boat trailer. Then you can borrow or move things around with your lawnmower when normally you would need your car. This style of ball hitch has no slop in it so backing up is easier.
Often I go to a local steel place and buy a piece of 2-1/2" x 2-1/2" 1/8" wall square tubing. Bolt the hitch to the tubing and the tubing to the underside of the existing trailer tongue. In that way should you want to sell a trailer like yours, all you have to do is unbolt the square tubing and it is back to original.
It looks like from the picture that you are trying to catch the leaves from your lawn mower, and if so, then a rigid connection is helpful so that whatever collection tube you use is as short as possible and can stay the same length. Otherwise when you turn left it will come out of the wagon.
solution: plan your work so you never have to back up.
You essentially have a double hinge at the hitch pin and again at the front axle. Yes, its tricky but it can be done. When I was a teenager, I was amazed at an old farmer that I worked for baling hay when I saw him back up a tractor with TWO hay racks hooked together (2 hinge points each!) and he successfully snaked them into the barn on his first try. I got to where I could do one but never 2.
You essentially have a double hinge at the hitch pin and again at the front axle. Yes, its tricky but it can be done. When I was a teenager, I was amazed at an old farmer that I worked for baling hay when I saw him back up a tractor with TWO hay racks hooked together (2 hinge points each!) and he successfully snaked them into the barn on his first try. I got to where I could do one but never 2.
Either that or just unhitch it and back it up by hand. Our City clean up guys have an electric motor to back up their unhitched small trailer. It works great in their small yard but I don't think it would work well on turf.
maybe I'm stating the obvious, but you've got to steer the trailer in the direction you want it to go... steer the tractor in the direction opposite to what you want the back of the trailer to go... it takes a bit of practice, and as others have said, it is easier with a longer tongue. Also, minimize the slop, if any, in your hitch pin.
Pete
I have the identical trailer. Have to go very slow in reverse to steer it. My fife cant even back up a foot without jacknifing it.
Only solution , well theres 2
Move wheels to very back of trailer or lengthen tongue.
Only solution , well theres 2
Move wheels to very back of trailer or lengthen tongue.
Backing up short trailers is a pain, but I think the simplest solution is just that you need more practice.
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Like uglyboy said PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE. You'll be glad you learned how to do it!
He's also correct that on a two wheeled cart (or manure spreader, or hay baler, or anything of that nature to start the turn you steer so that the tractor starts in the opposite direction you want the implement to go. Want the cart to go left? Begin to maneuver the tractor right (but just a little). Once the implement just starts to turn then keep the turn gentle by turning the front wheels of the tractor back toward straight, maybe even a little more if necessary. Best way to start is to practice backing in a straight line out in the middle of the yard. You'll learn how to make little corrections to keep going the way you want.
Oh yeah.... if you have 4 wheel steer, turn it off while backing.
Now... 4 wheeled "wagons" are just the opposite. When backing the tractor must start to move in the SAME direction you want the wagon to turn. They're generally more difficult to back up.
Have fun!
He's also correct that on a two wheeled cart (or manure spreader, or hay baler, or anything of that nature to start the turn you steer so that the tractor starts in the opposite direction you want the implement to go. Want the cart to go left? Begin to maneuver the tractor right (but just a little). Once the implement just starts to turn then keep the turn gentle by turning the front wheels of the tractor back toward straight, maybe even a little more if necessary. Best way to start is to practice backing in a straight line out in the middle of the yard. You'll learn how to make little corrections to keep going the way you want.
Oh yeah.... if you have 4 wheel steer, turn it off while backing.
Now... 4 wheeled "wagons" are just the opposite. When backing the tractor must start to move in the SAME direction you want the wagon to turn. They're generally more difficult to back up.
Have fun!
M88A1
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Steering is the same for all trailers Long or short. Yes backing up a short one is a pain. But just apply the KISS methodology. when you jack knife just pull forward and start over. if you don't get it after a couple hours, just park the lawn tractor.
That's not a wagon, THIS is a wagon.
That's not a wagon, that's a trailer!
This is a wagon:
The trailer you have is about the easiest implement to maneuver with, that is unless you do as sheep farmer said and set it up like a cyclone rake.
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