hay wagon stringer

[Bruce64]

I would like to hear some ideas about how to attach hay wagon stringers to the running gear. I think the stringers should be bolted to the running gear up rights. I think it adds strength to the running gear and keeps the gear trailing straight.
Thanks guys

 

[Anonymous-0]

To stop it from sliding back and forth put some stops on either side of bunks. never bolt on solid I use some chain so it can flex when going through a ditch other wise your bolts will just break or twist up the trailor.

 

[Zachary Hoyt]

I bolt mine on and have never had a problem yet, but I try to stay out of ditches anyway so I don't spill the load.
Zach

 

[Dick L]

I bolt the back and wrap a chain aroung the front to hold it down and still float in uneven ground. I don't see how bolting it to the bolsters would change the way the running gear tracked.

 

[Bruce64]

the reason I'm asking about the stringers is because my neighbors running gear front wheels twisted to the rear when the wagon was loaded and went across a small swail in the field. Twisted the front rectangular tube. The spindles are OK. Both front uprights are bent forward from the twisting. He was pulling the wagon with a team of horses, had 110 bales of hay on the load. All fresh tears in the metal. Rear is OK and the wagon bed was not bolted to the gear.

 

[jiminct]

when we built our wagons we bolted opposite corners and chained the unbolted corners. so far they have lasted very well that way and we have gone through some real uneven terrain with full loads.

 

[Dave Sherburne NY]

I make a U shape out of angle iron. Not exactly U, it has square corners on the bottom, bolt it to the sides of the stringer with about a 3 inch space under the rear axle, both sides on the rear. It keeps the rack from sliding back and forth on the wagon and allows for running gear flex. I put chains on the both fronts to keep the stringers from lifting higher than the bolsters.