Hay wagon

[SHALER]

I recently purchased a thrower bale rack hay wagon. It is 8 by 18 and probably would hold about 160 or 170 bales. The front tires are light truck tires. The rears are a 9L x 15 implement tire and a 9L x 15 tri rib front tractor tire, load range D. I am not positive but I think 8 ply rating. The wagon trails well on the road at speeds up to 40 mph (which I think is more a credit to the front tires). Anyway, is a tri rib tractor tire ok for a rear?

 

[soupkid]

Nothing wrong with the setup.
I would estimate using a thrower 70 to 80% of your weight will be on the rear 2/3 of the wagon.
Traditionally the front 1/3 won't have much weight at all.
Don't know if you have used a thrower much or even at all, thay can be great or a pua until you get everything dialed in.

 

[paul]

It should hold the weight ok.

I’d be bothered by the thinner profile I assume it has, and the way it would more easily rut up my hay fields in soft conditions putting the weight on that middle rib.

I suppose no more than what a tractor does that is pulling the baler and rack, but still.

Paul

 

[Janicholson]

I recently purchased a thrower bale rack hay wagon. It is 8 by 18 and probably would hold about 160 or 170 bales. The front tires are light truck tires. The rears are a 9L x 15 implement tire and a 9L x 15 tri rib front tractor tire, load range D. I am not positive but I think 8 ply rating. The wagon trails well on the road at speeds up to 40 mph (which I think is more a credit to the front tires). Anyway, is a tri rib tractor tire ok for a rear?

The tractor tire was not meant for 40 mph, but if you watch for tread separation and appropriate pressure that puts a good contact patch on the ground when loaded, I see no issues. DOT speed numbers might limit your use on highways! Jim

 

[flying belgian]

I'm sure there are hundreds of wagons out there like that.

I have personally run a tri,rib temporarily on a bale rack. When you have a flat wagon in the field you run home to get a spare it is much easier to take off a tractor front then crawling in the frame of the field cultivator to take one of those tires because day after tomorrow you will have to put it back on.

 

[Leroy]

The tractor tire was not meant for 40 mph, but if you watch for tread separation and appropriate pressure that puts a good contact patch on the ground when loaded, I see no issues. DOT speed numbers might limit your use on highways! Jm

Remember SMV speed is 25 MPH and higher you need the wagon licenced as a trailer with full lights. I think you are overr estimating safe speeds as well as number of bales on that bed. I would not want to be on the road behind you while trying to do what you are thinking.

 

[Rich'sToys]

Are you actually planning on pulling it loaded at 40 mph, or is that just how fast you drove when bringing it home?

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

Remember SMV speed is 25 MPH and higher you need the wagon licenced as a trailer with full lights. I think you are overr estimating safe speeds as well as number of bales on that bed. I would not want to be on the road behind you while trying to do what you are thinking.

I think you're taking two separate things and mashing them together.

OP stated that they towed the wagon home at 40MPH. Empty.

Tire speed ratings are at maximum load. If the wagon is empty, the tire can handle a higher speed.

Wouldn't be too awful worried about "SMV speed." If you get pulled over, you get pulled over, but you probably won't get pulled over because you make one heck of a road hazard sitting there. Be nice, play dumb.

OP does not appear to be planning on hauling 170 bales on this wagon at 40MPH, so don't worry about it.

 

[SHALER]

Thanks for responses everyone. Barnyard has it pretty much correct, now that its in my barn the wagon will never see even 20 mph until its next owner tows it out of my lane. I will leave it on and see how it works out. I have not seen a set up like this and since this was a consignment sale I had a thought that the previous owner just figured they would stick a tri rib on there as a band aid to get the wagon to the consignment yard, thats why I was concerned. Paul mentions the possibility of a tri rib leaving a rut, yes that could happen but baling hay pretty much occurs in dry conditions so I should be pretty good.

 

[paul]

Does anyone remember the 2 rib front tractor tires sold maybe in the late 60s or 70s? Don’t know if they are still available.

Uncle liked them on his little loader tractor.

We ended up with a used one on one of our hay racks. Dad was rather frugal and the hay racks never got a half mile from the farm, so good tires were never a priority.

Paul

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

Thanks for responses everyone. Barnyard has it pretty much correct, now that its in my barn the wagon will never see even 20 mph until its next owner tows it out of my lane. I will leave it on and see how it works out. I have not seen a set up like this and since this was a consignment sale I had a thought that the previous owner just figured they would stick a tri rib on there as a band aid to get the wagon to the consignment yard, thats why I was concerned. Paul mentions the possibility of a tri rib leaving a rut, yes that could happen but baling hay pretty much occurs in dry conditions so I should be pretty good.

You're probably right. There was no technical reason for using the tire, just that it was round and black and holds air and didn't cost any money. You probably won't notice anything out of the ordinary.

I would change it, but only because I think it looks stupid.

 

[Tony in SD]

Remember SMV speed is 25 MPH and higher you need the wagon licenced as a trailer with full lights. I think you are overr estimating safe speeds as well as number of bales on that bed. I would not want to be on the road behind you while trying to do what you are thinking.

Depends on the state laws. They vary widely.

 

[will-max dairy]

Does anyone remember the 2 rib front tractor tires sold maybe in the late 60s or 70s? Don’t know if they are still available.

Uncle liked them on his little loader tractor.

We ended up with a used one on one of our hay racks. Dad was rather frugal and the hay racks never got a half mile from the farm, so good tires were never a priority.

Paul

Yes... when I was kid, in the late 70's, seeing a 2 rib tire on a tractor meant that it was "modern"... they were a fad around here for a year or two, as the guys dressing up their tractors for the tractor pull would throw a couple of them on the front...

And then... it was like they disappeared.

 

[jwal10]

Dad's DC Case wide front had 2 when he got it. Never saw another on a tractor, just the rare odd one at an auction. I ran a lot of pickup tires on wagons. Back in the day there were a lot of 7.00-15". I ran 11L-16" on my peppermint tubs....James

 

[used red MN]

Back in the 60s that is the only tires Grandpa ran on his narrow front Farmalls. They were probably Firestone, B.F. Goodrich or COOP brand.

 

[jhwis]

I recently purchased a thrower bale rack hay wagon. It is 8 by 18 and probably would hold about 160 or 170 bales. The front tires are light truck tires. The rears are a 9L x 15 implement tire and a 9L x 15 tri rib front tractor tire, load range D. I am not positive but I think 8 ply rating. The wagon trails well on the road at speeds up to 40 mph (which I think is more a credit to the front tires). Anyway, is a tri rib tractor tire ok for a rear?

Spend a few bucks on a good used tire. You will sleep better at night.

 

[caterpillar guy]

Pickup tires will haul as much as those implement tires that will usually not wear as long as a good used pickup tire will. I put LR E's on or 10 ply tires for wagons if just hay wagons if grain wagons I like my truck frame wagons with truck tires and wheels. Never had a spindle break or go bad in 50 years. Tires will last well too. I have one wagon that is on 20's with the old tire that were on it when I put it together (steering linkage) and is still on it some 40 years later and says Rayon on the sidewall so now you know how old that tire is. Still carries the load with the same thing on the inside with a big chunck of tread missing and both hold air. Wagon holds about 400 Bu. I have had the tread peel off the front tires from to much weight and can't seem to find heavier tires for it .Don't look much either. Put about 3 tires on in the 40 years we have used it.

 

[SHALER]

Spend a few bucks on a good used tire. You will sleep better at night.

I may, but most likely wont as i have a few spares around for emergencies and if the tri rib fails it will be replaced then.
I seek the collective wisdom of the board so I dont have to "spend a few bucks"!!!! lol

 

[jhwis]

I may, but most likely wont as i have a few spares around for emergencies and if the tri rib fails it will be replaced then.
I seek the collective wisdom of the board so I dont have to "spend a few bucks"!!!! lol

Fair enough. For me my decision depends on what kind of highway/road use the wagon gets. Don't want a flat on the highway with a wagon loaded to the gills.

 

[Geo-TH,In]

I recently purchased a thrower bale rack hay wagon. It is 8 by 18 and probably would hold about 160 or 170 bales. The front tires are light truck tires. The rears are a 9L x 15 implement tire and a 9L x 15 tri rib front tractor tire, load range D. I am not positive but I think 8 ply rating. The wagon trails well on the road at speeds up to 40 mph (which I think is more a credit to the front tires). Anyway, is a tri rib tractor tire ok for a rear?

My dad put a second axle on the rear of our silage wagons.