hay wagon

[Mark W.]

Okay, I know this subject has been beat to death but I really need the advice. I am building an 8x16 haywagon to be used for small squares and hayrides. I have the runing gear and the two rails. The question is, should I run 4x4's and the 16 foot planks the full length or should I just run 8 ft. boards across the runners?

 

[Anonymous-0]

I've got a 7x14 my dad and I built in 1962 sitting in the back yard. We used tongue and groove fir and weather treated it,we run the boards cross ways, it is still fully functional. Naturally I am biased.

 

[CHRISCO]

Are your beams tall enought so if your boards go cross ways. So they don't hit the tire? Or if you want to use 1X? boards on the top then use the 4X4s.

 

[Leroy]

8' is a bit wide to try planks crossways due to amount of distance they would hang out on each side of the stringers, for a 6' or possibly a 7' 1 1/2" boards will work but I don't think I would want to stand on the end of it on a 8'.

 

[Lee in Iowa]

I've built them 9 foot wide with treated 2x6's laid crossways on the stringers and 2x6's lengthways on the sides. I haul round bales on this one 2 wide and haven't had any trouble. Its about 15 years old and starting to sag on the sides with a load on, but its hauled 1000's of round bales. Lee

 

[Don-Wi]

I prefer to run the planks across in the 8' length. When you put 4x's on there and then run the 16' length, that can add up if you gotta buy the wood, and if one breaks an 8' board is a lot easier to replace than one that's 16' long.

It'll be plenty solid on the outside end as long as the boards are thick enough to support a real load. Last one I built I just used green treated 2x8's. Ended up making it 8'x18' because I had some longer stringers.

Donovan from Wisconsin

 

[Joe in IN]

I prefer mine a little heavier built...

I use a 2X6 as cross member and then 2X6 lengthways(16 ft). My first wagon bed(in 2004) had 4X4 as cross members and I do not like that as well. They do flex. 2X6 ones don't...

Might be more lumber but sure is a sturdy bed....