Width of Wagon

[cleddy]

Is there a standard width of a wood grain wagon box? I have some 4 x 6 inch cedar beams I want to use before they rot away. The two long beams are 12 foot long so that is how long it will be. The width beams may need to be trimmed. I was going to build a Parade or hay rack ride wagon but scared of the liability of being responsible for riders. Will not be hauling grain but will want front & sides boards for hauling firewood & brush around acreage. Width and height of sides would be helpful?

 

[LonM]

The old triple box wagons were twelve feet long and three feet wide, and each of the three courses of sides were twelve inches high. Those dimensions would give a wagon a capacity of about thirty bushels for every twelve inches in depth, or ninety bushels for a triple box that was thirty-six inches deep.

 

[LonM]

The old triple box wagons were twelve feet long and three feet wide, and each of the three courses of sides were twelve inches high. Those dimensions would give a wagon a capacity of about thirty bushels for every twelve inches in depth, or ninety bushels for a triple box that was thirty-six inches deep.

Some online sources also give dimensions for wagon beds: one size was 38 inches wide, 10 and a half feet long, and sides 20 inches high. Sometimes that depth was doubled, and an additional depth in a third course of 9 or 11 inches was added.

A wider version than this was made as well, with the box being the same length, but 42 inches wide.

Flare boxes were made in many sizes as well.

 

[Leroy]

Is there a standard width of a wood grain wagon box? I have some 4 x 6 inch cedar beams I want to use before they rot away. The two long beams are 12 foot long so that is how long it will be. The width beams may need to be trimmed. I was going to build a Parade or hay rack ride wagon but scared of the liability of being responsible for riders. Will not be hauling grain but will want front & sides boards for hauling firewood & brush around acreage. Width and height of sides would be helpful?

If you are talking about the old box bed wagons the standard size was 38 inches between the pulster stakes giving a 38 inch wide outside bed or 36 inches inside bed and that fit on a 56 inch wheel tread running gear and the box outside was 10.5 foot long to give a 10 foot inside measurement Most flair box beds were built to same size. Then there werewagon gears with a 60 inch wheel tread that had 42 inch boulsters for a 42 inch wide bed that would have been 40 inches inside the bed. About 2 of the 36 Inch beds to 1 of the 42 inch beds And never longer than the 10 foot inside box length. I would hate to guess how many of those box beds I have had but it is several. Never saw a 12 foot bed. And I know where my great Grandps wagon that was the old wagon of hids 2 when he died in 1906, Frandpa wanted the old wagon as it pulled easier while his brother wanted the newer wagon because it was newer. I have no idea of total age on the one grandpa had but I do know it has been in the family over 116 years.

 

[cleddy]

If you are talking about the old box bed wagons the standard size was 38 inches between the pulster stakes giving a 38 inch wide outside bed or 36 inches inside bed and that fit on a 56 inch wheel tread running gear and the box outside was 10.5 foot long to give a 10 foot inside measurement Most flair box beds were built to same size. Then there werewagon gears with a 60 inch wheel tread that had 42 inch boulsters for a 42 inch wide bed that would have been 40 inches inside the bed. About 2 of the 36 Inch beds to 1 of the 42 inch beds And never longer than the 10 foot inside box length. I would hate to guess how many of those box beds I have had but it is several. Never saw a 12 foot bed. And I know where my great Grandps wagon that was the old wagon of hids 2 when he died in 1906, Frandpa wanted the old wagon as it pulled easier while his brother wanted the newer wagon because it was newer. I have no idea of total age on the one grandpa had but I do know it has been in the family over 116 years.

I was thinking a little newer than that like was used in the 60-70's when ear corn and wheat were being harvested. Actually my Grandfather fixed up a Old Box Wagon in the 60's before his failing in health & dying in 1974. It has steel wheels and just as You and LonM described with the narrow box. Its painted white and has been stored in his barn since the day it was fixed up. I had it out a couple times and I recall one of the wheels coming loose. I am going to put it to use now with split fire wood with a tarp over it because the barn roof is falling in.

 

[Leroy]

I was thinking a little newer than that like was used in the 60-70's when ear corn and wheat were being harvested. Actually my Grandfather fixed up a Old Box Wagon in the 60's before his failing in health & dying in 1974. It has steel wheels and just as You and LonM described with the narrow box. Its painted white and has been stored in his barn since the day it was fixed up. I had it out a couple times and I recall one of the wheels coming loose. I am going to put it to use now with split fire wood with a tarp over it because the barn roof is falling in.

What you are describing is known as a barge box and has sills underneeth andthat is where you get the 38-42 inch measurements for the bed.. And you take the sideboards off and you have a flat bed for bales. The older box bed depended on the sideboards for support of the floor. If you can get a hold of a mid 1950.s Wards farm catalog that will have those beds in for sale with more details. Both the older gtrain only box and the barge boxes and the totally flat bed designed forhay bales or with sideboards grain.

 

[caterpillar guy]

Sides will make a lot of work with wood. A flat rack about 6feet wide and your 12 foot long would work well. If you have sides and don't have a thick plank bottom and dump wood in with a loader bucket even being careful you will break floor boards . IF you are going to heat completely with wood you will find sides a lot of work getting it loaded and unloaded climbing in and out will get real old real fast. I've been working with wood since I could carry one stick at a time and a flat floor you can just set it on and lift it off for loading and burning will be the easiest way. Also just about wide enough to reach across it to get the wood on the far side or turning it around to get the far side is about the easiest way to do it. I use the loader bucket and just slide it out on the ground without dumping. I need to set a post to fit each end of the bucket then I could just slide it out like it was piled and set the next one right beside it. Then put 2 more behind those with one set on top of the first 4 buckets. I just cover it with some old bagger plastic from years gone by. It's heavy and with a few blocks on it stays pretty good. Cedar is not the best wood for wagon main timbers either but use what you have. We use 4x12 Oak for them on 16-24 foot wagons. Running gear wheel base is around 14-18 feet.

 

[Absent Minded Farmer]

My wood Heider flare box is 38" wide at the base, on the outside & 12' long. Sides are 34", if I recall right. Since you are building your own wagon setup, consider adding a hoist if you're hauling wood & such.

Mike

 

[caterpillar guy]

Need to put a few bows in the wagon under the tarp or water will weigh it down and possibly tear it . Will also freeze on the tarp and be a pain to get off if in that type of climate. Bows will drain it off.

 

[matthies]

I used pickup box trailers, a wagon and a manure spreader for moving/hauling wood. The spreader was the best, low to the ground could reach across to the other side.