hay wagon wood

moday

Member
My old stringers are very heavy 3x8 rough cut wood. Not sure what kind, but very heavy so probably oak. They look kind of the color of railroad ties so I'm thinking that they have been soaked with something. Wood is off the wagon as restoring the whole thing. Plan on new deck of pressure treated but any thoughts on the stringers?

Should I prime and paint with extra oil based paint from running gear or try the used oil trick? Just one coat like paint or ??

I think I may sister up an extra 14 1/2 foot 2x8 as the stringers are old and a little beat up but too nice to get rid of!

Appreciate thoughts and thanks in advance.
 
How heavy is that old wood? Seems to me that half of the wagon capacity is going to be taken up by that reconstructed bed. Take another look at that whole idea and see if you can't make it stronger with less weight, by using some better materials.
 
How much was that bed made to haul? 10 ton? 12 Ton? what you have or are talking about is way overkill on a normal hay wagon. Just a good 2 x 8 on each side with 2 x 4 cross pieces is plenty for a hay wagon for small square bales to 150 bale per load. Just put a 2 x 4 rub rail on both sides of bed.
 
If it's in decent shape, an oak 3"x8" should be fine. I build 8'x18' kicker racks, and I make my stringers out of 3"x8" larch, or doubled up 2"x8" pressure treated. These wagons hold about 150 bales each. I also put flashing or break metal on top of them to protect from rot due to hay laying on top of them.
As far as preservative, I mix used oil and diesel and spray the whole wagon every couple of years
Pete
 
I used full 2 inch rough cut lumber for my deck - loblolly pine.

Rough cut to keep the price down and the deck foot traction up. Pine to limit the weight, not so much for towing, but pushing the wagon around by hand.
 
Moday, I think whatever you put on the stringers would be good. I have seen exterior oil-based primer, oil based paint, used motor oil, etc?The important part is to coat the wood with something. If you are going through the effort prime and paint them with oil-based primer and paint. I like the idea of metal flashing to protect from hay spoiling and rotting wood away. As long as you are doing it, do it right and build it a bit heavier with the extra 2x8s attached to your existing ones. When you are done, show us some pictures!!
 
Where would you guys recommend the flashing? I don't think that I want flashing between the stringer and the running gear....seems like metal to wood contact is better than metal to metal under the wood stringer. I was thinking about maybe on top of the stringer under the 4x4 cross beams. I'm thinking still about deck wood. Can't get rough cut unless cedar. May end up pressure treated 2x8's but I worry that it may be slippery. Appreciate any thoughts.
 

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