Honestly how many people can back a 4 wheel wagon

To me a 4 wheel wagon looks difficult to impossible to back.
Ive talked to several people who claim that they can do it but no one ever proves it.
I know that it can be done



Honestly how many people can honestly back a 4 wheel farm wagon.

No cheating tho you can't hook it up on the tractor front bumper either


Thanks i am just curious
 
I learned as a kid, backing in wagons of hay. Its been years now. But it sure made me good at backing up two wheel trailers as an adult.
 
There is a reason why there are so many old tractors with narrow front ends.
 
No problem at all with my narrow front 4020. Now with the wide front 4020 it might take a second or third try to get it where I want it. A short wagon like a gravity wagon backs harder than a long hay wagon. Tom
 
My friend could back up a forage harvester and two single axle trailers all hooked in tandem. He could even back them up around a corner. Amazing what experience and practice can teach you!
 
I too backed a lot of wagons in my younger days. My dad chopper trashed and we had to back the chopper wagons up to the blower because we couldn't drive thru. Lot easier if you have a tractor with power steering. Now in my old age I usually use the front hitch on my Farmall H to back gravity boxes into the shed. Al
 
For me the key is being able to watch the wagon tongue as I back up. With my admittedly limited skills at this task backing a wagon with a pickup is almost impossible but with a tractor and a view of the tongue I can make it go pretty much where I want it. The shorter turning radius of a tractor helps too.
 
I can still do it with a tractor and did it lots as a kid. Kinda like riding a bicycle, once you learn you never forget. Dad always said to watch the tongue and make it go in the direction that you want the back of the wagon go. I still remember that and use it today. Another trick is to make the front of the tractor go in the opposite direction you want the rear of the wagon go, so turn the front of the tractor to the left and the wagon goes right.
 
I never got the hang of it, but my Uncle was a pro at it. Flat hay rack with 110-120 bales right up the barn hill with that little John Deere M, like nobody?s business!
 
From a Case slide... Now is he backing in or pulling out?
cvphoto41272.jpg
 
I can do it. Don't often get the chance anymore, as I don't farm myself. Plus, the old neck doesn't turn the way it used to. Out at Farmamerica where I volunteer I still get the chance to show off occasionally. One time out there I backed a hay rack around a corner on a slight uphill grade with a Model A John Deere!
 
Backed a lot of 4 wheel wagons with tractors and pickups...no big deal. Drove semi for almost 30 years and never had trouble backing them either. Some drivers had a heckuva time...
 
I have drove truck for 45 yrs and can put a trailer most anywhere I want but if you want me to back in a 4 wheel wagon you had better bring lunch with you because we are going to be here awhile
 
Combine late with rain coming, would back 2 wagons (one at a time!) into the corn crib. So the first one was a long ways back. Hill in front of the crib so have to start sideways too, make a 90 into the crib. Not a lot of width either.

Frequently back the wagon or hayrack into a good sized door. Watch the hitch, when you get over centered just a little pull ahead a couple feet and retry. You need to be aiming the front wheels as you back.

A good sharp turning tractor helps a lot. A tight wagon steering helps. A longer wheelbase helps.

Just backed one in 2 days ago, I looked like it was my first time driving couldn?t get it to work, made a dozen attempts. That wagon has loose steering, and I just wasn?t getting it...... had to laugh at myself. Was backing in a 24 foot door and almost couldn?t do it!

Paul
 

I learned to back 4 wheel farm wagons in my youth while oats were harvested on our family farm. I utilized a JD L tractor to tow trailers. I had to back the wagon under a shed to a grain bin door. I also won an FFA tractor driving skills test while in high school which included backing a farm trailer.
 
Been doing it since I was 12 or 13 and I'd rather have the wagon hooked to the rear.Like a trailer you can back a wagon into to places you can't hardly pull one in.
 
I used to be able to back one just about anywhere. I backed one loaded with hay one time into a guys barn with my pickup - that was a challenge as you can't see much of anything except what is in the side mirror. Now that I'm getting older it is really hard to back up anything, even a tractor to hitch up a wagon as I've lost a lot of flexibility in my neck to turn my head and see what is happening. Fortunately I don't have to back up wagons much any more.
 
Now you are bringing back memories from my youth with a Farmall Super C. In later years it was newer and larger tractors but the principal is the same. It is not difficult to do and much easier if the steering on the wagon is tight. Not too many years ago I had the 'opportunity' to teach relation to a neighbor how to back a travel trailer behind a pick up truck as they wanted to go to FL. That was like trying to teach Sanskrit to an Eskimo if you will. They could not get the hang of which way to turn the steering wheel to get the trailer to go where they wanted. Finally I made a little model out of two pieces of paper with a paper clip attaching them. That helped as much as anything I could say or explain.
 
Never could. I drive a semi with a 50 foot trailer, tried to back my 16 foot car trailer the other day and it was like I had never backed up. Sure glad the dogs were patient.
 
I can do it, but if there is a rule you can't pull up about ten times I'm screwed.
 
I did it quite often when I was a kid. I couldn't back it straight back, it had to be in a 90 degree turn. I once backed 2 wagons hitched together into the shed. They had good tight steering.
 
did any of you men ever back a hay rake with dollie wheels? backing a wagon is one thing but a rake is anouther thing.
 
Do it all summer every year, double hitched 4 wheel wagons are much harder, can't get more than a short distance usually. When learning, it helps to move them by hand, steering with the pole while other people push. When you get on the tractor, picture your hands where the drawbar is, picture what you need to do with the pole before deciding what to do with the tractor.

Odd enough experience using a pallet jack translates into steering 4 wheel wagons.

Same as the other fellow, will go from backing 4 wheel wagons into sheds with inches to spare and big goosenecks etc to a short bumper pull utility trailer behind truck, look like a drunken sailer and need acres of room. So frustrating.
 
I do it quite often, many years ago took first place at the Minnesota State Fair with the FFA event. My secret is the slower the tractor the better. Gordy in MN
 
have always done it since early years, you just had to learn or carry bales long ways. I would lots of times get hired by neighbors during square baling season to help hay, I was always the wagon backer for the barns. even today get calls from friend who are moving or whatever can you come help, I say why you got plenty help , simple answer was we need someone who can back a trailer. was easy for me brother well that was another story. I just could do it never gave it any thought. wish some other things came that easy for me.
 
I can back a wagon up ! I believe the whole secret is speed. You need to shift to low range, throttle down and back as slowly as you can. This gives you time to watch, assess and correct steering as you back , slowly , surely. Know when to stop and pull ahead to correct angles . I never had a load of hay I couldn't get in , but loaded wagons are a lot harder because you can't see and it means getting off the tractor several times to assess.
 
Learned to do it when I was young, Dad passed when I was 11, one of my jobs was to go to the elevator to get feed ground. Trying to back up to the dock was a night mare all the old men just stood there and laughed, so I spent the rest of the week learning to back the wagon, my 2nd trip was a different story, every body was watching and I put the wagon in place with no change of direction I did get applause from them for that. never hooked to the front of the tractor until a few years ago, at 73 my body does not twist well. Tractor I learned with was a 1946 Ford 2N, still have it today.
 
(quoted from post at 08:47:36 11/08/19) did any of you men ever back a hay rake with dollie wheels? backing a wagon is one thing but a rake is anouther thing.

I assume you're talking about the old style rakes with the two small caster wheels in back? Those work the same as backing a two wheel trailer. Not usually that difficult.
 
You did that backing very well as I was an eye witness! But try those trams that Farmamerica has. They keep you busier that a normal 4 wheel wagon. That may be due to their longer wheelbase but some one here commented that a longer wheelbase makes it easier.
 
I don"t have any trouble backing 2 or 4 wheel wagons. Had 4 wheel forage boxes hooked behind the chopper, opening a hay field, always went to the corner and backed up, then made the turn. Same with a baler and thrower wagon. Countless times I hooked 2-3 loaded wagons behind the chopper or baler. 14 yo son won a competition at the county fair...he had been backing a couple of years. Impressed a neighbor at 12yo- backed a gravity box of shelled corn up to a portable dryer- first time he tried that. When daughter was in Army, she taught soldiers how to back two wheel trailers at Camp Mackall, near Ft. Bragg, while on SF training missions.That had to go over well with the guys.

The secret to easy backing is to take it slow and always watch the trailer tongue, never letting it get too far out of alignment. That can e tricky when the chopper hitch is offset from the centerline.
 
I push the 4 wheel forage wagons in on the threshing floor of the barn with the front hitch on my Case 930.
cvphoto41386.jpg

Like many farm kids, backing 4 wheel flat rack hay wagons, was just something I was expected to learn to do. When backing a wagon it is very important to have a easy to steer tractor. , and don?t think a whole lot about where the tractor is going, just focus on where you want the back of the wagon to go. Then follow the wagon.
 
Up till 95 I helped put everything in a shed. 5 hay racks, three chopper wagons and multiple gravity,barge and flare wagons.Could put a 16 foot chopper wagon almost to the back of a 40 x 60 building with a 400 Farmall with a wide front and manual steering in one try. Worst tractor was the 1466 at idle, best were the smaller row crops. Probably the favorite was the 230 Farmall. Now I get to watch unless I help a local and that is not often so I have lost practice.We put everything away at the end of the day including the tractors.
 
One of my cousins have won many awards for backing them but that was also when he was say 12-18 years old
 
I can do it but with the handicap of having no power steering, a hand clutch and a neck too old to turn far enough it is a challenge. I used to work with a guy who claimed his father would back two wagons hooked together around a corner into a parking spot. I would like to see that done.
 
Most of the older people who grew up on smaller farms can do it well.A narrow front tractor helps alot.You need to take your time.The more you do it the more you will hone the skill.
 
Done it hundreds if not thousands of times, hadtough go of it this morning with a small gravity wagon with short wheel base hooked to a 4wd tractor backing around a couple bends, was some cussing involved! Backed my fair share of wagons with a tractor and chopper or picker, that is tough, the more loose the running gear and short wheel base the tougher!
 
I've done lots but not for awhile. We used to harvest corn with a New Idea picker/sheller into 200 bushel wagons. The wagons had to be put together in pairs to go to the elevator. The rear wagon would have enough weight on the steering axle that I learned early on to back the front one to it centered.
 
Most guys gan back a four wheel wagon with enough experience and practice. The ergonomics in the steering varies between brands of wagons too. With the more modern wagons a killbros wagon gear responds slowly making it klutzy. A Westendorf responds quicker and is more nimble. The old light weight Case gears are nimble! The heavier Case gears, not so much. When I am backing a wagon in a door I like to start at an angle. That way I can watch the rear wheel. A loaded hay rack is tricky.
 
I can back up wagons pretty good in reverse. A slow reverse and power steering helps. I can hook a wagon to the front bumper of my NAA or 4000 Ford and back it in anywhere it would fit going forward. Pushing loaded hay wagons with the front bumper is a little harder as some times the front wheels on the tractor will slide instead of steer as the front end is a little light.
 
used to hate it as a kid but over time my technique has improved. I do prefer a narrow front but can do it with a wide front if it's all I have.
 
Can be very difficult. Especially if wagon is loaded (like haywagon) and you cant really see where back end is going. Very helpful if running gear steering is tight. Loose steering complicates things. A front pusher hitch and tricycle tractor are very helpful. ( I have a hitch on front of Farmall C which pivots with the pedistal. Not make it easier.) Need to fix up a hitch on front of tractor. Backing around corners is especially difficult. Im getting better, but work awfully hard not to back up wagons. Planning! Only been doing it for 55 years!
 
(quoted from post at 20:24:45 11/07/19) To me a 4 wheel wagon looks difficult to impossible to back.
Ive talked to several people who claim that they can do it but no one ever proves it.
I know that it can be done



Honestly how many people can honestly back a 4 wheel farm wagon.

No cheating tho you can't hook it up on the tractor front bumper either


Thanks i am just curious

I can back up a wagon easily. I've been doing it since I was a kid. Just takes practice.

Want some more fun? back up wagon with manual trans pickup using mirrors. Did that for fun just to say I could, way slower that tractor though.

I can also back up a wagon while hitched behind a square baler if I have to.

I can back this up as well but avoid doing since it's a real exercise in patience.

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When I was a kid there were competitions around here. I was 10 and I could pull up 90 degree to the cones, and back it in between the cones in one try. I did most of those with a Ferguson to20
But I really preferred a farmall 12. With that old 12 I could place that wagon dead center between the cones.

It's been nearly 30 years since the last time I did that, so I am probably pretty rusty.

Key is not to use a swinging drawbar.
 
Our pole barn is drive through. Room enough for 3 wagons. Pull first one and back in the other two. I cant do it if really tired or if I think about it too much Old timer used to shake his head in amazement when I delivered to his place and backed in no problem. He said another old timer told him you can never back up a four wheel wagon. I replied, No one ever told me I couldnt do it!
 
Sunday nite had to back a seed gravity flow into the shed, before the rain/snow. Has a auger and hose on the right and the backhoe was in the 18ft bay before. Just had about 6 " total, and the steering is loose. But had a hydrostatic tractor. Got off numerous times to look. I was worn out.
 
Seriously, I do it ALL THE TIME.
I have to back the chopper boxes into the shed constantly or the people around here will have a heart attack if they get one drop of rain on them.
 
Uncle bet me $20 when I was 16 I couldn't back two hay wagons into barn at the same time. He still owes me $20 LOL
 
When I first started hauling in oats or ear corn we drove thru our corn crib, Kewanee inside elevator, the horizontal drag was in the middle of the driveway. When Dad and Grandpa stopped trading help picking corn I hauled in on Saturday's when we picked like crazy. Used the NFE Super H, no power steering but steered easy, finally got so I barely had to slip the clutch. The BIG Electric Wheel/Oliver flarebox was too heavy to pull over the platform scale in the back of the crib, was a slight incline on the front end of the crib but no problem with power or traction. A slight angle was easiest to get started, could see the relationship of the wagon to the crib door. An IH with TA like the SM-TA or 450 and power steering would have been a touch easier than the SH. Backed loads of hay from time to time, gears under the hay racks for our baling crew were really wore, very loose steering. 2-wheel carts I backed many times a day, water wagon to haul water to the hog pasture, the Heider auger wagon with hog feed, backing trailers with a pickup is no problem either. When I drove semi I could back up empty 45 ft trailers in high reverse, 48 and 53 footers would have been easier. After a steady diet of 40 & 45 ft trailers I had to load a 20 ft container, was a b-tch! Took me two attempts to get it in the dock! I entered a couple tractor driving contests one year I was in High school, the organizer got the exact same 3020 gas NFE, they do NOT turn sharp, the WFE are even worse, only way you could do either 2 or 4 wheel contest required sliding the frt wheels sideways hard on the brake slipping the clutch, stalling the tractor cost penalty points. Neighbor was the judge, guess he won Illinois State contest a couple times.
Dad drove trucks before you needed a chauffer license, ran heavy equipment in the Army, including trucks. He backed stuff up and he expected Me to also.
 
(quoted from post at 20:24:45 11/07/19) To me a 4 wheel wagon looks difficult to impossible to back.
Ive talked to several people who claim that they can do it but no one ever proves it.
I know that it can be done



Honestly how many people can honestly back a 4 wheel farm wagon.

No cheating tho you can't hook it up on the tractor front bumper either


Thanks i am just curious
can back a loaded car dollie with my pickup. Same concept just shorter and no barn to knock down if you get crooked.
 
I can back them around corners or whatever with a tractor where I can see the tongue and wheels. With a pick-up maybe can back 20-30 straight back.
 

Try it with a two cylinder Deere and a hand clutch . All you have to do is think ahead and plan your moves to backup a wagon .
 
Neighbor was the best I ever saw , had a ac wc with hand clutch , did it very well I was envious.
They use to have 4h competition at the local Ashtabula county fair . Never saw it I was to little.
 

Depends on the wagon . The old Deere 643 etc chassis were the neatest to backup . Some brand X short line jobber wagon chassis snaked side to side as much backing up as they swayed down the road going forwards .
A slow reverse and power steering goes a long way .
 
Not saying it cant be done but I find it quicker to just hook it to the front end of tractor. I have a favorite tractor that I use for backing wagons in that has power steering and good brakes
 
Drove semi trucks for 24 yrs. Pulled 45' thru 53' trailers. Also pulled 32' with single axle. Much of my driving career was delivering LTL in Chicago. If you haven't done LTL you didn't get the chance to back up as much. Started running the West Coast and thought I knew how to drive. LTL is its own kind of joy. Got very good at backing up trailers in some God awful situations in the inner city. Won't go into low bridges and under passes back before they dug out most of them.

But backing up worn out hay wagons you would laugh. I can do it but my patience is usually gone by the time I get my wagon parked with out tearing up the rack. I now use my skid steer to park them. So much faster than with me backing up with a tractor. Short distances no problem. Either place I can park a loaded wagon under a roof there is other machinery or just plain tight clearances. Getting up and down off a 460/560 with fast hitch 5-6 times to make sure your not wrecking something tires me out. I can put a wagon or baler in any spot I want in one or two tries with a skid steer. A luxury owning one of them. By the time I snake a loaded hay wagon under a roof snow might be flying not to mention backing into something over hanging just far enough to be hit. I did not grow up backing up gravity boxes {the worst for me to try} or wagons. I have put 48" trailers into some horribly tight spots in Chicago that most people would not attempt. But wagons and gravity boxes give me a run for my money. Congrats to those who do it well. To me it is often like "backing up a rope". My motto, "Give the laziest man the hardest job and he will find the easiest way to do it". . Give me a skid steer.

Regards, John.
 
(quoted from post at 20:26:35 11/07/19) I learned as a kid, backing in wagons of hay. Its been years now. But it sure made me good at backing up two wheel trailers as an adult.

Same for me. The wagons only had a couple feet on each side to get them in the barn, and with a load of hay it was hard to see where you were going.
 

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