hay rack

Justin SE IOWA · Jul 4, 2011

I am going to be building my hay rack this week. It will be 8 feet wide and 16 feet long. My running gear is 9 feet long axel to axel and it cant be stretched out any more. So Im thinking of having 18 inches of overhang on the front and 5 1/2 feet overhang on the back. Is that to much? If so I will cut the center 3 inch tube on the gear and stretch it out a little more. What do you think? Also how do you connect the 4x6's to the gear? Bolt soild or chain so there is some flex? All help and advice is appretiated.

johndeeregene · Jul 4, 2011

i just built one, i put 3 over the back 2 in the front, that is the most i could have with the tongue length i had. i think 5 1/2 is to much over hang, as to tieing it down in one bolt in opposite corners of the bolster, they put a length of chain around the other 2 with a little slack, not a whole lot just a little.
just my 2 cents an that is all it worth to. send ya a bill later,
johndeeregene

OLD HECTOR · Jul 4, 2011

That would probably work but you best start loading the front first, and start unloading from the back. I would lengthen the center pole out and have the same amount of overhang front and back,maybe make some ubolts up out of all thread rod for tying your timbers down.

paul · Jul 5, 2011

For twisting we like to attach the stringers are the rear 2 cotrners, let the front 2 free. Yea, full load will twist the stringers anyhow, but they prefer some give & room to move their own way, and empty the hayrack will like you a lot better.

However, with 5.5 feet of overhang to the rear, you are going to have problems with the hayrack flipping back when you stack 5 high on the rear 2 rows, and over it will go. Heck, don't know if you'd get the first row done & it would flip back... I'd not want much more than 3 feet of overhang. imho

--->Paul

Paul from MI · Jul 5, 2011

5-1/2 feet is way too much in back. One of mine had about 3-1/2 and it got a little bouncy when the back tier was finished(25 bales). Fastened with chains to the gear to allow some movement so it couldn't come clear up, but you could still feel it. Lengthen the reach on your gear and you'll be happier.

Anonymous-0 · Jul 5, 2011

I agree completely with johndeeregene.

Areo

GordoSD · Jul 5, 2011

First thing you want to do is mount up the wheels and tires you plan on having when the project is complete. Nothing like building a rack and the tires rub on the bottom.
I laminated 2 x 6's for the stringers. Then added one more flat on top for the correct height. I ran 2x6's crossways for the deck. 3/16 inch gaps. 4x4's crosswise between the stringers. Stringer bolted to the gear at back free to float at the front.
Used those special German round head screws with the torx heads so I didn't have holes in the deck for water to pool up in.

hay rack

Justin SE IOWA

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johndeeregene

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OLD HECTOR

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paul

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Paul from MI

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Anonymous-0

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GordoSD

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