Haywagon steering question

This particular wagon had been sitting around for 20+ years. It is all there and in remarkably good shape save for the tongue. This wagon was equipped with a sliding tongue that actuated drum brakes on the rear wheels for over the road use. The tongue has been lost.

Fabricating a tongue is not a problem.

However, the stories i hear of backing these things up have me a tad worried.

I wonder if I could put a rigid hitch on this thing to make it tow more like a regular trailer. If I leave the front wheels turn-able, and put some kind of spring mechanism on the front tie rod will the wheels turn on their own to follow the tractor?

The front steering on this wagon (and maybe all hay wagons for all I know) has no castor. This means that the wheels will do the same thing being pulled forward or pushed backwards. though that might mean that it does both poorly.

I would be grateful for any input.

Bob
East Hampton, CT

Not only did it provide a better view of the situation, but it allowed quicker recovery.

Are you worried about a brake equipped wagon being difficult to back up? Just make a hole so you can put a pin in the 'sliding' section of the tongue and lock it from actuating the brakes. No problem.

Are you worried about how to back up a wagon vs backing up a trailer because of the steering front axle? Practice, practice, practice.... With such a short wheelbase, yes it will be very difficult to back up. But the solid axle won't work. you load it up with weight, & both front wheels will angle backwards...

For it's size & having brakes, it musta been a water wagon?

--->Paul

I'm not going to use the rear brakes. If I do replace the tongue with a "traditional" haywagon tongue it will be solid.

The wagon itself has a flat deck, so unless they put a tank on top of it, I don't think it carried water. Though I'm so far down the chain of owners the original use of the wagon has been lost.

What do you mean that the front wheel will angle backwards? Do you mean they will go toe out? i would keep the tie rod on the front wheels to make sure that they turn in unison.

B

Ah, yes, leaving the wheels connected. No, it wouldn't toe out then. And yor hitch would pivot up & down, but not side to side.

I still don't think it would work to any satisfaction. Never seen it, & i've seen a lot of things tried....

--->Paul