Gravity wagons out west

Tractorcedric · Apr 5, 2011

When I farmed in Indiana I had three old gravity wagons. One was on a David bradley gear. Now I have a hobby farm in Utah and would like to find one to haul wheat to the elevator. I guess they were never used around here. Hate to haul one from back east. Hard to find all the stuff you need to relive your childhood.

John A. · Apr 5, 2011

Tractorcedric, When I was in the High Plains from 1980 to 1990 Never saw one farmer use a gravity wagon, they use Single axle or Tandem Medium Duty trucks ie- C60-C65-C70, F600, F700/750, F800/850 for their short hauls.Later, Semis were so cheap at 10K for a decent old road tractor and 15K for an older grain wagon it is more cost effective to buy a semi rig, instead of putting together a brand-New Bob-tail truck to haul grain. Towns are farther apart than in the Midwest, so a truck is a better deal. Not to pick on you just consider the options,
Just hope this helps.
Later,
John A.

ericlb · Apr 6, 2011

john hit it out here, trucks are king, simply due to the distance that must be traveled,they still use the wagons on the our family farm in illinois, but they only have to pull them 5 miles, here in nm there is several places i can still run almost 100 miles and not go thru a town, try that in the eastern half of the US lol

fixerupper · Apr 6, 2011

John, you're right on it. Some of the farmers we harvest wheat for in the west ask us why we use those funny looking slant-sided wagons that weave down the road at 15 MPH. Jim

DeltaRed · Apr 6, 2011

Cedric,You grow wheat in Utah?Where?irrigated or dryland?

Allen Goodman · Apr 6, 2011

Over here in Brush, Colorado. There's a monthly consignment auction. The last month auction they had 4 Parker boxes on JD running gears. Beautiful shape. They went from $1600.00 down to $800.00. The next auction is 27 April. Check their website at AMA Auctions, Brush, Colorado. May have more coming in.

INCase · Apr 6, 2011

Grew up in rural Delaware. Not remote by any means as the whole state is only 100x35 miles at low tide. lots of grain and poultry farmers. VERY VERY few farmers used gravity wagons there. of the farmers I knew only one had one and it was just a little (6 foot tall w/o boards) one to store bean seed in. Most guys even used trucks to haul manure too. alot of those farmers hardly put 1000 miles/year on a grain truck. wasn't uncommon to see 25-40 year old trucks at the watermelon auction (late 80's).

Mike (WA) · Apr 6, 2011

Never seen one used in eastern Washington- in fact, I've never seen one, period. Too far to the elevator, and not much on-farm storage here.

Anonymous-0 · Apr 6, 2011

I had never ever heard of a gravity wagon untill I visited this site. Now our semi's pull them, but we call them grain trailers.

Tractorcedric · Apr 6, 2011

They really weave when you hook two together. Yes I know that a truck would be better to haul with. But my wheat is close to town and I would not have to license a wagon. You would be suprised to see some of the crops that are grown in northern Utah. I have two small places and they are both next to a good canal,lots of water here.

Gravity wagons out west

Tractorcedric

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John A.

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ericlb

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fixerupper

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DeltaRed

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Allen Goodman

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INCase

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Mike (WA)

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Anonymous-0

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Tractorcedric

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