douglas carroll
Member
did you see the doodlebug on ebay? were these very popular at one time? what kind of implements did they pull?
- Thread starter douglas carroll
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Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
My theory is that farmers with horses would have liked a tractor but couldn't afford one so they cobbed up these rigs to pull their horsedrawn mowers, spreaders, etc.
fixerupper
Well-known Member
A year ago I worked on one a friend of mine had bought. This one happened to be a shortened up model A Ford one ton, or AA Ford for the purists. The rear axle was right behind the driver's seat. It was fun to drive, but kinda wild to keep on the road when it was wrapped up. He said it came out of Wisconsin and was used to skid logs.
I get the idea they were made during the depression days or maybe during the second war when tractors were scarce. Jim
I get the idea they were made during the depression days or maybe during the second war when tractors were scarce. Jim
Jim in Ma.
Well-known Member
I have seen old adds for kits. Sears sold one at one time , I'm sure others did too. Some were better then others and pulled most things a team of horses could.
Jim in Ma.
Well-known Member
I have seen old adds for kits. Sears sold one at one time , I'm sure others did too. Some were better then others and pulled most things a team of horses could.
fixerupper
Well-known Member
You know, after I think about it the one I worked on did come from Michigan instead of Wisconsin. (sigh) Jim
Most when they were made there were NO used car dealers to trade in your old car when you bought a new one and they were still mechanicly sound enough that it was a cheap way of getting tractor power for use on the farm and better than junking the car. And you either found a setup that used a chain drive from the car axle to the drive wheels to provide a gear reduction to ground speed needed or you found a junk truck with 20" wheels and transmission to put back of the car frame, front axle, engine and transmission. You put the extra transmission in low and kept it there for the needed gear reduction. Most with rear rubber were made this way while most with the chain reduction were on steel rear wheels with the car tires on the front. This type of setup on a Ford Model T could do about the same work as the Fordson tractor and for less money and also have lights and starter.
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
Both my grandfathers from Michigan had doodlebugs. the one that farmed had a WC Allis and a Bug made from a 1917 Dodge. Shortened with a truck rear end it was my moms tractor. Pulle a harrow, hay mower, rake, and corn binder.
My other grandfather had a big garden. His bug was made from a Nash car. Plowed pulled a harrow.
Jerry
My other grandfather had a big garden. His bug was made from a Nash car. Plowed pulled a harrow.
Jerry
Tom from Ontario
Member
I was at a customer's farm once and they had just restored her Dad's doodlebug. A 38 dodge one ton, rear axle fastened to the Shortened frame. Back of the cab was cut out for visibility. Used to pull a 2x12 plough and 7 foot disk and all the other gear that went with it. said it went through a lot of gas and they had stuck another rad on the front, but it got their work done until about 1955 when they got a 33 Massey. They buffed it up and painted it and they think they will still pull wagons around with it.
Here is the one my Dad built up in the late 30's. Model "A" engine, Fordson radiator and two transmissions. I can remember plowing our garden with it. It would go way to fast down the road with both transmissions in high. Also with both in reverse it would go forward.
This picture was taken at the local show in 2005. Also pictured is my 1927 10-20.
This picture was taken at the local show in 2005. Also pictured is my 1927 10-20.
GChase, I've seen auger wagons (grain carts) made from the doodlebug as you describe. One fellow had one made from a WWII army 6x6 with the rear tandom axle removed and geared down, driving four 18-26 rice tires. I saw one built on a half track. A neighbor stripped a MH21 combine down and built the hopper/grain tank on it. All were a pain to steer w/o power steering.
CLTX, yes the ones built around here mostly in the late 60s and early 70s where geared down mostly with two trannys. Some were auxilary trannys but most where two old grany four speeds with a short drive shaft between .Back then no 4wd or front wheel assist tractors existed.Two wheel drive tractors could not pull a full augar cart in a wet rice field.They built the doodlebugs so when loaded all the weight was over the rear axle and they would go like h#ll loaded but as you say "took forty acres to turn em!!!!!!
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