Running Gear Advice

sodly · Oct 5, 2010

Looking for advice about good and not-so-good brands of running gear in the 8-12 ton range, single axle style. Are there brands to avoid? I've always heard John Deeres trail the best down the road but what about more modern alternatives? I see there are a lot of them. What are the most popular modern brands? I'm just looking for something reasonably priced to make a nice hayrack ride trailer (with bench seating) out of, nothing too serious in terms of weight or stress. Need to haul about 25 people at a time. Does anyone have experience building something like that? I guess you could theoretically make one about as long as you wanted if you just extend the gear all the way out, right?

Also, does anyone have any experience with PK Mfg. running gear sets out of Omaha? Thanks.

MikeinKy · Oct 5, 2010

John Deere. I have had a lot of wagons of various brands, and after a few years they start to wobble on the road. I am not a John Deere fanatic. I own different brands of equipment, including tractors. I have an old John Deere 963 that was purchased new in 1950, I have the original invoice, I can pull it on the road 60 MPH. I have John Deere, Massey, IH tractors and like all of them. I do have an old IH model 70 wagon gear and it pulls fairly good. I have been at auctions and been lucky and bought some for $250-400 for the old ones. You can buy the late model heavy gears for under $1000.00 That is cheaper than another brand new that don't track.

Anonymous-0 · Oct 5, 2010

Westendorf

Brad Gyde · Oct 5, 2010

Grandpa has a few Allis Chalmers gears with I believe 225 bushel boxes on em.. had em my whole life, seem to still pull good.

He also has 2 Pequea (I think that's how it's spelled) and they seem pretty good, but neither of them have a whole lot of traveling on them.

Seems like the newest wagon he has (3 years old or so) is a Unverferth and also seems pretty swell..

Now, how good will they be if they've had a lot of "miles" on them, I can't say.. but they look like they'd be pretty sturdy and long lasting units.

Brad

sodly · Oct 5, 2010

Are there any brands to specifically avoid? This will be pretty low usage and probably only pulled behind an old tractor, not a pickup, so speed on the road probably won't be a big issue.

Has anyone built a people-carrier before? Would love to see pics.

farmer boy · Oct 5, 2010

We have an old John Deere running gear with a wooden flat rack that tracks really nice at 65 mph. One rear axle is bent so maybe it was overloaded at one point. Horst is the #1 gear sold around here. There are also Martin gears around here. http://www.martinwagons.com/farm-wagons/ A few others but I would say most are Horst. From what I've seen they are a well made heavy duty wagon that will track real straight.
Horst Running Gear

Fordfarmer · Oct 5, 2010

I've run at least 6 or 7 brands of running gears, and EZ Trail have been by far the best for me. Have one that's more than 40 years old, and still trails good. I'd avoid New Holland and another brand I can't think of right now, due to the slop in their pole/steering. The way they're made gaurantees they will be sloppy, eventually. I also don't like the H&S I have - won't back up worth a darn - something about the pole and/or steering on it. I keep hearing good things about Horst, but have never used, or even seen one.

paul · Oct 5, 2010

I'd think a good-shape 5 ton older running gear would suit your 6000 lb load just fine, at a much better value for the dollar. Spend the money on safe railing & seating & steps to keep folks safe.

Tight hitch & steering arms are the key.

--->Paul

thurlow · Oct 5, 2010

Don't have a pic, but I've seen several at shows that used an extended tandem-wheel trailer w/a gooseneck dolly on front; can be pulled behind either truck or tractor.

Anonymous-0 · Oct 6, 2010

a Westendorf was always underrated. ie; a westendorf 6t was as heavy as others 8t, we had a #45 and #47 Kewanee that treated us good as well as J&M's& Electrics, older Cases trail good but are 4.5t. ones I avoid are Minnesotas and jd's. Mn's don't trail well and jd's are light built and often have bent spindles

Dick L · Oct 6, 2010

I can run 55 with my John Deere wagon without the least bit of sway. I see my grand daughters on the road with my killbrothers hopper wgons and don't see any sway but they are going about 25 or so. I never used the pickup to pull them, I always used the 1850 to move them.

JDseller · Oct 6, 2010

I would say the best are JD 953 and 963 for the money. They can be bought for $400-600 in good shape. A little newer model is JD 1065A that have a very good extension tongue.
Next best that I have pulled are J&M they make a real good 8 ton gear that can be found for that $600-800 range.
Stay away from Kory brand. They are sold at TSC and Theisens farm stores they sway from day one. Electric gears are a cheap low quality wagon also.
As for PK wagons out of Omaha they are a good wagon but you will find they are not cheap new.

About any wagon can be made to pull good. You just need to take out all of the clearance in the steering linkage. Then set the toe in to 1/8 to 3/16 of an inch and it will pull good. I also have put a steering stabilizer kit off of a 4wd pickup on the steering linkage and that makes them pull well.

NW Ohio Tim · Oct 7, 2010

I've been told Cobey's have odd-ball size bearings and spindles and you can't get parts anymore. I don't know if that's true, but the one I have get's pretty good maintenance so I don't have to find out.

It's a good gear though, 50 mph ,,, straight as an arrow.

Tim

Running Gear Advice

sodly

Member

MikeinKy

Well-known Member

Anonymous-0

Well-known Member

Brad Gyde

Member

sodly

Member

farmer boy

Well-known Member

Fordfarmer

Well-known Member

paul

Well-known Member

thurlow

Well-known Member

Anonymous-0

Well-known Member

Dick L

Well-known Member

JDseller

Well-known Member

NW Ohio Tim

Member

Similar threads