adding wheels to a chicken tractor

[bigmrg74]

I've in the process of building a chicken tractor. I currently have the enclosed run done and have the girls living in there with a few roosts and a barrel for them to crash in. One of the roosts currently in there is one of the saw horses that I used to help build the frame, so to move it right now I have to move that up towards the front of the coop. the barrel is just on its side and can roll as I slide it. I've attached a rope to the frame using some old gate hinges I found, and I do have a four wheeler that can easily pull it, but it would be a big pain in the butt to pull that out just to move things a few feet.

I'm a pretty big fella, so I can pull it a few feet when I want to, but going up a slight uphill grade with it right now is darn near about my limits. I may have built it beefier than what it needs to be. I am thinking about adding some wheels to the tractor that easily be raised and lowered for much more ease of pulling. I was just wondering if anybody here has any good examples of an easy to build wheel raising system for their tractors?

 

[jetdog]

I've seen people use a jack for the front of a boat, they crank it up a little when moving then lower it down once in place.

 

[vehve]

Those trailer front wheels might be a good idea. Over here trailers usually have a smaller front wheel that can be lowered when needed, and raised during driving. You could whip up something with those.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Using two through bolts with doubled up washers you can attach a frame containing two wheels that can swing down. If you drill holes to insert a pin then the only real pain is lifting that end of tractor for wheels to make contact with ground and your pin holes to line up. A fold and go wheel system.

My wheels are attached right to the bottom frame and yes, I'll hit ground when moving on uneven terrain due to little clearance. If I ever build again I'll make two fold down wheel frames for more height when moving and frame on ground for better protection when at rest.

 

[bigmrg74]

I've seen people use a jack for the front of a boat, they crank it up a little when moving then lower it down once in place.

That might be a thought, just not sure how to engineer that all together.

 

[B-Goock]

You could just make a swing arm with a wheel on it. Maybe just a pin to hold it in position while you move it then pull the pin and it sets on the ground. The pin could be as simple as a bolt long enough to go through the swing arm and the tractor frame.

You could put a pair on the back and lift the front to move it or better yet make it 4 wheel with swing arms on all 4 corners. Yeah 4WD. Swing arm could just be a piece of wood and the wheel from a lawn mower or something. Just lift one corner and pin the swing arm with the wheel down, Do the other corner and mobile.

 

[Hokum Coco]

http://www.avianaquamiser.com/posts/Wheel_lift_for_a_chicken_tractor/

 

[Hokum Coco]

. I am thinking about adding some wheels to the tractor that easily be raised and lowered for much more ease of pulling. I was just wondering if anybody here has any good examples of an easy to build wheel raising system for their tractors?

http://www.avianaquamiser.com/posts/Wheel_lift_for_a_chicken_tractor/

 

[bigmrg74]

http://www.avianaquamiser.com/posts/Wheel_lift_for_a_chicken_tractor/

Thanks, I think I've seen that before, but that expands on the idea a little more with a few more explaining the engineering of it.