Mobility hack for Salatinn style tractor

I used a Salatin style tractor for my broilers this past run. I did not have the special type of handtruck, so I used a traditional one. It worked okay, but not nearly as smooth as his looks like it works. I borrowed an idea from another style of tractor and just tested it out. It seems 30 enough and like it will work. Simply involves using two carriage bolts into removable wheels to move the tractor.

You need two carriage bolts that are 1/2" by 6" or shorter. You could probably do fine with a 4" bolt. Make sure that it is a galvanized bolt. Get two galvanized nuts and washers that fit. Get two 8 or 9 inch wheels over by the lawnmowers at Lowe's. Finally you need one plate, but you will cut into two. I don't know the name of it, but it was on an endcap at Lowes, near all of the lumber.

Drill a half inch hole in the back bottom corner of the tractor. This is opposite from the side you pull from. Insert one 1/2" x 6" or shorter, galvanized carriage bolt through the hole. Slide the plate over the carriage bolt and screw it and wherever you want. This keeps the screw from wiggling around In the wood. Finally, add the washer and nut. Repeat these steps on the other side. Slide a wheel onto each bolt and then pull. The wheels are not permanently on the tractor, so it is not raised off of the ground ,accept when you move it. If you have multiple tractors running alongside of each other, you can just move the wheels to the next tractor once moved. Here are a few pictures:





It rolls forwards and backwards very easily. If you try it and you don't like it, you did not destroy your tractor in anyway.

Looks like a good idea was thinking of doing something for the next round of broilers last time I just pulled it around. I am going to try and put half pieces of PVC pipe on the bottom of tractor so it slides around that's the idea not mine but I think it will work . I like the idea of not have dolly or anything extra to carry with me.

Thanks! I thought about mounting skis on the bottom so it kinda slides around. I'll see how this setup works. I think I like how I can remove the wheels and keep the tractor on the ground.

LeeBrad said:

I used a Salatin style tractor for my broilers this past run. I did not have the special type of handtruck, so I used a traditional one. It worked okay, but not nearly as smooth as his looks like it works. I borrowed an idea from another style of tractor and just tested it out. It seems 30 enough and like it will work. Simply involves using two carriage bolts into removable wheels to move the tractor.

You need two carriage bolts that are 1/2" by 6" or shorter. You could probably do fine with a 4" bolt. Make sure that it is a galvanized bolt. Get two galvanized nuts and washers that fit. Get two 8 or 9 inch wheels over by the lawnmowers at Lowe's. Finally you need one plate, but you will cut into two. I don't know the name of it, but it was on an endcap at Lowes, near all of the lumber.

Drill a half inch hole in the back bottom corner of the tractor. This is opposite from the side you pull from. Insert one 1/2" x 6" or shorter, galvanized carriage bolt through the hole. Slide the plate over the carriage bolt and screw it and wherever you want. This keeps the screw from wiggling around In the wood. Finally, add the washer and nut. Repeat these steps on the other side. Slide a wheel onto each bolt and then pull. The wheels are not permanently on the tractor, so it is not raised off of the ground ,accept when you move it. If you have multiple tractors running alongside of each other, you can just move the wheels to the next tractor once moved. Here are a few pictures:





It rolls forwards and backwards very easily. If you try it and you don't like it, you did not destroy your tractor in anyway.

Click to expand...

I know where you got that idea from since the plans we used for out tractor has this style of wheel movement. Yes, it works great! I don't have any problem moving my tractor.

Do you have the plans how to build the pen and materials list?