Coop tractor wheels

[mnjpando]

I need design help for attaching wheels on my tractor coop 4x6 hen house with an attached 6x8 foot run.

 

[mnjpando]

No one?? I need a good design idea to attach to the back of a tractor style coop. It is about 13 foot loong and about 400 lbs on grass

 

[Arty]

Hello-What you are asking is not easy, given the wheel design was not an integral part of the overall design. You seem to be adding wheels as an afterthought. But there is a solution to every problem. You need to think like an Egyptian. No joke. The Egyptians build the Pyramids using logs as rollers to move very heavy stones.

A modern adaptation of that idea is to use lengths of PVC pipe as rollers. Lift up the lighter end of the coop and place a length of PVC underneath. Pull the coop forward and add another pipe. I would think 5 or 6 lengths would get the job done.

Here is a similar idea. I took this photo in Norway. You would adapt the length of the pipe to fit your situation.

I think the PVC will be much easier and less expensive than trying to build a wheel assembly for a coop such as yours.

Good luck.

 

[twentynine]

Here you go with pictures.

Tractor in down position wheels lifted up and out of the way.

Tractor in travel position, wheels down, ready to move.

Here is a close up of the actual attachment, mechanics.

 

[patandchickens]

Before you think about moving that, you'd be well advised to slap some good diagonal bracing on the run portion. That kind of construction is NOT going to take well to being moved and jostled. It will work its way apart fairly quickly, even if you've used L-brace hardware. Use 1x4 or 2x4 lumber, screwed well to the frame, in large diagonals both directions on all sides.

To add wheels, there are many options, but most people use lawnmower wheels on appropriate-sized bolts as axles (must be put through significant sized lumber on tractor frame, which may mean adding lumber).

Are you suuuuuure that thing is going to be light and strong enough to move more than once or twice, though?

Good luck, ahve fun,

Pat

 

[70monte]

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This is what I did to get my coop off of my trailer and to the spot where it now sits. I bought two 3" diameter 10' lengths of PVC and cut them in half and used them as rollers under the coop. Once I got the coop up on the first piece of PVC, it was pretty easy to move it around. I was going to put the coop up on cement blocks but ended up just leaving the PVC pipe under it. My coop is heavy and I don't want to try lifting it up anymore than I have to.

Wayne

 

[moetrout]

If you have a harbor freight near you they have lots of cheap wheels to choose from.

 

[patimekiller]

I have a 14 ft pen 8 feet wide and it is close to 400 lbs. Check under coop & run design under patimekillers grazing pens here is a pic

the wheels

wheels on all 4 corners lift for transport by me no tractor I just push it around. Easy to move I can move 2 pens this size in under 5 min easy.

 

[brwneggs]

I wondered how you could do that with the wheels. I have looked all over for the know how.

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[brwneggs]

Another question on rasing the wheels- once you get the stick down to raise the wheels, how do you keep it down? I see the stopping point at the top once the stick/board is up.

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