need advice about wheels

[cogburn717]

I am having a 4x6 coop made and want to put it on wheels. I am not sure lawnmower tires will be big enough. Anyone have other ideas? DH says it will weigh a thousand pounds and I'll never move it. Tell him he's wrong!! How do you attach them? Do all four have to pivot or just the two front ones? Any advice will be much appreciated.

 

[valentinebaby]

If you have a local Tractor Supply Store, I'd visit them and see if any of their sales people can help you pick out tires that would hold your chicken tractor. Good luck!

 

[fishshocker]

I found these10"pnuematic tires at harbor freight:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=30900

I haven't put them on yet, but I've come up with 2 options so far... I have 2- 4"X4" post cut to the correct lenght, then I'm going to put 8" x 5/8ths machine screws into the ends of the 4x4s. Then I'll have 2-4x4 axles, but that is adding extra weight, my other option is to use 2 pieces of 5/8ths rolled steel for the axle, with washers and cotter pins to secure it. I've got a piece of galvinzed electrical conduit that the rolled steel will fit through, and I can mount the conduit to the bottom of the coop, thus eliminating the need for the 4x4s...but my rolled steel is a little to short right now....have to find a welder to add about 4"s to each piece.

check this for ideas on levers for the wheels:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=169691

 

[twentynine]

Tractor supply has their 4X3.50 pnuematic tires on sale for $4 ea. Perfect for what you are doing.

 

[FaereChicken]

You will need wheels *and* brackets to mount them with. I will get DH to write down where he got ours...

 

[FaereChicken]

He writes:

The casters on the front are 8"x2 1/2" pneumatic rubber wheel swivel casters and I got them for $42.00 for the pair from:

http://stores.shop.ebay.com/Access-Casters__W0QQ_armrsZ1

The brackets came from the jack points of an old travel trailer so probably not easily duplicated. They're made of 1/8" - 3/16" thick steel and measure 6" across. The leg that attaches to the caster is 10" long and the other is 5" long. They have 45 degree gussets welded inside the "L". Something like this would probably have to be fabricated.

The rear wheels are 10" diameter by about 2" wide with solid rubber tires and a 5/8" dia. ball bearing hub. I consider them to be barely adequate to support the weight and if I knew then what I know now, I would have gone for larger, wider pneumatic wheels -- probably like the front wheels on a lawn tractor. I've seen them on eBay under "riding mower front wheels"."

Hope this helps. Our coop is really almost too heavy to move easily for 2 people (esp. up hill), but the lawn tractor pulls it.

 

[cogburn717]

Everyone has been very helpful. We are doing our research. I can't wait until the tractor is done and I can post a picture of it. Thanks all.