This question is rather vague as I am still at the "idea" stage, and I know little or nothing about what I am proposing, but ...

I would like to use a walk behind tractor (make not defined) to tow a trailer (load around 1 ton). Ideally I would like to drive the wheels of the trailer to improve traction. Do such purpose built products exist? If going the DIY route, would it be possible to hook up the pto via a drive shaft to an axle with differential. Can the speed of the pto be adjusted, or does it normally run at a fixed speed?

Am I talking rubbish?

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks Pete

-- Peter Thomson (peter.thomson@msf.be), February 07, 2002

Answers

I'm not real sure, as we don't do "walk behind tractors" in Australia. However, this sounds to me like you're proposing to put yourself on foot between a driven pulling-implement and a driven trailing-implement. This would NOT be a good time to trip over your toes. Basically, does not sound like a safe proposition.

If you're talking ride-on-trailer, with walk-behind-tractor having become ride-behind-tractor, then it sounds like converting one thing to do a bodged-up job for another. If you're going to pull things, you might well be better off getting a standard four-wheel tractor, and a standard box-trailer.

-- Don Armstrong (from Australia) (darmst@yahoo.com.au), February 07, 2002.

DR power wagons are close to what you want. http://www.countryhomeproducts.com:80/ProductHome.asp?dept%5Fid=300&ms csid=T3NAHS35WB0G9N5KXMBW34FKRBXW0HBC

There are a number of chineese walking tractors around, but most cant be imported due to EPA regulations. http://www.chinadepot.com/walktracindex.html

There are a number of vintage walking tractors arounds, but in the US the walking tractor has turned into the garden tiller.

-- Gary (gws@columbus.rr.com), February 07, 2002.

There used to be an old walk behind called, David Bradley Tractor. If you can find one it would be a starting point. Jim

-- Jim Raymond (jimr@terraworld.net), February 07, 2002.

The number one cause of death on farms is tractor accidents. Big, small, whatever.

I agree with the Aussie. Sounds like a booby trap accident waiting to happen.

-- Rose who worries about farm safety (open_rose@hotmail.com), February 07, 2002.

Thanks for all your responses.

Safety is of course paramount.

To be less vague. The purpose of this "ride behind"/walk behind tractor-trailer is to transport the contents of pit latrines in a peri-urban slum area. Access is very difficult - few roads, only narrow paths - so the smaller the better.

I was thinking that the trailer (small tank) would be securely coupled to the tractor, and the "driver" would operate the machine from a seat on the trailer.

Without the added traction of the driven rear wheels, I doubt if such a tractor would be able to cope with the load over the fairly rough terrain.

Any other suggestions or comments?

Thanks Pete

-- Peter Thomson (peter.thomson@msf.be), February 07, 2002.

Pete, picture this scene; your loaded and moving, the front wheels lose traction, the rear ones don't because they have so much weigt on them - theres going to be a jackknifing - remember seeing tractor trailor wrecks? Where are your body parts going to be when this happens?

-- mitch hearn (moopups@citlink.net), February 07, 2002.

Bolens and many other companies in the 1940's and 50's made just what you are talking about.There are some safety concerns but dolly wheels and like attachments help in this area.The safety of any product lies in the hands of the operator.These type tractors fall in a catagory with chainsaws and the like,if you train yourself to operate it carefull and respect your and the machine's limitations you'll have a useful tool,if you're not going to do that then you'll have an accident waiting to happen.

-- Gary (burnett_gary@msn.com), February 07, 2002.

Why not use 2 david bradly type 2 wheel tractors?? 1 to pull in the frount one to push in the rear!! Dont know if id ride it but i beleave it could work!!

-- Grizz in Western Marylaqnd!! (southerneagle@yahoo.com), February 07, 2002.

I kinda agree with everyone else. The DR machine is close to what you describe, but at a 2000 lb payload - and liquid yet, more unstable - you need a serious machine. I would think a good pickup 4-wheel drive with a tank (you're looking at 200-250 gallons?) mounted on the back would be as good a machine as you could get, and manuverable.

Trying to combine manuverable, high ground clearance, short wheel base, articulated, narrow, and liquid payload is a _difficult_ thing to do, you are looking at a thing that will roll-over quite easily.

Stiner makes a small 4whl drive machine that might fit your needs. Hesston used to, I've seen them. How fast do you need to travel? You sit on the front section of these with the motor, and the payload is on the back.

John Deere makes their 'Gator' series, as well as the company that makes 'The Mule' and other such. These are not articulated as you want, but are pretty manuverable. I do not know their payloads tho. More companies are designing such, I would check them out.

--->Paul

-- paul (ramblerplm@hotmail.com), February 07, 2002.

Those are available today and not uncommon in Europe. The walking tractor in Europe is a serious machine. The BCS sold in this country is probably the best example. I'm not sure if they offer the trailer option.

Goldoni builds walking tractors and offers a trailer whose axle is run via driveshaft from the tractor pto making it a 4x4 with the trailer attached. The driver rides on a seat mounted to the front of the trailer. I believe the trailer goes for about $4,000. A diesel powered Goldoni is not cheap. They runs about $8,000. Farmers in Italy with small acreage use them like small trucks once the trailer is attached.

Mr. Canales of Ferrari Tractors in California imports that kind of equipment. You might find something on his website or email him for some literature.

In Europe there's an unbelievable variety of attachments made for walking tractors. That includes everything from hay balers to rakes to seed drills to flail mowers and so on. I wouldn't be surprised if someone builds a backhoe attachment like Gravely did at one time.

I don't see why you couldn't cobble up something similar yourself.

-- Darren (df1@infi.net), February 07, 2002.

Pete, if you're in Belgium, you've got access to a lot more equipment designed for your conditions than us here in the states. That also means you might be able to find what you need for sale as used equipment.

From what I understand, Italy has a lot of manufacturers that specialize in the equipment you're looking for. You might even be able to buy the parts you need if you're going to build it yourself. It might be worth your while to attend a agricultural equipment show to talk to the manufacturers.

-- Darren (df1@infi.net), February 07, 2002.

Pete, Have you given any thought to using a 4-wheel drive ATV to pull your trailer? A larger utility type ATV will pull a heavy load well. I'm not sure about hauling a ton of liquid at a time, but I've used mine in the past to pull many heavy loads. These machines are quite manuverable, much more so than even the smallest pickup truck. They also aren't that much wider than a large sized walking tractor. I'm guessing that they would also get much better traction for pulling in less than perfect conditions. They are expensive machines, but quite a bit less so than the excellent Goldoni machines mentioned above. Good luck!

-- Murray in ME (lkdmfarm@megalink.net), February 07, 2002.

Maybe I'm not good at visualizing what you want. What I see in my mind's eye is an accident waiting to happen. You're going to put your body between two moving wheeled vehicles, the second one weighing in at a ton? I guess I fail to see this as a good idea. I'll not repeat all the cautions above. I'll just say, "Don't do it!"

Get something that can do the job without putting you at risk. If you end up using a tractor or ATV, make certain you hook anything you're going to tow up at a point beneath the level of the rear axle. If you hook above that level you stand a very good chance of flipping the tractor or ATV over on top of yourself. It takes less than two seconds for that to happen and kills hundreds every year. Be safe. I hope this helps.

-- Gary in Indiana (gk6854@aol.com), February 07, 2002.

Have a lttle faith Gary. It's not only doable but done all the time. Check out the Fort powered trailers via this link. I was thinking they ran about $4000 but the site says they're less.

The other thing is the farmers running those things are operating on some steep hillsides. The walking tractors can be equipped to operate on that type of terrain. Keep in mind they have regular drum brakes and a gear drive using a clutch. There are absolutely no belts.

The only question in my mind is how much such an arrangement could move. If it means anything, a dealer I talked to had never seen anyone stall a diesel powered Goldoni.

-- Darren (df1@infi.net), February 07, 2002.

Darren looks like this tractor with power trailer would operate like an articulating tractor or loader which is a proven design.

-- Gary (burnett_gary@msn.com), February 07, 2002.

Two Wheel tractors very common in Europe with diesel engines, they pull large loads, hay wagons etc. and are used like pickup trucks.

I have a DR Powerwagon it won't carry a ton but it will do 800# or more, it is a real work horse and well worth what I paid for it 5 years ago.Now that was have sold our farm, tractors and all the equipment, the DR is the only unit I have left.

-- hendo (redgate@echoweb.net), February 08, 2002.