New Sap Trailer

[Big_Eddy]

Made a new Sap Trailer this weekend. Been loading my tanks into a little lawn trailer and overloading it. The narrow wheels and high center of gravity, coupled with spring mud make for interesting hauling and 2 upsets so far.

New trailer should be much easier to manage and has a place to carry our collecting jugs and pails.

The new trailer, then the old one. I pull it with my compact tractor when loaded, the ATV or Gator when empty.

[highway]

That is sweet, is the tank a 125 gallon sap tank?Realnice set up. What are you towing it with?

Ed

[Big_Eddy]

That is sweet, is the tank a 125 gallon sap tank?Realnice set up. What are you towing it with?

Ed

100 Cdn Gal (125 US Gal tank), about 1000lbs when loaded. 14" car tires. I had to buy $60 of steel, everything else came from my "resource" pile. It's low and stable and the wider tires are much better in the mud.

I pull it with my 4WD compact tractor when loaded. My trails are hilly and I have to come down a switch back to get home. The ATV can pull it around fine on the flats, but doesn't have enough weight to control it on hills.

I was planning to add fenders, but without you can get in closer to pour sap into the opening, so they'll stay off for now. There are welded on stops to hold the tank in position.

Will play with it this spring and see what needs to be improved or changed, then give it a coat of paint over the summer. I have 2 tanks so might build a second one if I like the way it works.

[Bucket Head]

Very nice! Good to see you have the weight placed over the axle- where its supposed to be. Many put their tank forward or rearward of the axle which either overloads or unloads the tongue. The only thing you need to do now is swap the summer tread tires for the more agressive mud & snow treads..., lol.

Steve

[oldboyscout]

Nice job, and you gave me some ideas. I was about to buy a dump cart for my collection drum, so I see that won't work well. Thanks for the heads up. I'll be modding a utility trailer instead

[randomseeker]

Big Eddy, you made exactly the setup I need. I just purchased the identical tank. I am not nearly so handy but am going to try to build one. I have ATV tires (removed from my 550 ATV with 4 driven Camoplast tracks) that I can use. Do have any drawings you can share?

[maple flats]

Very nice! The only thing you need to do now is swap the summer tread tires for the more agressive mud & snow treads..., lol.

Steve
Then put a gear drive and PTO shaft for an all wheel drive sap forwarder!!!. Great job!

[Big_Eddy]

Big Eddy, you made exactly the setup I need. I just purchased the identical tank. I am not nearly so handy but am going to try to build one. I have ATV tires (removed from my 550 ATV with 4 driven Camoplast tracks) that I can use. Do have any drawings you can share?

I don't build to drawings - I'm very much a cut and weld guy, but I can share some details.

I started with a 20' stick of 3" sq tubing. I cut a single spine about 10' long, and 6 short pieces 1/2 the width of the tank less the 3" spine. I welded the ribs to the spine to line up with the flats on the bottom of the tank. I left a tail behind the last cross piece the length of my valve, so that the valve would not be snapped off if the trailer is tilted upwards. I also have thoughts of mounting a 2" receiver tube to that tail to allow me to train another tank behind. I added 3x4" piece of 3/16" plate to the ends of the ribs, extending it about 1" above the rib to stop the tank slipping sideways, then welded on a link of chain to the front and back ribs to strap the tank to. I also welded a short piece of angle iron on the top of the 3" tube ahead and behind the tank to stop forward and backward motion.

The collecting bucket basket is 1 1/4" angle iron with expanded metal for the floor. I built it with the lower angle leg down - in hindsight it should have been leg up to provide a rim to stop my mitts escaping.

The wheels and axle were from my resource pile. They are welded on (No springs or hangers) A standard trailer axle would work too - just weld on some solid mounts and attach with U bolts. Springs not recommended as they would raise the tank and contribute to sloshing / sway.

After a season using it - my list of improvements to make is as follows.
Rim around the front tray to keep small things in.
Remove the chain links and add folding loops to the end plates to strap to.
Paint
Tires that actually hold air.
I think I will add the receiver tube, but I didn't miss it.
A screw on stand to hold our funnels (Pipe flange and pipe)

Fenders are not needed and would get in the way.

It's nicely balanced. I can lift it off the hitch fully loaded without straining anything, but it doesn't ever want to tip backwards (unlike the garden trailers)

Overall - pretty satisfied with it.

[Big_Eddy]

A couple of updated pictures as I was prepping the trailer for this season so you can see the structure underneath.

I made a few changes over the summer as mentioned above, and added a coat of paint. Ready to roll.


89948995

[GramaCindy]

Very nice setup Ed. Looks like it will be perfect for hauling a bunch of sap. Soon hopefully.