Hauling sap with 4-wheeler

[Sly41985]

Just wondering if anyone hauls sap through the woods using a small trailer and 4-wheeler. If so what kind of trailer do you use, size of trailer, modifications you made, ect. I have been thinking of purchasing a small 3.5x5ft trailer from Lowe's and putting a 55gal drum on it sideways. Only thing that worries me is that the tires a narrow, Im not sure if I can purchase wider tires or not. Currently using a brinly 17cu ft poly cart which does ok with the wider tires but I feel the trailer is not heavy duty enough to go through woods hauling sap and hauling firewood. In one year ive managed to crack the side and bottom of the cart. Any suggestions??? Thanks a lot everyone I do appreciate it!

[Ed R]

Check out countryatv.com. I am currently using one of their single axels, but they have doubles too. I have used mine a year so far and like it. it tracks nice behind both my utv and my 20 hp 4wd tractor.

[tcross]

if you have any old farms in your area, stop by and see if they have an old axle with the wheels still on it kicking around. I gave a farmer neighbor $50 for one, welded an arm and hitch to it to fit on my wheeler. I framed up a box with 2x's and that's what I haul my wood with. it's about 3' wide by 5' long with 2-3 foot walls and works great! probably have less than $100 into it... an idea if you can't find what you're looking for.

[mainebackswoodssyrup]

Bosski makes a rugged trailer we use in our ATV Club. They are not cheap though. I actually just purchased the trailer from Lowes you are talking about for $450. I plan to use it to haul ice fishing gear to the lake and to do firewood. I will probably screw down some plywood for a base. The trailer is rated for 1750 lbs so a 55 gallon tote should be no problem weight wise. The tires are narrow, probably not great in the woods but depends on what you're pulling it with. A 500 lb load isn't a lot.

[Super Sapper]

17002I use a 100 gallon tank on a homemade trailer. I extended the axel and put atv tires on it. I also have a 35 gallon tank on the back rack and put 4 five gallon containers on the front rack. Works very well even in the mud.

[Russell Lampron]

I had a trailer like the one that you got at Lowes. I made some adapters and put Honda Rancher wheels on it. I pulled it with my Honda Foreman and it worked very well with two 35 gallon tanks on it. The reason that I don't use that trailer anymore is because it didn't like the 275 gallon tote so much.

[Big_Eddy]

I made a couple of custom trailers using scavenged rear hubs from fwd cars
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180106/8e814ade6fbdfc4e498f9424fedb646a.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180106/0f5f22f9d3e0af1e64bb9de796f67448.jpg

[BAP]

I made a couple of custom trailers using scavenged rear hubs from fwd cars
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180106/8e814ade6fbdfc4e498f9424fedb646a.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180106/0f5f22f9d3e0af1e64bb9de796f67448.jpg
Nice looking trailer.

[Brad W Wi]

We use a single axel homemade trailer. we pull it with either a Polaris 500 4 wheeler or a Polaris 6x6 425. The tank is a 210 gal but we try not to fill it over 3/4 full. Been doing it for 9+ years the 4x4 ix an '07 and the 6x6 is a '96. We have hills and don't worry about it.

[ronintank]

My 4x4 Honda is a 300 and hauls this set up well. I have a lot of hills in the bush so this works good for me. The trailer is one of the cheap steel ones I put wider wheels and tires off of an old riding mower on it. A 55 gallon drum fits easy, and with that full I wouldn't want to haul much more up the hills.17020

[WVKeith]

I am glad to see somebody else with an evaporator on wheels

Keith

[ronintank]

Don,t they all have wheels. Just kidding. One of these days I will get the sugar shack built, until then it's the cover behind the barn.

[Big_Eddy]

I made a couple of custom trailers using scavenged rear hubs from fwd cars


Couple additional comments.
Bigger and wider tires are your friend. They are much easier to pull over snow, through mud, ruts etc. Keep the weight as low as possible and spread the tires as wide as possible. I used to use garden tractor trailers - had more than one tip over and several stuck trailers.

Size matters - Trailer weight (tank full) should not exceed the hauler weight if there are any slopes at all. I haul my 100 gals with a 4000lb tractor - and it still shoves me sideways on the downhills if the trails are at all slippery. Sloshing can have a huge effect. Side to side sloshing can easily tip the trailer over even from a relatively small bump / hole. End to end sloshing can lift the back end of your ATV off the ground if your tongue weight isn't right.

Start small - better to make two trips than have a roll over / break something.

[Sly41985]

Thanks a lot guys!!! I do appreciate the comments! Those custom trailers look awesome! I wish I could weld hahaha.

[johnpma]

Trailer I picked up at Tractor Supply for short money....works wekk just going to get a different storage tank this year

[Big_Eddy]

Old solution - nicknamed "Tippy"
17031

A good sap day.
17032
One of the trailers has a receiver hitch on the rear - so we can train them together (empty) on the way out to the woods. Separate trips back once loaded.

[dsaw]

Here’s my main sap hauler. 15 gal on front, 35 gal on back. I also have a poly trailer and a 55 gal tank, but no trailer is much more maneuverable since I don’t really have trails to most of my tanks.

17400