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Subframe Turns Flatbed Into Highboy Hauler
Moving his high-clearance sprayer between fields is fast and easy for Gene Ditmer, who added a subframe to an old flatbed that lets him drive on and go. Best of all, he can convert the trailer from one use to the other in minutes.
"I can haul an 800-gal. nurse tank in the bed of my dump truck, pull the trailer with the sprayer on it and pull a Ford Ranger behind in case I have problems in the field," says Dittmer.
To convert the flatbed to hold the wide wheel track sprayer, Ditmer simply backs the flatbed trailer with dovetail under the subframe. It slides up and over the trailer deck until it hits the front stop. "Two 4-in. wide by 6-in. high steel tabs on the rear of the subframe drop into place on the channel iron at the bottom of the dovetail," explains Dittmer. "To remove the frame, I just lift the rear end 6 in. so the tabs clear and drive away."
Two 10-in. wide, 1/2-in. thick I-beams form the wheel ways of the subframe. An 8-in. I-beam cross member at the front of the subframe rests at the front of the deck, while a second rests just behind the rear of the deck. The final cross member with tabs rests on the lower end of the dovetail. When not in use, the rear end of the subframe rests on blocks for easy remounting.
"With the subframe in place, I can load my high clearance sprayer and drive away," says Ditmer.
Even with the extra width, the sprayer tires sit on and extend about 4 in. over the outside flanges of the subframe. To relieve pressure on the tires, Dittmer installed wood slats from an old hog building between the flanges for a level bed.
"The subframe saves time transporting the sprayer between fields," says Ditmer. "Yet, it's easy to switch back to hauling the backhoe when needed."
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Gene Dittmer, 10710 W. Frederick Garland Rd., West Milton, Ohio 45383 (ph 937 884-5600).


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2011 - Volume #35, Issue #3