Easy-To-Transport Road Packer

2016 - Volume #40, Issue #5, Page #16

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Terry Jacob turned a standard sheepsfoot roller into a portable packer that’s easy to transport. While the conventional design is hard to maneuver on the job, when equipped with Jacob’s carry-all, it’s easy to use without damaging other surfaces.
  “I needed a roller to pack new road surfaces, but standard double sheepsfoot rollers require a truck or trailer for transport,” says Jacob. “I wanted something that was more transport friendly for use on the roads and ditches I maintain for 2 local townships.”
  Buying a roller was easy. Getting the steel he needed to convert it with a carryall was harder. The Kansas farmer and inventor and roads keeper finally found what he wanted at an auction in Texas.
  “It was a 60-ft. planter toolbar made from 5 by 7-in. steel tubing,” says Jacob. “It provided 80 percent of the steel I needed.”
  The sheepsfoot roller consisted of two 4-ft. wide, 40-in. high, steel drums. They were mounted inside a steel frame that allowed them to oscillate as they rolled. Jacob worked with Trevor Unruh, a nearby blacksmith, to make an extended tongue for the roller using the toolbar. It was hinged at about the 6-ft. point.
  Another length of the toolbar was used to mount a semi axle on duals to the rear of the roller frame. The toolbar was also used for the camelback brace, fabricated to run from the rear frame to the front of the roller frame. It was designed to pass over the oscillating joint between the 2 rollers.
  “I mounted a 4-in. dia. hydraulic cylinder to the tongue with the ram attached to the front of the camelback brace,” says Jacob. “When I activate the cylinder, it walks the rollers back onto the truck axle. I can transport it at road speed with no problem. When turning on the job, I can pick it up so it doesn’t disturb already packed surfaces.”
  Jacob paid less than $200 for the toolbar. When he went to pick it up, he discovered the planter units went with it. At the suggestion of a friend, he more than recovered the cost of the conversion.
  “I made one and two row planters out of them,” he says. “People like them for planting wildlife food plots. I sold a 1-row for $850 and a 2-row for $1,250.”
  Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, TDJ MagAttach, Terry Jacob, 9317 SW 72nd, Sedgwick, Kan. 67135 (ph 316 393-7731; ruth1110@kanokla.net).

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Easy-To-Transport Road Packer MISCELLANEOUS EQUIPMENT Miscellaneous Terry Jacob turned a standard sheepsfoot roller into a portable packer that’s easy to transport While the conventional design is hard to maneuver on the job when equipped with Jacob’s carry-all it’s easy to use without damaging other surfaces “I needed a roller to pack new road surfaces but standard double sheepsfoot rollers require a truck or trailer for transport ” says Jacob “I wanted something that was more transport friendly for use on the roads and ditches I maintain for 2 local townships ” Buying a roller was easy Getting the steel he needed to convert it with a carryall was harder The Kansas farmer and inventor and roads keeper finally found what he wanted at an auction in Texas “It was a 60-ft planter toolbar made from 5 by 7-in steel tubing ” says Jacob “It provided 80 percent of the steel I needed ” The sheepsfoot roller consisted of two 4-ft wide 40-in high steel drums They were mounted inside a steel frame that allowed them to oscillate as they rolled Jacob worked with Trevor Unruh a nearby blacksmith to make an extended tongue for the roller using the toolbar It was hinged at about the 6-ft point Another length of the toolbar was used to mount a semi axle on duals to the rear of the roller frame The toolbar was also used for the camelback brace fabricated to run from the rear frame to the front of the roller frame It was designed to pass over the oscillating joint between the 2 rollers “I mounted a 4-in dia hydraulic cylinder to the tongue with the ram attached to the front of the camelback brace ” says Jacob “When I activate the cylinder it walks the rollers back onto the truck axle I can transport it at road speed with no problem When turning on the job I can pick it up so it doesn’t disturb already packed surfaces ” Jacob paid less than $200 for the toolbar When he went to pick it up he discovered the planter units went with it At the suggestion of a friend he more than recovered the cost of the conversion “I made one and two row planters out of them ” he says “People like them for planting wildlife food plots I sold a 1-row for $850 and a 2-row for $1 250 ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup TDJ MagAttach Terry Jacob 9317 SW 72nd Sedgwick Kan 67135 ph 316 393-7731; ruth1110@kanokla net

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