I've been thinking about this so I thought I'd throw it out there. A friend of mine has property that backs up to a couple hundred acres that popcorn trees have taken over. In addition some of my other friends have ask me if I wanted to move my hives to their fields when the crops are blooming.
I'm not sure what would be a good or bad trailer. The thought of a modified boat trailer crossed my mind and now I see one for sale. Any experience or thoughts?
it goes without saying you need a flatbed trailer. I wonder how difficult is it to breakdown the boat trailer? are you cutting welds or just unbolting parts? Weight rating is another consideration, as well as whether the wheels are higher than the trailer deck. Wheel wells get in the way of a tidy stack.
I have an old pop-up camp trailer that is beyond easy repair. I am breaking that down this fall to make a flatbed. I simply need to unscrew, unbolt, and tear out unnecessary parts, then install a new wood deck. And since the wheels are taller than the deck, I need to either give it a lift job or build heavy duty wheel covers. Then I can simply haul away the old trailer parts to the dump on my new utility trailer. This is a light duty trailer as is, but if needed, I could install a heavier axle.
Something to remember once you get to 1,200 to 1,500 pounds. Gross weight for your trailer you will be needing trailer brakes. There maybe a lot of other issues do the weight. Especially if you're going down public roads.
BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :smile:
I owned a trailer mfg. co. all of the advise on previous replies is right on. another option look for a lawn mower type trailer. Considering time and cost this may be your best option.
I forgot something. Get the lowest axle weight rating that will carry your hives. It would help to add dead weight to make a softer ride for your ladies.
I was given an old boat trailer that was so bad that I was afraid it would fall apart on the way home. I took it apart, rather easy to do, removed the bad sections, added 2"x2" angle iron under the rear 2x6 over hang area, shortened the lead bar and then built a flat bed with pressure treated 2x6x20 boards. I added 3/8 I bolts down both sides and across the front so that I can strap all of the hives side to side and front to back. It is working real well and handles real well on the road.
Jim
Thanks everybody for responding.
Jim, that's along the idea I had in my head. I just wasn't sure how bumpy of a ride the bees would get.
Those bees on the 18 wheelers get a really good bumpy ride.
Years ago a friends, Mike, picked me to help me deliver a dozen nucs to a new beekeeper, Dean. When we got there Dean wanted to show us his farm. We went driving down dirt roads that were only designed for tractors. Then we went back over those same roads to almost the entrance to off load the nucs. We had to move the frames into the hives for him and I said that we should wait to give the bees a chance to calm down. Mike said they would bee fine so we started moving them. The only person with protection on was Dean. None of us got stung or even harassed by the bees. I was surprised.
Jim
Remember one thing most all commercial beekeepers use air ride Trailers dual axle. Of course also air ride tractors. They want to be at least 75% of the legal weight to ride smoother. Of course they want to overload it most of the time anyway. It has been my experience on small trailers dual axles ride smoother then single axles. You could make an air ride trailer.With air ride axle(s). With electric brakes and put in a auxiliary 12 volt compressor. I have seen it done quite a few times. Also I have seen small trucks like F-450 Ford. With air ride on the rear axle.
BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :smile:
If you do decide to buy that boat trailer, then don't forget to check/replace the wheel bearings if there's any history of it being dunked in salt-water. Also - with trailers, there's then the whole issue of security, as a bunch of hives ready loaded on a trailer would make an attractive target for thieves.
LJ
then don't forget to check/replace the wheel bearings That was something I planned on doing. As a matter of fact I was going to shake the tires to look for play before I bought it. I've only had one or two tires come off because of bad bearings, I'll never forget it.
First question is how many hives? Second question is what will you tow it with?
BTW a boat trailer would be the worst design for a deck trailer and a landscape trailer would be the best design for towing hives around.
Post reply 8 + 9 are great this is part of PM maintenance. Some of the biggest things go wrong is under inflated or over inflated/ overloaded tires. Ultraviolet light will dry out and kill tires in just a few years. Especially the sidewalk. I do live in the Rust Belt of the United States. Where you can see a lot of frame damage due to rust.
One of the best place you can go that is a big box store and you want to buy small trailer parts. Such as spindle's bearings, tires and light kits is your local Tractor Supply believe it or not.
BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)
I'm thinking 6 to 8 hives. I planned to run angle iron in a pattern that will prevent the hives from sliding around and also the eye bolts to secure it.
Ssecond question?
Have you considered a platform to fit the back of your PU. Think of a cabover camper. Jack it up, drive under it, take it to your destination, drop it down on some pallets. Detachable jacks would increase security some what.
Whatever you decide on you might want to hide a trail cam so you know who is messing with your out yard.
We got to find out if he has a pickup.
Did you ever think it's none of your business hahaha what kind of vehicle he has.
BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :smile:
Quote from: Acebird on September 03, 2016, 09:30:48 PM
We got to find out if he has a pickup.
DUH! He's an American male, of course he has a truck.
how many hives are you transporting?
We cart 44 8 frames on a dual axle trailer, it is 14ft 6 inches long and 6 foot 6 inches wide with hydraulic brakes.
A car trailer, usually dual axle would make a good bee transporter, low and usually with brakes.
Quote from: Caribou on September 03, 2016, 11:23:14 PM
Quote from: Acebird on September 03, 2016, 09:30:48 PM
We got to find out if he has a pickup.
DUH! He's an American male, of course he has a truck.
If he has a pick up then just get a Tommy lift gate and forget the trailer for 6-8 hives.
Warm Colors Apiary in South Deerfield Massachusetts. Started a business on utility trailers where is about 6/8 hives a piece. He had about eight to ten of these set up . He lived at there was a Pickle Factory. He would get five or six rotations in the springtime. Different fields starting new crops. This was on a weekly basis. He would move them on Saturday morning most of the time. His biggest problem was to make sure he's moved at least two miles away by air.
BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :smile:
lol! I an American male AND I live in the south! I had a pick up truck before I had diapers
I also have not one but two tractors. In case one of 'em won't crank (lol)
You can't hide, countrified.
I have two tractors and they both crank. I wouldn't own them if they didn't. Fords from the 1950's I have also owned a truck all my life. My first was a 67 chevy, 3 speed on the column fleetwood and I was in heaven at 17. Today I also own a brand new (last year) car carrier trailer. Who cares? I am giving advice to someone I don't know. I have no idea what their economic where with all is and I will suggest again IF they have a pick up and want to transport 6-8 hives they should get a tommy lift gate and stop the nonsense of rebuilding a junk boat trailer into something that is useful for what they want to do. Of course everyone can listen to who ever they want. That is their God given right.
Brian,
I built my trailer to handle 22 hives. I usually move 12 hives. There is no way I could put 12 hives in the back of my truck plus all of the 24 supers that go with them. Another plus for making a bee trailer is that I load the hives up in the spring, move them to the farm, park them and after I extract the honey and bring them home. No unloading and loading. When I get the bees to the farm I just separate the hives to reduce drifting and then when it is time to bring them back I push them back together and strap them down. When not loaded with bees, it is great for hauling wood. It handles up to 18' long boards.
Jim
Jim, I asked two questions before I gave advice. The OP said 6-8 hives. It sounded like they were in different places so I don't know if he would be able to leave the trailer in one spot. Not in your case but his case if all he has to move is 6-8 hives he would be better off with a small equipment trailer then trying to convert a boat trailer. There is a lot of work involved in the conversion as you well know. Going back to what I said if he has a truck then just getting a lift gate makes things easy. If in the future he expands to more hives he will still enjoy having that lift gate on his truck. Trailers work if the space and terrain allows. Some areas I have seen bees placed would take a tractor and a wagon to get in and out.