Hive transport trailer

[Acebird]

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.

[Jim134]

    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 

[GSF]

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.

[Acebird]

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.

[BeeMaster2]

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

[Acebird]

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.