Old Gravity Box Becomes 330-Bu Grain Wagon

Old Gravity Box Becomes 330-Bu Grain Wagon GRAIN HANDLING Wagons (63E) 8-4-7 "I converted an old grain gravity box of 125-bu. capacity into a 330-bu. wagon with a center dump," says Alfred Jessen, Rt. 2, Tyler MN 56178. The old model (Little Giant) wagon was 10 ft. long by 7 ft. wide before Jessen cut a foot off each end, using his circle saw with a metal cutting blade. Then he bent the ends up and bolted them to the sides and turned the whole box crosswise. Next, he bought sheets of black steel and had them fashioned by a local blacksmith into 2-ft. extensions which were bolted to the top of the box. The new box, now with a capacity of 330 bu. is mounted on a 5th wheel trailer which also is made of salvaged materials. The trailer main frame is built of 10 in. bridge channel iron, and the axles are I-beams. Wheel spindles came off a pull-type combine and wheel rims off an old truck. No changes were made in the dump mechanism, which Jessen says works good at the elevator or on the farm. Total cost of materials was under $100, plus labor. Jessen likes it so well he built a second converted wagon and is now working on a similar conversion of an old gravity box into a 400-bu. wagon.

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