How to Build Old Time Prairie Hay Wagons

The prairie hay wagon is an iconic example of U.S. history, once a necessary piece of machinery. When the prairie was settled it resembled a sea of grass, and in due time the prairie grass gave way to hay grown to feed livestock. Before mechanized baling, hay was cut and left loose in fields to be collected in these wagons. The loose hay was taken to a barn for storage, and the more hay the wagon could carry, the fewer loads had to be hauled. You can build an old style prairie hay wagon if you have the time and inclination to recreate this tool of the past.

Things You'll Need

  • Wheel and axle assembly
  • Measuring tape
  • Pencil
  • 2 16-foot 2-by-6 boards
  • Saw
  • Heavy duty L-brackets
  • Box of 3-inch wood screws
  • Four 12-foot 2-by-4 boards
  • 20 8-foot 2-by-4 boards
  • Three sheets of 4-by-8 plywood, 3/4-inch thickness
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Instructions

    • 1

      Purchase an already-assembled set of wheels. Historic wheel building specialists in Kentucky and the Dakotas, found in the resources links, can special order and ship these wheels for your project. The hub and wheel assemblies are complicated and will not work well unless built by someone with expertise. If you are not going for complete accuracy, you can also use a chassis from an existing wagon or even and old truck.

    • 2

      Measure a 4-foot length from the end of each of the 16-foot, 2-by-6 boards and cut them so you have two 4-foot boards and two 12-foot boards.

    • 3

      Lay out the 12-foot, 2-by-6 boards on the wheel bases. If you are using accurate wood wheel assemblies, they will be unattached and separate. A newer wagon chassis often has the wheel assemblies connected by a central frame. For unattached wheel assembles, chock them in place with a brick on either side of the wheel so they do not roll. Position them so that the center of the axle on each wheel is eight feet apart from the other. Set the two boards on edge on the top of the axle support with four feet between them. Screw in place with the L-brackets and wood screws.

    • 4

      Place the two 4-foot sections of the board you cut between the two longer boards at each end making a rectangular box frame. Square them so the corners are even. Screw them in place by screwing through the outside of the longer boards into the ends of the shorter cross pieces.

    • 5

      Build a box frame to support your wagon bed. Lay two of the 12-foot 2-by-4s on the ground on edge, eight feet apart. Place two of the 8-foot 2-by-4s between the ends of these boards, square them up and screw together. Now cut four inches off of the end of two more of the 12-foot boards so that they fit inside the center of the box you constructed. Set them parallel to the sides, between the end boards. Measure 29 inches in from one side, and set the board. Measure 30 inches from that board and set the other. Screw them in place at the ends.

    • 6

      Cut four 2-by-4s into cross piece sections. From each board, cut two 29-inch pieces, and one 30-inch piece. You will have some small extra scrap from each board.

    • 7

      Screw the pieces in as cross boards for the frame. Measure up from the inside edge of the bottom frame board 26 1/4 inches. Place a board in the pocket crosswise to the long boards and screw in place. Measure up another 26 1/4 inches and repeat. There will be 4 boards per section, the 29-inch boards are on the two outside panels, the 30-inch boards are in the center. Your frame will look like a grid when you are finished.

    • 8

      Lift the frame onto the 2-by-6 base, have someone assist you in this step. Screw the support frame in place to the 2-by-6 base to secure it.

    • 9

      Lay the three sheets of plywood across the bed frame. The 4-foot sheets lay side by side on the frame and should fit without cutting. Square up the corners and screw the plywood in place. The wagon bed is complete.

    • 10

      Cut two of the 8-foot 2-by-4s in half. Screw one post at each corner of the bed upright as a post. Screw them to the front and back ends -- not the sides. Even out the bottom edge of the post with the bottom edge of the bed frame and use four screws each to secure them.

    • 11

      Cut 2 more of the 2-by-4s in half. Screw these in place as angled side supports for the end posts. Orient them so that the top of the board is against the side of the top of the post, and the bottom of the board is angled so that it sets against the side of the wagon bed frame. Screw in place. Do this on all four corner posts.

    • 12

      Screw four boards crosswise across the wagon posts, on the outside, starting 12 inches from the surface of the wagon bed. Set the bottom one and screw in place, then put the top one in place, making it even with the top edge of the support posts. Screw the other two in place evenly between these two. This creates a high side for the front and back of the wagon to support the hay load, and open sides for access to load and remove the hay.