Tracking Wagons / Tracking Trailers

Written by: hayley.odonahue.nur
Date: Fri, 30 Jul 2010

When small mom and pop nursery and greenhouse operations started to grow years ago ,so did the need to be able to handle plant material . Most operations started near or on the property of which they lived therefore limiting the space for plant beds or greenhouses. As the family operations grew in sales the need to produce more product presented problems in being able to move material .

Some say that necessity is the mother of invention,so ideas from the airline industry were rapidly being incorporated into the design of self tracking wagons or trailers as some call them. Many styles and designs have been used over the years ,but today we have reliable types that last many many years in service.



The first types were designs that used steel plates on top of one another usually with a grease fitting for lubrication. These early editions had only a bolt through the center for a pivot point and these types worked well in the beginning but maintenance issues begain to evolve .With both the front and rear axel moving in opposite directions when turning this created 2 times as much moving parts not including the connections between the front and rear . People were pleased with the performance of a self tracking wheel base as the wagons could now turn much sharper . When pulled in trains (multiple units) usually up to 10 wagons they would follow or track with only a minimum of track difference of maybe 6 inches or so. The only draw back as some thought is that its almost impossible to back a tracking wagon in reverse. This proved not to be an issue as the wagons would now turn in the same radius as the vehicle pulling them. This was good because it helped prevent wagons from running over beds of plants or running into greenhouses. However when multiple levels were used on this style wagon ,and as the plates begain to wear it created a rocking effect as they were moving which made plants fall off from the top.

The connections on tongues were upgraded from simply drilling holes in flat bar to 2x2 tubing with mechanical tubing to create a positive pull reducing wear.

Most wagons at first were built in sizes of 4 foot x 8 foot and gradually went to the 5 foot x 10 foot size. The 5x10 foot was popular for many years but limited to the size of the expanded metal flooring. Some custom sizes were made due to the customers needs. However splicing expanded metal floors was labor intensive and to costly. Years later steel manufactures installed rolls that would now make larger 6 foot x 12 foot expanded metal therefore larger models could now be made without seams. This size is still the most popular in 2010.

As family operations continued to grow and develop into commercial operations the demand for tracking wagons was on the rise and so was the need for better wagons with less maintenance issues. Next manufactures used a hub and spindle like the ones used on the axels except heavier ,this was less maintenance .These type pivot points were used many years in the industry but occasionally a spindle would snap into due to the fatigue of continued flexing in the frame.

The pipe in pipe design has proved to be the strongest and most reliable style in the industry and is now considered the norm. The former angle iron and channel iron frames on the undercarriage are now being replaced with formed metal cross members providing a stronger more reliable wagon . Large steel tubing welded between the pipe pivot points proves to be much stronger. The average deck height is about 24 inched from the ground to the floor,but the newer styles can even be as low as 22 inches.

Many style wheels and tires have been used . The first , most popular and still in use today are the 18x8.50 x 8 6 ply . Most wagons that we have discussed thus far use the 2000 pound axel and hub assembly. The next size up is the 3500 pound axel (hostile duty) and uses the 20.5 wheel assembly. When these size wagons are not big enough customers use the 7x16 and up to 8x20 none tracking nursery wagons.

Most manufactures use a quick dry enamel paint .

Mitchell ellis products has been actively manufacturing and steadily improving wagon design since 1977.
Thanks Mitchell Ellis
www.ellisproducts.net email ellisproducts@zebra.net TrackingWagons

Mitchell Ellis

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