Wednesday, April 06, 2011

Maytip

Behold the "Maytip Wagon".


It is a wagon originally made to be attached to the rear end of a typical riding lawn mower.


I do not have a riding mower.
Based on my observations as I ride through suburbia, I firmly believe that riding mowers are silly and lead to obesity. The evidence on a Saturday morning in spring is overwhelming.

My parents hire someone to cut their grass these days, so they don't have a need for mowers or wagons.
On a recent job day at my parent's house,  Mom said, "Just put that old wagon out by the curb, someone will take it.".

To which I replied,  "That someone is ME!"

The American made red wagon is old, but solidly built, and since I am without a wheelbarrow presently,  I took it home.

Back at PFHQ, behind the barn, a set of old wheels from a long dead push mower sat quietly rusting away, just waiting for a moment like this.
I had salvaged them years ago when the mower they belonged to finally died ... after years of abuse here at mower purgatory.
It just seemed a shame to throw them away ... I had imagined they might be attached to a chicken tractor or a home-made canoe hauler, but those things never happened.

Last week, I had a ton of oak leaves to rake up and take to the garden, so I needed a hauling device and I needed it quick.
 I slid the axle of the old lawnmower wheel assembly into the space between the tongue and the hitch.
Then I cut a bit of scrap wood, drilled a whole in it and bolted it in place to hold the axle secure.
With the addition of an old dog leash for a handle, I had created the new and improved, "Maytip Wagon".
It worked!
I hauled leaves, rocks, 'nanner plants, and soil with it.

I need to counterweight it just a little in the front so it's not so fond of tipping backwards.
There's a set of lead weights I found in the woods a few years ago just sitting collecting dust behind the barn ... this could be their moment to shine.

17 comments:

swamp4me said...

Hahaha...sometimes you remind me so much of my husband it's not even funny.

Deb said...

As Red Green says, "If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy!"
Not that you're not handsome, of course.

lisa said...

That is one neat wagon and I would of taken too!

R.Powers said...

Swampy,
Is he scary frugal too?
LOL!

Deb,
Just as long as they find me.
LOL!
(that will probably get me in trouble)
This would have been a true Red Green creation if duct tape had been involved.

Lisa,
Waste not, want not. At least until that lottery ticket comes in.

'Ol Lurker said...

"Chicken tractor?"

Anonymous said...

Brilliant!!!
Lightnin

LaDivaCucina said...

I was happy to see the word "rake" in this post, seeing as Mexican landscapers nationwide (why are they always Mexican?) seem to not know what one is anymore? Love your efforts to recycle, why waste a good wagon? 'ave a good weekend, FC!

Dani said...

Lordy, you are just like John!

R.Powers said...

Ol Lurker,
A moveable cage that allows your poultry to safely free range and eat bugs and pasture grasses. At the same time they fertilize the soil. I built one with not wheels and always thought I might add these wheels to it.


Lightnin,
E = wagon(leash)(wheels)squared.


La Diva,
Rakes have a much more soothing shwish, shwish sound than a blower.
Thanks La Diva!


Dani,
Apparently we men are all the alike.

MinorcanMeteorolgist said...

Awesome! This is what true recycling is all about.
If you come across any more lead in the woods, feel free to unload it on me. We can always use more lead for castnet sinkers :-)

amarkonmywall said...

I saw that wagon and instantly thought, "How could that be turned into a chicken tractor?" That's how I think. But you know, whatever blows your skirt up.

Re my post: We will indeed winter in Florida and summer in NC. Despite all my tongue-in-cheek pissing and moaning I love this little rat infested house and most all of the Florida native species, PF included. It will be a sad winter when I don’t have the Hannibals in the nest above and the owls down at Boyd Hill and all my neighbors. We’re assuming we will figure out a new mortgage situation, etc. etc. All of this misery is with an eye towards keeping ourselves part-time Florida. And I’m ready for seeds. ;-)

Anonymous said...

I am in awe of folks who can such things. My dad is a lot like that - he can take anything and make it work again, for its original purpose or for an entirely new life.

Alas, the gene appears to have skipped my DNA. Extremely unfair, as we are alike in so many other things.

Miz S said...

I applaud your frugal ways. You remind me of my brother.

roger said...

well done! is it a "maytip" because it may tip over? i'll bet you could move the main axle rearward.

nice to have useful bits of hardware just waiting to be utilized.

alas, i had to abandon most of my precious as-yet-unutilized treasures as we moved hither and yon.

starting over isn't easy.

Bill said...

Hey FC,
I have a riding mower, it cuts my lawn work from 7.5 hours to 4.5 hours. I don't think that is going to have a lot to do with obesity. Needless to say I take exception to your supposition. I like your wagon though. LOL. Sometimes I just gotta yank your chain.

Thanks for the giggles.

Billy

Lisa at Greenbow said...

Don'tcha jus luv those aha moments when they come together.

sandhiya said...

You really have a gift for finding wonderful things!



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